On the recordJanuary 16, 2014
first let me thank the Senator from Illinois for his great leadership on the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and for joining me in Rhode Island to see those great workers at Electric Boat and many other defense industries in Rhode Island. I too want to commend Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski and Chairwoman Patty Murray. We would not be here today without their extraordinary efforts, Herculean efforts by two extraordinary individuals. I also want to thank my colleague from the great State of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, for her work. She is an extraordinary colleague, collaborator. We have worked together to make this Interior subcommittee bill a very good one. Chairman Ken Calvert of the House, ranking member Jim Moran, both superb participants and collaborators in this effort. Jim is retiring. I want to thank him for his distinguished service to Virginia and to the Nation. I am very pleased in particular in this Interior subcommittee bill that we could make a strong investment in clean water and drinking water through the revolving fund or, as it is known, the SRF fund. This is not only about the environment and public health, it is about jobs. In fact, adopting our provisions in contrast to the House's lower numbers will keep approximately 97,000 more Americans on the job this year. That, I think, is significant. It is not just about the environment, it is also about keeping people at work.…





