Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman). Mr. Speaker, this morning, I joined my Congressional Western Caucus colleagues, Representatives Chris Stewart and Yvette Herrell, to hear from community leaders in their States about the severe funding shortfalls they are now facing due to President Biden's moratorium on oil and gas leases on Federal lands. We heard from county commissioners and education officials, including one who shared--in tears--the heartbreaking stories of students experiencing mental health challenges, who have attempted suicide due to the challenges facing our Nation's students. The last thing these communities need is to face budgetary deficiencies that threaten the support systems within our public schools. Yet, this legislation before us will contribute to those very budget shortfalls. By further preventing responsible energy and resource production on Federal lands, we are harming our Nation's energy industry, but we are also harming our workers by destroying their jobs. We are harming our students by cutting their public school funding. We are harming our communities by slashing their State and local budget. Mr. Speaker, you see, we are siloing off the effects of the pandemic from the actions and consequences of the Federal government regulatory mandates. The combinations of COVID-19, the Biden ban on Federal leasing, and now this massive land-grab legislation is simply going to devastate rural communities in the West. Mr.…”