PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, SECRETARY OF LABOR, AND SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN...
James M. Inhofe (Republican, OK) \u2014 2018-10-10

I don't think that is necessary because I think I was scheduled to do that anyway. prgtoken What we are going to be addressing here in just a few minutes is a very significant piece of legislation. We do a prgtoken lot of things around here that some people think are important, but this is something that really is important. It is something that has a long history behind it. prgtoken America's water infrastructure bill, known as the WRDA bill, was started about 20 years ago, and we made a commitment at that time that we would actually have a WRDA bill every 2 years. We didn't do that up until 2014. In 2014, we had gone since 2007 since we had had one, and this needs to be done to keep our water infrastructure going and the things that we are supposed to be doing. So we did it in 2014 and 2016, and now we will do the 2018 bill. That is what we are supposed to be doing. prgtoken It is a great way to keep up the productive momentum that we have seen in Congress leading up to the midterm election and delivering on President 's promises. prgtoken The WRDA bill is another great example of what can happen when we work with our friends across the aisle on issues that affect every State of our Nation. prgtoken I was privileged to chair the Environment and Public Works Committee during that timeframe, when we went back to every other year, and it is something that has worked very well. People can depend on the resources being there when the time comes. So I think right now it is a bill that is sponsored by ourselves, along with the ranking members and the Senators of that committee, the EPW Committee, and the Transportation Subcommittee. prgtoken I want to take a moment to thank the members I just mentioned and their staffs. The staffs are the ones who do the heavy lifting because without our willingness to work together on this legislation, we wouldn't be able to discuss it here on the floor today, and I appreciate that dedication. It is going to happen today. prgtoken There are a lot of provisions in the bill that advance our Nation's infrastructure priorities. In addition, the State of Oklahoma would benefit in many ways as well. prgtoken One of the big secrets around the world and around America is that Oklahoma is actually navigable. We have a navigation way that goes from the Mississippi River all the way up to my hometown of Tulsa, with the Port of Catoosa. prgtoken I can remember many years ago, when I was in the State legislature, and some people came to me who were World War II veterans--one of the groups that was doing a very good job--and they said: We would like to be able to show and to demonstrate that we are navigable in Oklahoma. If you will get us a submarine, we will take it all the way up to Oklahoma. prgtoken So I went down to Orange, TX, and found the USS Batfish. This is a World War II submarine. They were able to do it without any help at all--without any help from government. They