Political Quotes

“I am very pleased that legislation I authored has been included in the final version of the farm bill. The legislation, known as the Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Initiative Act, would help to combat the threat of suburban sprawl which has already consumed tens of thousands of acres of forest land in the southern part of my home State. I very much appreciate the assistance of Senator Lugar and Senator Harkin, as well as Senators Jack Reed and Mike Crapo, who have worked with me to put together this initiative. Sprawl occurs because the economic value of forest or farmland cannot compete with the value of developed land. In my home State, the problem is particularly acute in southern Maine where over a 100-percent increase in urbanized land over the past two decades has resulted in Greater Portland being labeled as the 'sprawl capital of the Northeast.' I am alarmed by the amount of working forest land and open space that has given way to strip malls and cul-du-sacs.”