Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to sit up and take notice of this. This is quite an amendment--quite a radical amendment. It indiscriminately would cut a total of 36 percent from programs in Transportation and Housing without any regard for the merits of the programs, just indiscriminate whacking away. This is only in the T-HUD section of the bill, and I will limit myself to that. I can't imagine that Members would dream of supporting this amendment. Investments in our transportation and housing infrastructure will stall. Jobs will be lost. Some of our most vulnerable people, including veterans, children, will be harmed. This amendment will result in a reduction--I want to stress--in the very programs Republicans profess to support. Let me give you some good examples. The FAA's Contract Tower Program that enjoyed strong bipartisan support, critical to air safety--whacked away. NeighborWorks, which supports local solutions to expand affordable housing, increased housing counseling assistance, and strengthens economic development. We increase NeighborWorks under bipartisan urging--slashed. Community Project Funding. Republicans and Democrats alike have requested these appropriations to address transportation and housing challenges in their local communities. Believe me: If we don't do it, no one will. Those would be drastically cut. Port infrastructure, another Republican emphasis--cut.…”