Paul Tonko: “Thank you, Representative Garamendi. Thank you for bringing us together for a very thoughtful hour of discussion about…”

“Thank you, Representative Garamendi. Thank you for bringing us together for a very thoughtful hour of discussion about the need to invest in America's infrastructure. What I like about the comments made here are that we have the tools within our grasp to make a difference, to invest in the infrastructure, whether it's safety on the highways, whether it's dealing with environmental soundness as an outcome, by promoting public transportation, or by enhancing energy efficiency at our water treatment facilities, which is something I worked on when I was president and CEO in NYSERDA, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. But prime in the focus of this investment in infrastructure is an outcome that speaks to the reigniting of the American Dream. We have work to do. This dream should not be beyond the grasp of Americans, certainly not beyond the grasp of America's middle class. The underpinnings of the support for reigniting the American Dream, embrace small business, which is the pulse of American enterprise that speaks to the moms-and- pops that raised a family based on a business that they developed, and they can feed this plan to rebuild America's infrastructure. It's also driven by the dynamic of entrepreneurs, the doers, the believers, the dreamers. Those pioneers that made things happen in this country are out there ready to respond to a present-day, modern-day, cutting-edge retrofit of infrastructure in this country.…”