Paul Tonko: “Well, you know, it does go back to our humble beginnings. And again, history instructs us. History, if we allow it, will…”

“Well, you know, it does go back to our humble beginnings. And again, history instructs us. History, if we allow it, will guide us. In some of our toughest times we realize some of our greatest, most monumental success stories. And you did mention the canal, which for my area, I see the 20th Congressional District that I represent, is a donor area for that canal. But I just want to make this factoid available. In those times, people look back, and they think, well, what a wonderful project, and it probably sailed through. No, it met with great controversy, and it was proposed because of economic difficult times. And here was a vision. That's leadership. Give us the vision of how you can grow the economy, what can we do that is strong and forceful and will change the outcomes out there. And it was this connection of a port, in a little town called New York, that gave birth to a necklace of communities called mill towns in upstate New York that became epicenters of invention and innovation. That all came about with a struggle, a struggle to find the investment available to build this canal. So the struggle will always be there.”