Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I thank Mrs. Dingell and the ranking member for their courtesy, and I also thank the Natural Resources Committee for all the work they do. I am not on that committee, but I have great respect and admiration for the committee and its chairman. I thank you for letting me have 5 minutes to present this amendment. Madam Speaker, this amendment is rather simple. It is straightforward. The underlying bill establishes a new, competitive grant program to support innovative strategies to help species recovery. That is the underlying bill we have been debating all afternoon. However, as drafted, the bill limits those competitive grants to only State wildlife agencies. Specifically, my amendment expands the eligibility of the grant program to include nonprofit organizations like the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Pamlico Albemarle Wildlife Conservationists, and so many more wonderful organizations in my State, and perhaps in your States all across the country. Many of these nonprofits have tremendous expertise in helping species recover and they should be eligible to participate in this new program under this amendment. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, which will strengthen our species recovery efforts. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”