Max Baucus: “I would like to join Senators Kempthorne, Chafee, Craig, and Reid in offering this amendment. I would like to briefly…”

“I would like to join Senators Kempthorne, Chafee, Craig, and Reid in offering this amendment. I would like to briefly explain why Senator Reid and I strongly oppose section 311 of S. 672 and then summarize the alternative we worked out with Senators Kempthorne, Chafee, and Craig. We all sympathize with the victims of the recent floods in North Dakota and Minnesota, and also with the victims of flooding earlier this year in central California and along the Ohio River. These people have suffered terribly. This debate is not about whether they should receive assistance from the Federal Government. Of course they should. And the assistance should not be delayed. But that is precisely the consequence of the language that the committee included in section 311 of the bill. The President has indicated that he would veto the bill if it includes section 311. So, if section 311 remains unchanged, we would, at the very least, delay the delivery of urgently needed assistance. Another point. Section 311 doesn't belong in this bill. It is not a limitation on the use of funds, which is within the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee. Rather, it amends the authorizing statute, the Endangered Species Act, which is within the jurisdiction of the Environment and Public Works Committee.”