Political Quotes

“I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to my good friend from Pennsylvania's amendment for a simple reason. Actually, I will start with where my friend, the ranking member, was. These decisions are too often made by faceless bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., and there ought to be an opportunity for Members to advocate. We all know the top lines are set long before any of these projects are awarded, so this doesn't add a single dime. It just allows Members to advocate under a structured process for things that they think will make a difference in the lives of their constituents. We are not spending one cent more than we would have spent. We are giving Members the opportunity to influence decisions that are important to them and their constituents. We do take our vetting responsibilities very seriously. These were vetted by the Republican Appropriations Committee and staffers in cooperation with our friends from the other side of the aisle, and we don't approve them all. About a third of these things never make it, and a lot of them don't get as much money as they ask for. This is a good tool, an important tool. Congress went without it for a decade and decided after that experience, we need it back. Overwhelming majorities in both conferences made that decision, not one or the other. We voted on this rule in our conference multiple times. The margin has gotten bigger every time. Mr. Chair, I urge defeat of the amendment.”