Jim Saxton: “I called the Speaker on Friday and I expressed my concerns about this bill from a New Jersey coastal perspective. The…”

“I called the Speaker on Friday and I expressed my concerns about this bill from a New Jersey coastal perspective. The Speaker, without hesitation, said ``You get together what you think is good for New Jersey in the way of a substitute or in the way of however you want to propose your amendments, and you bring them to floor, and we will have an open rule.'' And I appreciate that. I also appreciate the cooperation by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster] and members of the Committee on Rules in this regard. It truly is an opportunity for us to debate before the American people some issues that I think are of great importance. I have now been in this House for a decade, and when I was elected to the House and became a member of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, soon to be joined by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone], already in place was Mr. Hughes from New Jersey, we were there because we had great concerns, concerns about water quality particularly in the coastal areas of our State.”