Paul Tonko

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, May is Mental Health Month, a month where we step up our efforts to raise awareness for mental health and work to remove the stigma of seeking help for mental illness. This issue is very close to my heart, as I worked in the New York State Assembly to pass Timothy's Law, which provides parity in mental health coverage in my home State. We work in a very divided environment here, Mr. Speaker, in Washington, but one of the few things I believe we can all agree on is the need to focus more on individuals and families that struggle with mental illness. That means providing better resources, more robust programs, enhanced coordination, and a more comprehensive mental health national program. Mental illness affects all ages, all races, tax brackets, and political ideologies, and our response to mental illness must be as comprehensive as the group of people it affects. We can only do this by joining together, reflecting in our budget our commitment to overcoming the challenges mental illnesses pose, and passing the Strengthening Mental Health in Our Communities Act, legislation that my colleagues and I introduced just today.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Union College Dutchmen hockey team and congratulate its players on winning their first NCAA Division I national championship. The Dutchmen wrapped up a dream season on April 12, defeating Minnesota by a score of 7-4 in the finals of the Frozen Four. Union College, a school of just 2,200 students from Schenectady with a stress on academic excellence, a college that doesn't even give out athletic scholarships, overcame the Big 10 giant to become national champions. The Union Dutchmen are a reminder that it does not matter how big you are or whether the average person can pronounce the city you represent; persistence, selflessness, and willpower can achieve great things. From Schenectady, that lights and hauls the world, to the Union hockey team that lit up the scoreboard and hauled the campus into national attention, I thank the Union hockey program, its players, their parents, head coach Rick Bennett, President Ainlay, his administration, faculty, and staff for inspiring us all with an unforgettable season. Go, Dutchmen.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, I think we should be real with the American public. We either stand for spending or we don't. We want to address the debt and deficit or we don't. We believe in investment, as the Democratic minority in this House believes, that will grow the economy and provide a greater opportunity for jobs. There is this path to prosperity for a few that the Republicans have put together with their budget. I suggest that we look at a highway for hope that has been advanced by the Democrats in the House that invests in Alzheimer's research, higher ed opportunities, infrastructure for this Nation, and a continuation of the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chair and ranking member of our Budget Committee for the opportunity to share some thoughts. Mixed messaging--it really grips the American public. Washington Republicans are presenting their budget and proclaiming that we are about reducing the debt and reducing the deficit. We are concerned about our children, we are concerned about our grandchildren. At the same time, the mixed message is to the crowd that is above a million dollar threshold, income threshold: We have money for you we are going to spend for you. We are so concerned about the debt and the deficit that needs to be reduced, but we will spend on you. We will offer you an average $200,000 tax break, so allow us to spend on you. Somehow the children and the grandchildren are not a worry then. So the mixed messaging on this one is amazing. Over the last couple of days, I have had the opportunity to either meet in the office or in group sessions or in large gatherings here in Washington with a number of advocates who are concerned about investments that need to be made in this Federal budget. There is the Alzheimer's Association that is imploring us to find a cure, to invest in research. Washington Republicans say: no, we need to spend on tax cuts for the wealthy, and we need to use your funds to reduce the debt and the deficit. Washington Republicans will tell our college-bound students who need an affordable path to that higher ed opportunity that: we can't spend on you or invest in you, we need to spend on tax cuts for the wealthy. Washington Republicans will sweep the savings and the revenues of the Affordable Care Act and proclaim to the senior community that: we are now repealing the Affordable Care Act, all of the benefits that were there for you are now removed. Washington Republicans will tell a group that I met with about water infrastructure needs: we can't spend on you because we need to spend on tax cuts for the wealthy. This is a mixed message that is disingenuous.