Paul Tonko

Under the current law, individual States retain sufficient authority to act independently on behalf of their citizens.

Recent superstorms like Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee have tested the resiliency of our infrastructure. During these severe weather events, bridges failed, blackouts occurred, and communities were devastated by…

It has been more than 5 weeks since the House recessed for a district work period and all of our problems that we put on hold remain right here in front of us. This long list of challenges includes repealing the sequester. According to the…

I do not think this action alone has resolved much related to the ongoing questions about the fate of nuclear waste.

I am hopeful we can agree that this is a topic worthy of bipartisan examination.

Thank you, Ranking Member Waxman, for the opportunity to share some thoughts on this legislation. Madam Chair, H.R. 1582 is yet another attempt to block the Environmental Protection Agency from fulfilling its mission, which is to protect…

There is a bipartisan effort in the Senate to develop legislation to begin addressing these very tough issues.

House Republicans seem unwilling to move past their fixation on Yucca Mountain.

We have a long-term storage facility and yet we do not. We do not have interim storage facilities or a policy of establishing them, and yet we do.

For the last few decades, the nuclear waste problem has been intractable.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York will be postponed. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Pursuant to clause 6 of…

We are a Nation of 50 States, but we are bound together by common history, purpose, and laws. Prior to the passage of national environmental laws, States had individual regulatory programs that offered a patchwork of protection. We tried…

I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 34, line 11, strike ``program; or'' and insert ``program;''. Page 34, line 17, strike ``(E).'' and insert…

I respect the work done by my colleague from Illinois, but respectfully disagree with his assessment. There's ample evidence that States have poorly regulated, in some cases, this waste stream, and it puts at risk innocent bystanders who…

I thank the gentleman from California. Mr. Chair, once again, the House will consider a bill that will provide the States with what they already have--the authority to regulate the disposal of coal ash. H.R. 2218 also virtually eliminates…

``and they're off.'' That traditional refrain as horses come out of the gate ushered in yet another Saratoga season just days ago--this time a very special season. I recognize Saratoga Race Course as it celebrates 150 years of thoroughbred…

Although the House continues to ignore climate change, others are busy assessing the problems and options to address the new situations that this Nation and our world will face in a warmer world. The United States Global Change Research…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 260, line 15, strike ``95'' and insert ``85''. Page 260, line 17, strike ``and''. Page 260, after line…

I withdraw my amendment. Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mrs. Brooks of Indiana The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 16 printed in House Report 113-158.

I thank the ranking member of the committee for the opportunity to have time to explain my amendment. I was planning to offer an amendment today to strengthen the Federal commitment to STEM education, but I intend to withdraw my amendment…

I just wanted to highlight that for the record, because it is part of the strength of the ACA.

On rollcall No. 348 I was unavoidably absent. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 22, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $145,000,000)''. Page 22, line 20, after the dollar amount…

First, I would like to thank Representative Welch and Representative Sablan for working with me on this amendment, and I thank the gentlelady from Ohio for the opportunity to chair the amendment in the House. Madam Chair, this bill would…

Thank you to the gentleman from the great State of Georgia. It's an honor to lend my voice to that of several of my colleagues as we pay tribute to Representative John Dingell from the great State of Michigan. I am only in my third term in…