Political Quotes

“I join my friend from West Virginia in asking the Senate to support the Interior and related agencies conference report. This has been sort of a labor of love. It has been 3 months of putting this piece of legislation together and many hours of off-the-floor negotiations not only between my chairman and everybody who serves on this subcommittee but also in the conference with the House. This conference agreement fits within the broader fiscal limitations with which the Congress and the President have agreed. To remain within these limits, we had to reduce many projects and programs below levels provided by the Senate bill. Likewise, many priorities established in the House were reduced so the conference agreement would conform to the subcommittee's conference allocation. The final product does not contain 100 percent of what everybody wanted; nor does it have 100 percent for one individual. I assure my colleagues Senator Byrd has included me and my staff in all negotiations and that the Senate's interests have been treated fairly. There are two specific items I will address before proceeding. I am pleased that the conference report provided a $10 million increase in payments in lieu of taxes, PILT.”