Political Quotes

“Lake Champlain is one of the natural wonders of New England and, indeed, an international treasure. It is a watershed that includes New York, Vermont, and the Province of Quebec. To protect this unique natural and economic resource, Congress enacted legislation in 1990 under the bipartisan leadership of Democrat Patrick Leahy and Republican Jim Jeffords that led to the creation of the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Over the years, the basin program has worked with private organizations, local communities, and individuals on both sides of the border to coordinate and fund efforts that benefit the Lake Champlain Basin's water quality, fisheries, wetlands, and wildlife recreation. It has been a great example of a locally driven program working from the ground up with the help of a Federal partner. It has been a tremendous success, and the purpose of this amendment is to maintain the funding at the level that it was at before. I have joined 28 years later after Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy and Republican Jim Jeffords with my Republican colleague from across the lake, Representative Stefanik, in this amendment. It is important to both sides of the lake and the Province of Quebec, who is not here represented, but here in heart. So I ask for the support of this amendment, and I want to say to my colleague, Elise Stefanik, from across Lake Champlain, that we think the view of New York is beautiful, and we share a commitment to maintaining the beauty of that lake.…”