Maurice Hinchey: “I just want to take a couple of minutes to remind us about the extent of the devastation and the consequences of the…”

“I just want to take a couple of minutes to remind us about the extent of the devastation and the consequences of the devastation that occurred in New York. Currently, there are more than 5,000 people who are displaced from their homes in Manhattan as a result of the attack; 16 million square feet of office and hotel space has been destroyed; and 838 major companies have been dislocated as a result. More than 15,000 small businesses have been destroyed, dislocated or severely damaged. Over 108,000 people have lost their jobs. And the realistic estimate of economic damage to the metropolitan region area this year, $83 million. We are asking for this Congress and the executive branch to fulfill its commitment to the State and City for the basic minimum that was agreed to already in public law, for at least $20 billion to begin to meet the human needs. Now, we are told do not worry about it. We know that we agreed to $20 billion. You have only gotten half. The rest of it will be coming. But what happens to the people in the meantime? What happens to the unemployed? What happens to the widows and the orphans? What happens to the people who are injured? What happens to the people who have no health insurance? The answer to that question is virtually nothing will happen to them. They will continue to be unemployed. Their unemployment insurance will run out. They will continue not to have health insurance, and they will not get the health care that they need.…”