Political Quotes

“I want to put this at the outset of the statement. There are two issues that I have concerns about, one the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Hefley] just raised, and that is the first provision, section 411, which states that even if the Committee on Appropriations denies funding for a runway at an international airport the Secretary of Transportation may obligate funds for such projects anyway. Essentially, this language says that despite what the Committee on Appropriations does, it can go ahead. I was pleased to hear the gentleman's comments. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee report accompanying H.R. 3539 indicates that the intent of this language was to ensure funding for a sixth runway at the Denver International Airport. However, this project has been specifically denied by Congress in the appropriations process for the past 3 years. Not only has the funding been denied for 3 years, no funds are provided once again in this year's appropriations bill, considered by the House only a few short weeks ago, and no amendment to that provision was offered when the bill was debated on the House floor. That appropriations bill--with no amendments offered dealing with this issue--was passed by an overwhelming vote of 403 to 2.”