Political Quotes

“I thank the ranking member for the time and opportunity to speak today as the ranking member on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. I also want to thank the chair of the subcommittee, my friend and fellow Great Lakes advocate, Congresswoman Betty McCollum. We have worked tirelessly over the past month to negotiate a reasonable compromise in order to be able to deliver the product before you today and avoid a government shutdown. While it is not the bill I would have written and there are things in here that I might not necessarily agree with, I do believe that there is more in this bill that unites us than divides us. The bill increases America's investment in our own abundant energy and mineral resources. It fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program which is so critical to counties with Federal lands. It also invests $1.8 billion for maintenance and construction of our Nation's parks and our other public lands. This agreement also provides for a 29 percent increase to fight devastating wildfires that threaten our communities. This agreement provides an additional $392 million for healthcare, law enforcement, and related programs to honor our country's sacred trust and treaty obligations to the American Indians and Alaska Natives. I am deeply proud of our nonpartisan efforts in support of these important programs.…”