Paul Tonko

The power to levy taxes and to invest those funds is exclusively our duty as the legislative branch--and we have plenty of work to do.

the power to levy taxes and to invest those funds is exclusively our duty as the legislative branch

I hope we can move past campaign slogans and failed economic theories to address the challenges we face and do what is right and just for all our citizens.

Indeed, blaming the President for failure to stop indiscriminate, across-the-board cuts known as sequestration when the authority lies entirely at our feet is little more than an excuse.

We cannot solve the Federal Government's budget problems without first helping families' household budget problems.

A budget that rewards the wealthiest amongst us and asks the most from those who have least is not only unwise but unfair.

I believe it is important to maintain a sense of urgency in the implementation of the lessons learned from Fukushima.

I believe that you need to work together to come to a conclusion on this issue, but I would encourage you to resist outside pressure to disregard the expert recommendations of your staff.

Over the years, we have continued to struggle to define the proper balance between Federal and State regulation.

One of today's witnesses has suggested that the members of this subcommittee write to the Appropriations Committee and urge them to ensure adequate funding for these programs.

Federal law guarantees minimum standards for all of our Nation's citizens.

Each one of the individual States we represent is different, to be sure, and the States have a responsibility to their citizens to manage their resources and their economies.

While we will not always be in agreement, I hope that we can find common ground to move this Nation forward on important issues in the jurisdiction of this committee, this subcommittee.

As Congressman Tonko pointed out, we know pollution doesn't observe political boundaries and we are all downwind or downstream from pollution sources.

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