Susan Molinari: “Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to join with my colleagues from the Committee on Public Works and Transportation…”

“Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to join with my colleagues from the Committee on Public Works and Transportation in strongly supporting H.R. 2442. This legislation does indeed address many of the concerns expressed by the people who have worked closely with the EDA and who have spoken previously this afternoon. It is truly a bipartisan effort, and I must at this point thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Mineta], the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], the ranking member, and of course the Subcommittee on Economic Development chairman, the gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Wise] for his leadership on this bill. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2442 represents an opportunity to finally, after 12 years, reauthorize the EDA and ARC to improve and upgrade these programs. One example of the importance of the EDA is its role in helping communities to adjust to base closures and defense cutbacks. In my own district the closing of Naval Station New York will have an enormous economic impact.”