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in recognition of the accomplishments of the painters that are so prominent that are part of the Hudson River School of painting, and I do want to thank our colleague, Representative Engel, the gentleman from New York, for hosting this Special Order on the House floor to honor the 19th century Hudson River School of painting. There are so many who cherish this institution, including, as was just mentioned, our former colleague, Representative Maurice Hinchey, who I see seated in the gallery, along with his family. Certainly, he represented the Hudson River Valley region of New York in such fine fashion and with a great appreciation for the arts and for cultural education. The school is also cherished by individuals like Barnabas McHenry who, as chair of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, understands the value of this great school; and Greg Wyatt who, as you have seen, is a sculptor and has produced great work as director of the Academy of Art, also at Newington-Cropsey Foundation, and at Hastings-on-Hudson; and so many who believe in the message that is sent forth by this great institution. The Hudson River School of painting was the first uniquely American style of painting. The school's style of painting was popularized in the 1820s and lasted for much of the 19th century. You already heard many of the prominent painters listed by Representative Engel in his comments. Today, we are here to honor their contribution to our region, to our State of New York, and to this Nation. The Hudson River School of painting was founded in upstate New York in the Hudson River Valley and the nearby Catskill Mountains. The Hudson River School's landscapes capture the natural and rural beauty of my home State of New York on canvas, including the majestic and mighty waters of that great region. The Hudson River Valley has always had a special importance for our Nation. It was the pathway for early settlers to begin the westward movement that expanded our Nation's borders. To this day, we celebrate the Hudson River School of painting across the country and continue to do so in areas like Albany, New York, the capital region of New York. At the Albany Institute of History and Art, one of the oldest museums in the country, many of the works from the Hudson River School artists are on display. Last week, I had the privilege of visiting the institute of history and art and made certain that I stopped by to view the several paintings that are on display by these magnificent artists. One of the paintings that caught my eye and is near and dear to many is that of Jasper Cropsey's ``Dawn of Morning, Lake George,'' which is pictured here beside me and captures the untouched beauty of Lake George. Although the painting illuminates a quieter and distant time, many of the residents of the capital region continue to visit and enjoy the beauty of Lake George today. Lake George is the largest lake in the Adirondacks and is within the Adirondacks State Park Preserve in upstate New York. The Adirondacks Preserve was established in 1892 by the State of New York and covers more than 6 million acres of protected areas. Cropsey's ``Dawn of Morning, Lake George'' captures the serenity that he imagined once existed and reminds us of the spectacular sight of nature, including our trees, the mountains, and the waters. In addition to capturing the beauty of New York, over time, the Hudson River School artists began traveling more widely, eventually painting scenes throughout New England, the American West, Western Europe, north Africa, the Middle East, and South America. The paintings of the American West were particularly popular. These realistic scenes of what was then, essentially, foreign land to most of the American people sparked the imagination and echoed the voices of the growing grassroots conservation movement, illustrating the need to preserve the wonders of our natural American landscape. In fact, many landscapes of the Hudson River School were used to support the creation of the first national parks. Inspired in part by these paintings, the National Park System has been a significant part of our environmental inheritance, protecting some of America's most iconic and majestic places. I have always believed that our national parks embody the history and heritage that make America unique. Personally, I grew up in Amsterdam, New York, in the heart of the scenic Mohawk Valley of New York. My upbringing instilled in me a strong concern for the health of our environment and an appreciation for the delicacy of natural ecosystems and our native wildlife. As someone who believes that we must leave our children and grandchildren with a rich and enduring environmental inheritance, I am especially grateful for the role that the Hudson River School of painting served and will continue to serve in inspiring our Nation to preserve our land and to preserve our water. For many generations to come, the American people will have the opportunity to view these breathtaking paintings and will be reminded why we must continue to preserve America's richness of natural beauty. Mr. Speaker, I will conclude my remarks by urging our colleagues and the public to recognize the Hudson River School of painting and the legacy forged by its artists. While the school has many ties to my home State and our capital region of New York, we can all appreciate the contributions made to this mighty Nation. I would also like to thank our colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), for his admirable work to promote and honor the Hudson River School of painting. Again, I thank him for this opportunity to proclaim the greatness of this great school of artists. With that, Mr. Speaker, I now yield to our next speaker, the Representative from New York (Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney).

