Political Quotes

“My amendment simply directs the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite its existing Portsmouth Harbor Navigation Improvement Project. Portsmouth Harbor is vital to both New Hampshire's economy and our national security. It is the only deep draft harbor located in the State of New Hampshire and is the port of entry for fuels that generate 20 percent of New Hampshire's energy. {time} 1745 The harbor is also home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where Granite Staters work on our Nation's advanced nuclear submarines. It is a challenging harbor to navigate--home to some of the fastest tidal currents on Earth. That is why it is so important that the Portsmouth Harbor project moves forward quickly. The harbor must remain safe and navigable. The skilled sailors of the United States Navy can navigate this difficult waterway. It is vital that commercial traffic can also use the harbor safely and that commercial vessels do not delay the submarines' entry to the shipyard. In addition, a maritime incident triggered by this difficult waterway could cause a devastating oil spill that would negatively impact the shipyard. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”