Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I wanted to emphasize as strongly as I know how that this bill is on the floor today not because the Republican majority wants to stuff it down the minority's throats. Quite the contrary, this bill is on the floor today because our Democrat colleagues are the ones who have provided the leadership to get this moving. Indeed, as we mentioned at the start of this debate, it has been the gentleman from California [Mr. Condit], the gentleman from California [Mr. Matsui], and the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], who have provided the leadership and the driving force behind this legislation. That is why this is here today, and the majority is happy to have been accommodating to our friends in the minority. That is why this legislation is here today. It is bipartisan in nature, with nine original cosponsors, five Republicans, four Democrats. With regard to the substance of the legislation and some of the objections which have been expressed, first, to say that this should be limited to only a part of the West does not solve the real problem. Farmers in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas are all affected. So we need to address those regions of the country as well. This legislation does that.”