Political Quotes

“Well, thank you, Senator Shaheen. I also understand that this year's appropriations bill, as I noted, was a product of negotiations in especially difficult circumstances. Given this situation, I thank you and Senator Murray for successfully fighting to secure an increase in funds compared to last year for the Antitrust Division. But as we have noted, this year's compromise would restrict the Antitrust Division's access to merger filing fees in years when those filing fees exceed the appropriated amount should not and cannot set a precedent for future appropriations bills. This language is limited to this bill and this bill only. Moving forward, we must include language that allows the Antitrust Division to retain and use the additional fees it collects under our bill--the bill that was passed with 88 votes in this Chamber, signed into law by the President, and, of course, passed by the House, and was consistent with decades of precedent to empower the Antitrust Division to enforce our competition laws. One last question of the Senator from New Hampshire, and that is: Will you commit to prioritizing and doing everything in your power to include language that will allow the Antitrust Division to retain and use all the fees it collects above the appropriated amount in future budgets consistent with the law's intent?”