Steve Cohen: “Up to today, I was concerned that my friends on the Republican side were only trying to defeat great Democratic programs…”

“Up to today, I was concerned that my friends on the Republican side were only trying to defeat great Democratic programs of the 20th century. Medicare, which will be celebrating its 46th birthday next month, is one of the great laws that have been passed in this House, and yet it's in danger. Medicare as we know it is in danger. Social Security passed in the thirties, one of the great social advances of the 20th century under President Franklin Roosevelt, but also endangered--all Democratic activities and Democratic Congresses. But today I saw there was a bipartisan effort to destroy the work of the 20th century. In the Transportation Committee, a bill coming to this floor is going to try to end the Clean Water Act. So it's bipartisan. Richard Nixon passed the Clean Water Act. I'm a history buff, and I think Richard Nixon should be known not just for Watergate, but for clean water. I hope they don't repeal Richard Nixon's signature achievement, the Clean Water Act. ____________________”