Paul Tonko: “At a time when too many of our citizens are still out of work, our Nation's infrastructure is in need of repair, the Tax…”

“At a time when too many of our citizens are still out of work, our Nation's infrastructure is in need of repair, the Tax Code needs revision, and when the safety net that provides basic necessities for our citizens has a tragic number of holes to close, we are spending our time on yet another bill that is headed straight for the legislative dust bin. It was the high-profile contamination at Love Canal in my home State of New York back in 1978 that motivated Congress to address the serious public health threat that existed at many sites across this country. Toxic contamination of air, of water, and of land from the improper handling of disposal of hazardous materials. Many of us represent districts that have formerly contaminated sites or sites that still remain to be cleaned up. Superfund is not a perfect law, but it has, in combination with other environmental laws, returned many abandoned, contaminated sites to productive use. When contaminated, blighted land is transformed, the entire community benefits. A long-abandoned former industrial site along the riverfront in my district was restored to a popular park. The residents of Amsterdam now enjoy a beautiful waterfront area. H.R. 2279 does nothing to improve public health or create jobs or protect the environment or avoid needless public expenses. In fact, it does the opposite. Title I of this bill further delays actions that should have been taken years ago.…”