Political Quotes

“I would hope that an amendment for the study of the crime and accident rate in the most-used national parks would be made in order and regret that it is not made in order. The issue is so important, I would like to discuss it on the floor at this time. There have been troublesome reports of increases in crime and vehicle accidents in the national parks. It first surfaced perhaps in a major way here in the District of Columbia when former Police Chief Teresa Chambers complained that she could no longer adequately cover the park territory entrusted to her. She said that there had been redeployment of her troops to cover monuments and other important places after 9/11. But then I began to note complaints of a rise in crime and homelessness in parks here and around the Nation as well. The crush of crowds we now understand all the parks are experiencing during this season makes this claim much more credible. I want to be clear that I take no position on whether there has been an increase in crime or accidents. I really do not know. This was only a request for a study so that we could begin to find out.”