Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for offering this amendment. In many ways, Madam Chairman, this is indicative of the bureaucratic hoops that people have to jump through. Now, keep in mind, this lease sale in Virginia went through all of the environmental hoops and then was taken off the roles, if you will. Under current law, you have to jump through the same environmental hoops again, notwithstanding the fact that all of the work has been done. I say this is indicative of what goes on with the bureaucracy in a great many ways throughout our country, but this is especially, I think, troubling to the people of Virginia because not only has their Governor and their legislature spoken very loudly that they would like to have an opportunity to drill offshore, to deny them that opportunity because of what I would call a bureaucratic morass of having to jump through hoops doesn't make any sense at all. I think the gentleman's amendment makes immensely good sense, and I think it is something we should look at in a broader scale in a lot of other areas. I thank the gentleman for offering the amendment. Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Chair, I believe I have the right to close, so I would reserve until the other side has concluded.”