Political Quotes

“the Interior and Environmental appropriations bill we have before us today is a responsible, balanced piece of legislation that very much deserves our support. It might not be a perfect bill, but it is the best possible product given the tight budget restraints that we have had trying to control Federal spending. Chairman Taylor and Ranking Member Dicks deserve our respect and gratitude for drafting a bill which funds a variety of Federal responsibilities, including our national parks, our Federal forests, abandoned mine reclamation, fish and wildlife resources, EPA, Indian programs, museums and arts agencies. This is a bipartisan bill, and it is the product of fair and impartial hearings. I think it is fitting that this first appropriations bill of the season shows that it is funded at $211 million below the current fiscal year. We are on a track here to some fiscal sanity. Tough choices had to be made. The chairman made the right choices. Also important, it includes a very important amendment offered in full committee by Mr. Peterson which modifies the current congressional moratorium to allow for safe and efficient production of natural gas along our Outer Continental Shelf. This is a rational step to take in a time when we need to be increasing domestic production to meet our Nation's energy needs. Any effort to take this out would be the wrong thing to do right now. This is in this bill because that is where the rule is.…”