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fulton- Montgomery Community College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Since its founding, the number of students attending the college has grown from 350 to today's population of 2,850--remarkable growth. These students are now becoming specialists in one of 40 academic programs, including business, electrical technology, media communication, nursing, radiologic technology, and one in which I have had direct involvement, clean room science. Under the current leadership of President Dusty Swanger--and I must add, he is a very effective leader and a much-respected leader--FMCC is the region's partner for quality, accessible higher education, economic development, and cultural and intellectual enrichment. Although the institution officially turned 50 in September, this is truly a year of celebration as the school continues to grow and boost our communities in the greater capital region of New York. Again, I congratulate the FMCC administration, faculty, support staff, and students for their hard work each and every day, which makes us very proud.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize the Scotia- Glenville High School boys' basketball team for winning the New York State class A high school State championship on its way to becoming New York State federation cup champions. These young men completed one of the best seasons in section 2 and New York State basketball history. Led by Coach Jim Giammettei, the Scotia-Glenville Tartans not only became State champions but amassed a perfect 27-0 record on its way to becoming the best of the public, private, and independent institutions in New York State. These students will take this exemplary leadership and teamwork with them to face future challenges as they continue to make our communities and capital region of New York proud. Again, I congratulate the Scotia-Glenville Tartans on a perfect season and this remarkable achievement.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Women's History Month. On March 13, my colleagues joined together on the House floor to call for the passage of H.R. 863, which would call for a commission to study the potential creation of a national women's history museum in our Nation's Capital. They discussed the critical need for the museum and recognized the many women who have shaped our Nation. My colleagues are historic women in their own right. Today, I am proud to join them in voicing my support for H.R. 863. H.R. 863 would establish a commission to study and recommend a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a national women's history museum here in Washington, D.C. The National Women's History Museum will be the first of its kind to celebrate women's history and women's contributions to the United States. It will not cost the Federal Government a dime since every cent will be privately raised. Why is it necessary? Well, from our Nation's founding, women have played a crucial role, providing numerous contributions to help create and reinforce this great foundation of our Nation. Women have changed the course of history, and we are long overdue in celebrating and recognizing them and their accomplishments. Women's history is largely missing from textbooks, from memorials, from museum exhibits, and from many other venues. Of the 210 statues in the United States Capitol, only nine are of female leaders. Less than 5 percent of the 2,400 national historic landmarks chronicle women's achievement, and a recent survey of some 18 history textbooks found that only 10 percent of the individuals identified in the text were women. What about New York and its role--my home State? Well, the women's suffrage movement had its roots in upstate New York that I proudly represent. Certainly, the start of what would become a nationwide movement for women's rights in the United States was staked in Seneca Falls, New York, and began in 1848. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony, all who have made their voices heard for the empowerment of women, claim New York as their home State. Let's make sure their stories continue to be told. Countless outstanding women in the capital region have stories that every American should know. Let me cite one, Shirley Ann Jackson, in the capital region of New York that I represent. Shirley Ann Jackson--Dr. Jackson, President Jackson of RPI--is a renowned American physicist, who in 1973 graduated from MIT with a Ph.D. in theoretical elementary particle physics, becoming the very first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in MIT's history. She currently serves as President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, and she continues to advocate on behalf of women and minorities in the sciences. Her story should be told. There are countless stories that need to be told. I will continue to proudly support the creation of a national women's history museum and H.R. 863. When visitors from the capital region of New York come to our Nation's Capital, they should have the opportunity to learn about, to celebrate, and, yes, to be inspired by women's history. I thank the gentlewoman from New York, Carolyn Maloney, and the gentlewoman from Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn, for their continued efforts on behalf of this endeavor.