Alan Simpson: “I will just say, the usurpation by the administrative branch of government over Congress happens with both Republican…”

“I will just say, the usurpation by the administrative branch of government over Congress happens with both Republican and Democratic administrations. I remember someone standing up and saying: Well, if Congress won't do it, I have a pen and a phone. This is Congress surrendering our responsibility, and even though you might like the outcome of what they do, it is the wrong thing to do, and Congress needs to stand up at times and take back our responsibility than just saying: Well, I don't really like the way it was done, but I like the policy, so I will just support it. And that is what we are doing here. That is the problem with the National Ocean Policy. Again, I would encourage the supporters of this, and who knows, I might be one of them, to bring it to Congress. Let's debate it. Let's have a good healthy debate on this floor. Go through the committee process, go through the regular order, and then it is something that we might be able to support in the appropriations process. Other than that, I would urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.”