Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise today because I wholeheartedly support the Coastal and Marine Economy Protection Act, authored by my good friend, Congressman Cunningham. This bill does what seems obvious to almost everyone. It bans offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. It is an issue that brings together business groups, environmental groups, sportsmen groups, and many, many others. It is an issue that transcends party lines. In my district, we had a press conference in support of this legislation and banning, and we had Republicans, Democrats, Independents, businesspeople, as well as environmentalists all together. In south Jersey, our coast is our lifeblood. It is everything. It is our economy, it is our culture, and it is our way of life. Our fisheries and tourism industry are worth nearly $50 billion a year, supporting well over half a million jobs statewide. If an oil spill would occur on our coastline, our beaches, natural resources, and coastal properties would be wiped out in a heartbeat. Our fishermen, casino workers, hospitality industry, restaurants, and small businesses would all, each and every one, suffer. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1941.”