Political Quotes

“let us make it real clear here. I understand how there may be two sides to the issue, but I want to be very clear. Whether my colleagues embrace the position of the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton], my friend, that the program is fine and we should allow lobbying money to promote hunting and illegal trade in ivory, the fact is that no one wants to defund this program. To say otherwise is an absolute misrepresentation of my position and those who are advocates for elephants and endangered species across the globe. Mr. Chairman, the fact is that we are all for maintaining the funding of CAMPFIRE. To say otherwise is an absolute misrepresentation and not correct. The fact is we want to make sure the funds get to the people of Zimbabwe, in fact get to the CAMPFIRE Program, and are not used for the purpose of promoting illegal trade of ivory or illegal hunting. The fact is that funds are being used to lobby and that is what we object to, the lobbying portion, and not to anything else. Because Zimbabwe decides for itself whether there is hunting and whether there is trade.”