Rob Portman: “First let me say to the gentleman from New York I appreciate all the input he has made to this issue. We would not be…”

“First let me say to the gentleman from New York I appreciate all the input he has made to this issue. We would not be here today on the floor if it was not for the gentleman from New York [Mr. Towns]. Chairman Towns last year in his subcommittee held three hearings on this subject, two field hearings, one in Pennsylvania, one in Florida, and a hearing here in Washington, and in those hearings we flushed out a lot of the issues we are now discussing. Just addressing quickly the notion of full funding. It is true that if there is not full funding, it is subject to a point of order on the floor. Congress can always waive that point of order by a majority vote, and Congress can work its will in that way and give partial funding, or even no funding, to an important national priority.”