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize a very special 7-year-old. He is none other than Matthew Rumenapp of Wynantskill, New York. Matty is one of two Winning Kids who have been designated and selected by the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York to represent all children with epilepsy during the coming year. Matty is the son of Amy and Derrick Rumenapp. Their 7-year-old attends first grade at St. Jude the Apostle School in Wynantskill and was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was only 2\1/2\ years old. After 3 months of bravely battling the disease, Matty became seizure free and, to this day, remains so. His courage, positive attitude, and lively spirit gives strength to his schoolmates, his teachers, his sister, his parents, and me. This evening, I salute Matty's bravery and courage, as well as the strength of his entire family. As a Winning Kid, Matty will help others fight seizures and work to find a cure.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the service of our Nation's Girl Scouts. On this week, more than 100 years ago, Juliette ``Daisy'' Gordon Low officially registered the Girl Scouts' first 18 members. Since that time, the Girl Scouts experience has enriched the lives of millions of girls, their families, and our communities. I am especially proud to highlight the hard work of Felicia Dodge, a Girl Scout from Glenville, New York. Felicia is currently working on her Gold Award project to help create a sustainable sewing program at a local school in Haiti. Felicia's project empowers the community to clothe themselves and hone the skills to run a sustainable business. Her hard work and certainly her involvement will send over 600 pounds of materials and supplies to the school. I applaud Felicia for her thoughtful and certainly inspiring endeavor. On behalf of the citizens of the 20th Congressional District of New York, I thank the Girl Scouts of northeastern New York for their commitment and for their service to our communities.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize Michael C. Hoffman of Saratoga Springs for receiving the prestigious Flame of Hope Award from the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York. This award highlights Mike's outstanding dedication and commitment to the Epilepsy Foundation, raising awareness and funds to support the organization's mission of overcoming the challenges created by epilepsy and curing the disease. Mike is a successful businessowner and has worked for almost four decades to improve the community around him in the capital region of New York. Through his many impressive years as an active member of the Epilepsy Foundation, I am very pleased to see him receive this award. Again, I thank Michael C. Hoffman for his tireless efforts to improve our communities and congratulate him upon winning the Flame of Hope Award from the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Buhrmaster, who is president of 1st National Bank of Scotia in the capital region of New York, upon his nomination as chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America, here in Washington, D.C. The Independent Community Bankers of America represents almost 7,000 community banks across our great Nation, financial institutions that provide opportunity for our local small businesses and family farms to expand operations, develop surrounding economies, and hire locally. John will provide steady leadership for an 11-person executive panel that draws expertise and know-how from across the Nation to support our small banks. Again, I congratulate Mr. Buhrmaster on his appointment, and I look forward to working with him to boost small financial institutions and their important role in economic expansion on a community level.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Thank you Representative Garamendi, and thank you for introducing on this House Floor some of the concepts that have been presented by the President in his budget presentation to Congress. Certainly, I have been waiting with great anticipation as to what the energy portion of this budget might look like. Why? Because I think it is a cornerstone. Energy policy, energy resources are those cornerstones of rebuilding our American economy, to grow the economy, and to strengthen the prospects out there for job creation in the private sector by creating that partnership, public-private partnership where the private sector will grow those jobs. Also, I am curious because of my past roles as energy chair, the energy committee chair in the New York State Assembly, a role that I held for some 15 years, and also my leadership in NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, prior to my coming to Congress. Now sitting on Energy and Commerce as a committee assignment, I have great, great interest in where the President wants to take us on the energy issues, and I am very favorably impressed by some of the down payments that he wants to make. Certainly, with the $2.3 billion that he is offering for the Department of Energy in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, that effort, I think, is going to launch us into a new series of innovation that allows for job creation and a reduced cost of electricity and, certainly, a drawing us down on this gluttonous dependency on fossil-based fuels as the cornerstone of our energy economy. So I think that this effort will, within EERE, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, provide for that growing effort to promote efficiency. That ought to be our fuel of choice. This investment allows us to accept that notion and then, also, to work on efforts that will enable us to focus our efforts out there that are required for energy. Renewable energy, no fuel costs