Edolphus Towns: “I think that is a shame, that we would move legislation without the opportunity to amend it and to try to make it better…”

“I think that is a shame, that we would move legislation without the opportunity to amend it and to try to make it better and to be able to deal with the States that are getting hurt. We act as if we are not talking about human beings. New York State would lose $17 million. And, of course, the Governor of the State has said he is against the bill and the mayor of the city indicated that he is against the bill. And every Member of the New York State delegation, New York City delegation has indicated that they are actually against this legislation. I don't understand why we have to rush this and put this kind of bill on suspension. It seems to me that this is a bill that we would bring up and give people an opportunity to amend it and make it as strong as possible, because we are talking about lives. So the reauthorization does not have to be brought up this kind of way. And let us be candid, Brooklyn itself would lose approximately $3 million, and that is the epicenter of the disease. So I don't understand why we can't take our time and provide help for the people that truly need help. Of course I am against this bill in every way, and I am hoping that my colleagues understand that we can do a much better job and that we need to do a much better job.”