Paul Tonko: “It was chilly and windy, so it felt even chillier than it was. But what was so important to recognize and to consume was…”

“It was chilly and windy, so it felt even chillier than it was. But what was so important to recognize and to consume was that what you had here was a President who is in the likes of Abraham Lincoln, who built an intercontinental rail system; President Teddy Roosevelt, who set up a National Parks System; President Dwight Eisenhower, who set up the Interstate Highway System. This person stands as a giant when it comes to infrastructure now, someone who brought us together; and it wasn't talk on and on, it was negotiations. And finally now the first step in this process, the huge downpayment on our infrastructure, is very vital. So to me it is about competition, but it is also about hope, providing a spirit of hope for working families in this country to know that there is a bolder tomorrow. I liken our country to the pioneer spirit. I think it is part of our DNA. We showed again that there is spirit, spirit to embrace invention and innovation as we are going through R&D dollars to develop more efficiency and effectiveness with wind power. We are going to invest in my State and across the 50 States in infrastructure that ranges from roads and bridges to ports, making them more secure, more equipped for the modern economy, making certain that we are providing for a response to the transportation sector for climate's sake. This allows us to be better stewards in protecting our planet, making certain the next generations that follow us will have a better world.…”