Rob Bishop: “Allow me to conclude the debate, if I may. Last year, in Congress, we had a hearing where we saw a huge number of red…”

“Allow me to conclude the debate, if I may. Last year, in Congress, we had a hearing where we saw a huge number of red snappers who were killed by the removal of a decommissioned oil platform that had been authorized by the Department of the Interior. This amendment does not really change that. What this amendment would do is an attempt--hopefully, futile attempt--to basically give validity to the administration's National Ocean Policy, a policy that was done without transparency, almost in the cover of darkness, and implemented by executive order. What we are talking about is not something that is an executive action, but, as properly said by the last two speakers from our side, it is a legislative action, and this bill takes that legislative responsibility and does it the right way. We do not need a nontransparent executive order to be enforced here. What we need to do is allow the agencies of jurisdiction to actually do their job, defend their rules, and allow the legislative branch to work its will. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal). The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.”