Nick Rahall: “I thank the gentleman from Arizona. I rise in support of H.R. 1765. As the flight delays mounted this week due to the…”

“I thank the gentleman from Arizona. I rise in support of H.R. 1765. As the flight delays mounted this week due to the furlough and as many Republicans claim that the FAA had the flexibility to avoid this disruption and that politics were at play, gee, that's kind of like calling the kettle black. Just last month, in March, many of these same Members recognized the across-the-board nature of the sequester when a provision was included in the transportation bill to avoid the furlough of meat inspectors who would otherwise have been furloughed. Nothing has changed in the sequester law since last month. My good friend, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, is an honorable man, and I take issue with those who have alleged that he is playing politics with the sequester. Now, to those who have expressed concern over the piecemeal approach in addressing the chilling effects of the sequester, I share your concerns. I share the concerns of others who are being burdened by the sequester, such as a child thrown out of the Head Start or seniors depending on Meals on Wheels. But let me be clear: the rash of delays that we witnessed this week as the sequester began to take effect is not just an inconvenience to business or vacation travelers; we are talking about emergency medical services that transport patients with time-sensitive medical emergencies. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.…”