On the recordJune 5, 2013
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the chairman yielding, and I also want to oppose this amendment. I want to say to my colleague that I very clearly understand the purpose of this amendment. I think it's a worthy purpose. I think we should pay for these inspections through fee revenue, and the fees need to be adequate to the task. So the gentleman, as I understand it, is trying to apply some pressure in that situation so that that gets done. That's a worthy purpose. But the risk is simply too great with a blanket prohibition of discretionary funds to be used for inspections. The risk is simply too great that the vital inspections that really can't lapse would not go on. So I have to reluctantly urge defeat of the amendment, although I agree with and understand its underlying purpose.
