Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, let me be clear. We need permitting reform. Red tape and layers of bureaucracy have crippled cities working to add housing, alternative energy sources, critical economic development projects, and, ultimately, it gets in the way of jobs. I concede that. It gets in the way of progress and even stops our agenda of lowering the costs for struggling families. I support the idea of what this bill is trying to accomplish. However, the PERMIT Act in this current form is not the solution. It lacks common sense and ultimately hurts middle-class and working-class Americans. Let's start here: The efficiency in government cannot come at the expense of clean water and lowering costs for all Americans. If passed as is, the PERMIT Act will increase pollution in our public waters and strip State and Tribal rights to effectively protect their own waters. It will also dramatically increase water bills across the country, particularly in rural communities. I proudly represent the city of Flint. We know devastating consequences of a lack of oversight of water quality. Over a decade later, my constituents are still dealing with the health and economic fallout, and the trust in government in our home communities will never be the same. Efficiency is important.…”