with the sun, the wind, the soil, the water, that is part of our environment. Utilizing that in a way that generates electricity and does it in a benign way is a very strong cornerstone advanced by the President in this effort. And also, the $4.2 billion that he brings forth in efforts to provide for innovation and to create new outcomes for energy purposes not only with efficiency and generation, but the transmission of that energy supply and looking at efforts to expand and make permanent the production tax credits that are so important for renewable energy in this country, so those are two good, very valuable investments. Let me then just highlight a few others that I believe will be a progressive outcome, if we are to accept this notion here in Congress. One would be to address a clean energy research program, and the President does that with a major down payment for clean energy research. He also addresses the Advanced Research Projects Agency in the energy capacity, acronymed out as ARPA-E. It mimics DARPA from the Defense Department, and what it does is commit a very laser-sharp focus on research as it relates to innovation in the energy sector. Will all those outcomes be successful? Perhaps not. In fact, the character--the quality of research is that failure can be the down payment to success. So where the failure will be realized, we will retest, we will recommit our energies to fine-tune and come forth with the success stories that are required. ARPA-E, in its short 5 years, has proven to be a very valuable investment in energy innovation. The President makes a major investment in his budget for ARPA-E. I was just with over 2,000 representatives from the ARPA-E network who came to town--came to Washington to discuss the future of the program. I am impressed with the leadership, coming both in EERE and ARPA-E in the Department of Energy, and the President acknowledges that-- recognizes it by making these commitments in his budget. And finally, if I might, Representative Garamendi, I will talk about the advanced fuels agenda, where $700 million will be invested in the transportation sector, so that we have advanced fuels. We need to be weaned off of this gluttonous dependency on fossil fuels. So these are very promising investments suggested by the President and the administration, those that will take us into a cutting-edge, new millennium sort of thinking that enables us to continue with that pioneer spirit in this country, which has always guided us and lifted us out of tough economic times. I am encouraged by these commitments and look forward to the budget work that we need to do here in the House of Representatives and working with our partners in the United States Senate, but I think the President has set a good tone. He has ushered in some good thinking, and he is looking at a new wave of energy concepts that will guide this Nation in job production, in sound energy policy, and will have benign impacts on our environmental resources. As stewards of the environment, I think that is important for all of us. So I thank you for leading this discussion this evening, and I am impressed with the energy portion, so I thank you, Representative Garamendi.

Mr. TONKO. Representative Garamendi, just in closing, I would state that three very important underpinnings to a modern economy--a transitioning economy, one that drives innovation--would be the investments in research, the investments in infrastructure, the investments in education; and we begin to see that in this budget. I think the efforts here are a good challenge and a charge to this Congress to respond accordingly. That will lift us into a cutting-edge thinking that enables us to compete effectively in what is a worldwide race, as it relates to clean energy innovation and high tech. We need these investments in order to be strong. We won the global race on space back in the sixties because we committed to winning that race, and that was just against another nation, Russia. Now, there are dozens of nations competing to be the kingpin of the international economy. The President rightfully sees that as the opportunity for this Nation to invest accordingly, so that we can move forward; and again, with his efforts in advanced manufacturing, with the NNMI, the manufacturing initiative, there is great promise there. That gives you a very sharp focus on specific needs of manufacturing, developing those sorts of intellects and human infrastructure, workforce development, that will give us that cutting-edge technology. I strongly support the NNMI initiative in the budget that the President had introduced last year. I think it shows us to be in an advanced sort of thinking and is giving manufacturing a shot in the arm. Our best days in manufacturing lie ahead. We need to invest so as to make that possible, and this budget does that. So I thank you very much, and I look forward to many more discussions on the budget as we go forward in the ensuing weeks.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Schenectady Greenmarket on their 5-year anniversary. In the half-decade since they opened their doors to the Capital Region of New York, the Schenectady Greenmarket has worked to prove that our economy and nutrition benefit when we eat local and buy local. Schenectady Greenmarket continues to find ways to bolster public health by providing farm-to-table meals to our friends and neighbors in the Capital Region and, most recently, partnering with MVP Health Care to build a healthier, more nutrition-focused community. I had the privilege of attending Schenectady Greenmarket's 5-year anniversary last Sunday, and was pleased to see firsthand the good work and services this nonprofit organization provides our area. I applaud the many farmers, producers, vendors, certainly musicians, volunteers, and staff who make the Greenmarket successful. Again, I congratulate Schenectady Greenmarket on their anniversary, and I look forward to celebrating many more milestones to come.