Political Quotes

“I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to thank Ranking Member Grijalva and Chairman Bishop and their staffs for working to bring this bill to the committee and to the floor today. I would like to thank my good friend, Congressman Courtney of Connecticut, who has been an outstanding partner in this effort. I would also like to thank all of those back in Rhode Island who have worked to bring this bill to fruition, including the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Save the Bay, The Nature Conservancy, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Speaker, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act proposes a study of segments of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers in Rhode Island and Connecticut for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Rhode Island and Connecticut have long been outstanding stewards of these rivers, so I hope the passage and completion of this study will affirm what we who live near these rivers already know, which is that they possess outstanding recreational, natural, and historical qualities that make them worthy of the designation of ``Wild and Scenic Rivers.'' As a nation, we are privileged to have access to a diverse system of wilderness areas, not only in the remote expanses of our country but also close to home--in our backyard wilderness.…”