Paul Tonko: “If the gentlewoman would yield, what the Representative is pointing to in the red is 18 months' worth of activity, $17.5…”

Our water resources serve as sources of drinking water for millions of people, provide habitats for more than 200 fish species, and support critical outdoor recreation and tourism industries.

The Hudson River is the nation's largest Superfund site. Hazardous waste and legacy chemicals remain unacceptably high, threatening the health and safety of ecosystems, wildlife, and human health throughout the entire Watershed.

Mr. Tonko's bill would create a new program specifically for what it defines as the New York-New Jersey Watershed.

We know the human cost of inaction. To be precise, last year it was 109,680 lives we lost. Is that a cost we are willing to bear? With that in mind, our work is not done, and I hope we can find the will to truly meet the moment. This…