Harry Reid: “Mr. President, we have agreed to a narrowly tailored provision to address a specific issue caused by this year's…”

“Mr. President, we have agreed to a narrowly tailored provision to address a specific issue caused by this year's historic flooding. I read from testimony given by John Garamendi, who is from California, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, who said. . . . we are aware of no case where it can be shown that implementation of the Endangered Species Act caused any flood control structures to fail. Nor has the presence of any listed species prevented the proper operation and maintenance of flood control facilities prior to recent floods. That was just given to a committee of this Congress. I say that protecting lives or property are not mutually exclusive. Also, Mr. President, the Endangered Species Act didn't cause the floods or the damages. I believe that this narrowly tailored amendment is helpful. It certainly makes the duties of the administrative agencies more clear, even though the Endangered Species Act had language that would cover emergency provisions. I move the amendment.”