Political Quotes

“Let me thank Congressman Grijalva, the ranking member of the subcommittee, for yielding and for his outstanding work in support of this legislation. Let me also thank Chairman Hastings, as well as the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Bishop, and your hardworking staff for working to bring this bill through the committee and to the floor today. I would also like to thank my good friend from Connecticut, Congressman Courtney, who has been an outstanding partner in this effort as well. And, of course, our State partners, including the Wood- Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Save the Bay, the Nature Conservancy, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Their collaboration really has been instrumental in bringing this legislation to fruition. As a Nation, we are, of course, privileged to have access to a diverse system of wilderness areas--from remote expanses of our country to backyard wildernesses closer to home. The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed is such a place. Its rivers are within a 45-minute drive of every Rhode Islander, easily accessible for family outings and school field trips. Passage of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act will allow for 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.…”