Political Quotes

“Madam President, as you may have noticed a minute or so ago, I had a discussion with the leader, and he was moving to executive session. I have been down here--along with Senator Nelson and other Senators--to try to move the WRDA bill forward. Leader Reid said that was the business of the day. We are trying to move this forward, and we are trying to get our amendments in. I hope we can do that and do it in an efficient order. I am going to speak to both of my amendments. Senator Bennet is here, and I know he has a statement he wants to make on immigration. I ask that the Presiding Officer give me notice when I am in the 5-minute range so I can wrap up and get everything in at that point. My message is simple on the NEPA and WRDA process. Despite what we hear, environmental reviews protect people, taxpayers, and the environment. On average, it takes the corps just 2 to 3 years to complete a feasibility study once funding is available. Studies of complex and highly controversial projects may take longer, but these are exactly the projects that require more indepth review. The administration has warned that the streamlining provisions in S. 601 ``may actually slow project development and do not adequately protect communities, taxpayers, or the environment.'' The real causes of project delays are, No. 1, limited funding; No. 2, poor project planning that does not focus on national priorities or identifying the least possible damaging solution to a water resource problem.…”