Frank Lautenberg: “I thank the Senator from California and commend her for the struggle we have had with this issue when, in fact, there…”

“I thank the Senator from California and commend her for the struggle we have had with this issue when, in fact, there should not be any struggle. This is not an issue, in my view, that ought to be debated. To reduce the protection we want to offer our families to me sounds silly, and I believe to the American public it is going to sound silly as well. I do not ascribe any evil intent on the part of the Senator from Alaska, but I think it is absolutely mistaken. The question before us today is simply, Whose side are you on? Do you want to afford your children and your grandchildren the most protection they can have against foul air, against contamination, against pollution generally, or are you worried about the oil companies? We should not have to worry about them. As a matter of fact, they ought to worry a little more about us--a heck of a lot more about us. Taking nothing away from the experience and the knowledge the Senator from Alaska brings, I was in Alaska the second day after the Exxon Valdez ran aground. I saw the casual attitude that prevailed with Exxon.”