On the recordFebruary 18, 2011
I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy, as I appreciate his leadership. Because this is a process that he has been stewarding, being a key congressional partner. I appreciate his referencing what has happened here, dating back to August 2009. This has been scrutinized. We are friendly rivals in the Pacific Northwest. And it's a rare, rare, rare, rare occasion that any Federal activity ever leaves the Evergreen State and ends up in Oregon, as my good friend, the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, can attest because working with Senator Magnuson, he helped vacuum functions into the State of Oregon. So you can bet that this was flyspecked to the extreme, but the advantages are overwhelming. The proximity, the technical effort, the local investment has been amazing. So we've been pilloried on this. It's been under a microscope, and we've reached the point now that it's really past the point of no return. If this ill-advised--but I'm sure well-intended--amendment would be adopted by my friend from Washington, the Federal Government would be on the hook for more money; it would be disruptive for NOAA; and, frankly, it would be a disservice to the people who played fair, who went all along the way playing by the rules, making the case. I strongly urge rejection of this amendment.
