Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Arizona. Mr. Chairman, although I am supportive of the stated goals of the National Ocean Policy, such as more interagency coordination and decisionmaking, there are many troubling aspects here. This amendment seeks to strip underlying language that prevents Federal agencies from using ambiguous authorities in the National Ocean Policy to encroach on a wide variety of ocean and inland activities. I have heard from farmers and irrigators from throughout the Pacific Northwest concerned that ill-defined terms such as ``ecosystem-based management'' give broad authority to Federal agencies to adversely impact terrestrial agriculture that is hundreds of miles from the Pacific Coast in the name of ocean management. Before imposing these burdens on farmers who feed our Nation, it is necessary for Congress to evaluate such a policy to ensure that all affected stakeholders have a seat at the table. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.”