Paul Tonko: “Representative Garamendi, what I hear you say is probably a definition of the American Dream. The American Dream was…”

“Representative Garamendi, what I hear you say is probably a definition of the American Dream. The American Dream was designed and brought to us by the boldness of generation upon generation of immigrants who added to the peoplescape of this great Nation, added to the native American population by stages of journeys that traveled to these shores. We as a compilation of those journeys are a stronger people. The foundation upon which we stand and function and dream was developed by people who dared to dream nobly, dared to invest in their community, in their people. That, I think, is the challenge to us in this very moment in time. Will history see us as a people that dreamt beyond the ordinary, or will we be those who were frightened by the thoughts of the challenges of our times? I think that our greatest days lie ahead of us. The American Dream that burns boldly and nobly in our hearts speaks to us as that beacon of inspiration. Move forward, invest in America's people, invest in ingenuity, innovation, in the intellectual capacity of this Nation, and tread boldly into the future. And know that you will leave that next generation with an even stronger foundation that was granted us for our time in this Nation. It has been an honor to join you this evening.”