Political Quotes

“I want to take this opportunity to talk about an issue that has taken root in my district and across Upstate New York, and that is the concern over natural gas drilling prospects in a procedure called ``hydraulic fracturing.'' Natural gas is a great natural resource for this country to cultivate to use for heat and energy. However, in Upstate New York we have another natural resource that is critical to our survival and prosperity, and that is our water. Our water supply is precious, and we are so fortunate in Upstate New York to have an abundance of water resources that I never want to take for granted and will always fight to protect. Now, I don't want to oppose natural gas drilling in Upstate New York because there is a definite opportunity for gas drilling that has a positive impact, and I think that that's an important thing if we are going to address energy costs and local jobs in the region. But I don't want to sacrifice the purity of our water resources by rushing to drill before the infrastructure is in place in New York to regulate it in the way that it needs to be regulated. I will stand with the people in my district who could be affected by natural gas drilling to ensure that their water is protected.”