Political Quotes

“I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in permitting me to speak on this. And I must say, I could not agree more with the gentleman from Florida. If we were really concerned about creating job opportunities and strengthening the cement industry, we would be moving forward with legislation to rebuild and renew America, to deal with crumbling roads, inadequate transit systems, unsafe bridges, water and sewage systems, and treatment plants that need investment. Sadly, what we have seen since the new majority assumed office is that, in fact, they have been involved with a series of initiatives that are actually cutting back on that initiative, that are reducing resources for infrastructure at exactly the time when America needs them the most. Now, I'm sorry, but this bill continues an agenda that we heard articulated a great deal last week, that is, not willing to take the 21-year delay from the amendments to the Clean Air Act and move forward to have something in effect by 2013. They want to delay, to start over in many of these cases. Now remember, in 1990 we amended the Clean Air Act to require these regulations to be completed by the year 2000. But a combination of the Republican takeover of Congress and foot dragging by the Bush administration meant that we weren't ready. When they came up with something out of the Bush EPA, it was inadequate and the courts threw it out. Well, we're back trying to deal with this responsibility.…”