Paul Tonko

Article entitled, 'State Policy Leads Beluga Team to Remove Alaska Scientists,' submitted for the record.

As an engineer, I am very interested in this topic.

On rollcall No. 720 I was unavoidably detained. I conducted a previously scheduled telephone town hall with constituents of the 21st Congressional District of New York. The telephone town hall addressed flooding concerns associated with…

I would add to that that the jobs piece is so significant. Because we can talk about tax reform, but unless you have a job and an income, then it renders itself somewhat meaningless. I would also add, Representative Garamendi, the concern…

So pre-recession, we were 32 percent at the best, anywhere from 11 percent to 32 percent growth, versus 256 percent growth for that top 1 percent perched at the top of the economic ladder, the income strata.

Representative Garamendi, it is often said that a nation can be measured by the work it does for those in the dawn of life, and the quality of life for those children living in poverty understandably is reduced. And so the challenge to all…

I think if I might, Representative Garamendi, that's where I can acknowledge that my district regardless of political persuasion, regardless of philosophy, people have been impacted by those statements. They are just trying to process that…

It is. I think it highlights exactly the concern that many of us have in terms of the response to what is--what has pretty much rendered some areas of our country to be acknowledged almost as a war- torn area where craters have been…

Absolutely. Representative Garamendi, thank you. Thank you for leading us again in another very thoughtful hour of discussion about the importance of deciphering the facts out there that will springboard the comeback--the economic…

Let me share a perspective with you, Representative Garamendi. And I know we've talked about this, but we'll share it for the sake of those viewing the discussion this evening on the House floor. My district has been severely impacted by…

Chairman Larson, we have precious few minutes left. I'll make a few comments and then yield to my gentlemen colleagues as we close this Special Order hour. To me, you've identified it well. This country has had, throughout its history, its…

It's been my pleasure and honor to work with you gentlemen. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's an important topic these days when we refer to jobs--jobs in America, jobs that we retain, jobs that we create. The overwhelming issue right now in the minds and hearts of constituents across this country, I…

Representative Yarmuth, let me add to your reality with my reality, one scenario being a couple of decades old now. In 1987, a bridge collapsed along the New York State Thruway system because of flooding. It came across a creek that you…

To Representative Sarbanes' point, every year that's wasted, that is allowed to pass by, youngsters in the third, fourth, fifth grade, whatever, will never have the experience they ought to. So we're letting down the workers of tomorrow by…

Representative Sarbanes, I couldn't agree with you more. I have witnessed what happens when we invest in training, retraining, and apprenticeship programs in pre-K through 12, in graduate school, in undergrad campuses and research centers…

That measurement, I'm assuming, was made before some of the ravages of floods in portions of our country or the tragedies in Texas with the many fires. As the President proposes this infrastructure improvement, there are those who are…

Well, it's amazing because there are situations--I'll first go to Representative Welch's district in Vermont--where Route 4 has been wiped out. It's just about removed from the map. What was just a couple of miles worth of activity for…

Earlier, Representative Sarbanes talked, Representative Garamendi, about human infrastructure. It begins with sound schools that are not crumbling over the students' heads but also an investment in education. Just recently, during our…

Thank you very much. To Chairman Larson and then Representative Garamendi to close. I yield to Chairman Larson.

I think what this tragedy reminds us of is that we come together at times of tragedy in a way that really brings out the best expression of America's spirit. This is about a sense of urgency. It's about a sense of justice. People have been…

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…

Yes. It was the second stage of the canal when we moved from the mule-driven barge canal to the Erie Canal, which was engineered with locks. And again, to see the damage, tens of millions of dollars worth of damage; infrastructure here…

Representative Garamendi, thank you again for bringing us together. I noticed in the listing of dynamics that you have research indicated there, and education and, I'd say, slash higher education, but I witnessed testimony of those…

Sure. I want to pick up on the importance of education as a role for our comeback, but before I do that, I want to thank two very good friends and two very sensitive hearts for the empathy that you have expressed on behalf of the people of…