Paul Tonko: “I think what is important to recognize is that we stopped the bleeding. We stopped that drop off the charts with this…”

“I think what is important to recognize is that we stopped the bleeding. We stopped that drop off the charts with this stimulus package. And the experts, economists are suggesting that perhaps it would have been another one or two points higher, percentagewise, the unemployment rate. Well, that translates into millions of people, millions of people who would have lost a job had it not been for this stimulus and stopping the bleeding. So I think this investment is wise. And it also tells us--we've heard here this evening--that we're investing in a way that allows America's business community and the manufacturing base to do it smarter. We give them the tools to do it smarter. I believe that that's how we sharpen the competitive edge for our business community. They compete in the global marketplace. If we give them a smarter outcome, we will be victorious at that global marketplace. We may not even do it cheaper, but we'll do it smarter. And that will be a thumbs up for the American worker.”