Political Quotes

“I thank Chairman Calvert, Ranking Member McCollum, and Chairman Rogers for their work on this bill. Mr. Chairman, the bill before us would provide $32.095 billion for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, which is a decrease of $64 million from the enacted level and a staggering $1 billion below the President's request. As a result, the bill contains serious shortcomings. The drastic underfunding of the EPA, which is the agency tasked with protecting public health and safety, with a cut of $164 million from already inadequate funding levels, would decimate its operating budget. The crisis in Flint is a horrifying reminder that we cannot afford to starve the EPA. Eight thousand children under the age of 6 have likely been exposed to lead contamination. The long-term impacts of that exposure are severe and will not end when the water is clean. Decades or even a lifetime of difficulty may plague those affected. Considering the severity of the Flint water crisis, I am shocked that this bill would cut the Clean Water State Revolving Funds. If the tragedy in Flint has shown us anything, it is that we must invest in our Nation's infrastructure. Perhaps of greatest concern is the inclusion of partisan and dangerous policy riders. Yet again this year, these controversial riders imperil the appropriations process.…”