Paul Tonko: “Thank you, Representative Garamendi, for bringing us together on what is a very thoughtful discussion about how we…”

“Thank you, Representative Garamendi, for bringing us together on what is a very thoughtful discussion about how we create jobs, grow jobs in America. And that is such a vital agenda. I thank you for bringing us together, and I thank you and our colleagues in the caucus for allowing myself and others to share the woes that we have faced in our respective districts over the recent district work period. It's ironic that in my district, in upstate New York, within days, we suffered from an earthquake, from a hurricane, from a tornado in my hometown, and now flooding, as we speak. The ravages of the waters of Irene have produced tremendous consequences for the great communities and the people that I represent. And as I've said at all of my stops in the district, I knew, always believed that there was a strength to the people that I represent. But they have made a profound statement about that resilience and that strength in the last few days. I have seen people lose everything they've ever worked for, homes totally washed into the river, devastation from the floodwaters, cattle that were lost, harvest season almost at hand, all the investment of sweat equity and resources and fuel that never will really have the fruits of that labor captured in harvest. The heritage infrastructure. As I made mention, in my hometown, the oldest building dates back to 1766, older than our Nation, a wedding gift from Sir William Johnson to his daughter.…”