José E. Serrano: “Mr. Chairman, I rise to do something that I have not done in 29 rac{1}{2} years. And I know that got everybody's…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise to do something that I have not done in 29 rac{1}{2} years. And I know that got everybody's attention. What could I possibly have not done in 29 rac{1}{2} years? Well, 29 rac{1}{2} years is how long I have known the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey). We were elected to the State assembly as so-called 'Watergate Babies' in 1974. And I can still recall that that December when we first went up to Albany, nearly froze to death in typical Albany weather, I think I just lost a few Albany votes, and began a friendship that has lasted all this time. Of that 29 rac{1}{2} years I have never either privately nor in a public forum spoken in disagreement with anything he has said or proposed. And technically, at the expense of sounding like a politician, technically I do not disagree with him. I do not disagree with the intent of his amendment. If it was up to me, the Obey amendment would have been far-reaching. But I disagree with his amendment today for the reasons that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and others have expressed.”