Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer this amendment regarding opportunities for small businesses on behalf of our able and dedicated colleague from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who had to return to Texas on very important official business this evening, and she is airbound, I believe, at this point. I am honored to offer it on her behalf. Essentially, the amendment increases funding for the Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity by a minimal amount of $500,000 offset by a reduction of like amount in funding for the Energy Information Administration. This amendment increases funding for the Department's Office of Minority Impact, which should be used to enhance the Department's engagement with minority programs and other related activities. The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity is really a credit to Secretary of Energy Moniz's holistic view of diversity, which recognizes that participation via equal access is critical to our commitment to ensuring that the Department works for all Americans, particularly to improve the lives of low-income and minority communities, as well as our environment at large. Twenty years ago, on February 11, 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898, directing Federal agencies to identify and address the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their actions on minority and low-income populations.…”