Political Quotes

“I am pleased to begin the floor consideration of the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies. This bill funds programs that are essential to the American people. Our bill provides $18.5 billion for the Department of Transportation and $38.5 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to meet the housing needs of low-income, disabled, and older Americans, to shelter the homeless and to boost our economy and to create jobs through much-needed investments in our roads, bridges, seaports, railroads, transit systems, and airports. Let me begin my remarks by thanking the chairman of the full committee, Senator Cochran, and the vice chairman, Senator Mikulski, for their leadership in advancing these appropriations bills. As Chairman Cochran has previously noted, this is the first time in 6 years that the Appropriations Committee has approved all 12 of the funding bills, and I will point out that we did so months ago. I also wish to thank and acknowledge the hard work of the ranking member of the subcommittee, Senator Jack Reed. I am very pleased that he is cosponsoring this legislation and that we are offering these substitute amendments that have just been filed together. The two of us have worked very closely in drafting this bill, and we have listened to the recommendations from Members on both sides of the aisle.…”