Sean Patrick Maloney: “after the September 11 attacks, the administration told us it would do whatever it takes to help New York recover. Forty…”

“after the September 11 attacks, the administration told us it would do whatever it takes to help New York recover. Forty billion dollars was quickly approved, $20 billion to fight terrorism and $20 billion for disaster relief primarily for New York. Well, yesterday, the Committee on Appropriations allocated that $40 billion and New York got less than $10 billion. Now we want to know, what will it take for New York to get its fair share? Will it take a mass exodus from the city? Because people and businesses are making decisions to stay or go right now and New York's future hangs in the balance. We are told that we will get the money eventually. I want to congratulate two of my Republican colleagues, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), for their courage in saying eventually is not soon enough. That money was allocated for this year. Now we have to go and hunt for it somewhere else. New York is one of the economic centers of America and it should not take this much trouble for America to give New York help.”