Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her extraordinary leadership on this effort. I rise in strong support of this amendment. This amendment would require the Secretary to conduct a study of the feasibility, costs, and economic impact of burying power lines underground. According to Federal data, the U.S. electric grid loses power 285 percent more often than it did in 1984, when data collection efforts on blackouts began. According to the Department of Energy, that costs American businesses as much as $150 billion per year, with weather-related disruptions costing the most per event. Underground power lines make up just 18 percent of U.S. transmission lines, yet nearly all new residential and commercial developments opt for underground electric service. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, more than 6.5 million people in the United States lost power, including more than 30 percent of the residents living in my home State of Rhode Island, as well as Connecticut and Maryland. I urge my colleagues to support this simple, straightforward amendment so that we can begin to create a more reliable and resilient electric grid. I want to acknowledge the work being advanced by Scenic America to help restore and modernize the Highway Beautification Act that Congresswoman Hahn just made reference to.…”