Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Kentucky for his great work on this legislation and his thoughtful leadership on these issues over many years. Mr. Speaker, for all your work on this legislation to make much- needed reforms to modernize energy policy into something that better promotes affordability, reliability, and ensures we have the energy we need to continue growing jobs in our communities, I say thank you. Among the many strong provisions in this bill, several are particularly important to the West and our rural communities across central, eastern, and southern Oregon. For farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin, this bill ensures that they will actually get a formal seat at the table when there is consultation with Federal agencies on decisions under the ESA. Irrigators in this area have long been impacted by these decisions, and it is only fair they should have an equal seat at the table with other entities during these discussions. Perhaps one of the timeliest provisions, Mr. Speaker, as we head into forest fire season in the West, are the provisions that provide for streamlined planning and would reduce frivolous lawsuits and speed up the pace of forest management across our public lands. This House, 4 years in a row now, after we pass this, has considered much-needed legislation to fix the management of our Federal forests. Now the Senate will have an opportunity to join us in this effort, as we amend this legislation and send it on over to the Senate.…”