Political Quotes

“I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in permitting me to speak on this bill. Madam Chair, I, too, am a passionate advocate of public spaces, of outdoor recreation, and I understand the importance of protecting some of our Nation's most pristine places. My constituents enjoy hunting and fishing and are involved in exploring the great outdoors. That is why it is unfortunate that what we have before us today is a piece of legislation that is unduly partisan and special-interest-oriented and is not speaking in terms of things that could have brought us together in something that could have been a lovefest. Why aren't we making a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and making sure that it is funded? Yesterday we had hundreds and hundreds of women from the Federated Garden Club of America, just one more group adding its voice to something that is supported by people who hunt, people who fish, people who hike, people who enjoy the opportunity of what the Land and Water Conservation Fund represents. Instead, we are veering off. We are in the process now of having legislation in this bill that does pose serious problems in terms of environmental protections. I will give one specific example in terms of what is happening in the area of ivory. Voters in Washington recently voted overwhelmingly to ban on a State level traffic in ivory.…”