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, we are in a global competition, a global race on clean energy and innovation. In our efforts to win this race and ensure our place as the kingpin of the global economy for decades to come, we must support a secure, all-of-the-above domestic energy supply that includes both newly abundant traditional fossil fuels as well as clean, renewable energy, energy such as wind, solar, biomass, hydro, nuclear, and more. We simply cannot continue to rely on a single fossil fuel to power our economy. That is not wise, long-term policy. Today, I would like to highlight one of these abundant, job-creating clean energy sources: wind energy. One way to support this critical source of energy for our Nation is the Federal Production Tax Credit, the credit that keeps electricity rates low and encourages development of proven renewable energy projects. This credit expired at the end of last year and must be retroactively extended to foster job growth and promote a greener and cleaner environment for the next generations. The PTC, the Production Tax Credit, also creates jobs. In my district, the Capital Region of New York State, we are host to GE's Global Research Center and Wind Turbine Service Center. In 2012 alone, GE's wind division produced some 1,722 megawatts of power and provided a local capital investment of some $3.2 billion. If we are serious about helping the private sector create quality jobs that will put purchasing power back in the hands of the middle class, we must support wind power as one part of our overall energy policy and strategy. Madam Speaker, today, I renew my support for wind power and the almost 2,000 jobs this clean energy source generates in my home State of New York, a number that is growing by the day, and a group whose work every day is helping to grow our economy, clean the air we breathe and the water we drink, and make us truly energy independent.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize and congratulate the Albany Symphony Orchestra and conductor David Alan Miller for winning a coveted Grammy Award last night for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. It is the first accomplishment of its kind for this orchestra. The composition, ``Conjurer,'' was recorded at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, also in New York's 20th Congressional District, and it gave our area yet another reason to be proud of the Capital Region arts and cultural scene. For 84 years, the Albany Symphony Orchestra has been giving a voice to beautifully written pieces of music and enriching our lives in the Capital Region. I again congratulate David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony Orchestra for their accomplishments and their victory last night at the 56th annual Grammy Awards.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I and a number of our colleagues in the House asked for unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3824, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, for a simple up or down vote. Time and time again, we were denied that simple vote. Mr. Speaker, poll after poll shows us that Independents, Republicans, and Democrats support at least a 3-month extension of unemployment insurance. We continue to be in dereliction of our duty every day we let this critical lifeline to our long-term jobless friends and neighbors expire. Last week, I met with two New Yorkers from my district who paid into this program for years, and they are shocked, as am I, Mr. Speaker, that elected officials in Washington continue to sit idly by without supporting them. A simple up or down vote, that is all we are asking for, Mr. Speaker. Let's pass this critical lifeline; let's do what is fair and just; and let's get back to the business of growing jobs and our economy.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3824 to end the Republican majority's refusal to extend unemployment benefits that would protect 137,315 workers in my home State of New York, and that number is growing as we speak.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Thank you to the gentleman from California for yielding. I want to thank you, Representative Garamendi, for leading us in an hour of very important discussion which highlights the efforts of the Democratic Caucus within the House of Representatives. I, for one, am very proud to serve with a group of leaders, women and men, within that Democratic Caucus who have a vision of where they want to take this Nation, how we can address the inequality, how we can empower our economy by reaching to individuals and families across this Nation with an order of economic justice. That, I think, is the moral compass that guides us in that Caucus. I believe that many of these ills within our economy can be resolved. I, with great interest, listened to the opening of this hour of Special Order, where discussion on the economy began with your quoting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As you cited within that quote the contrast between those who have an abundance and those who have little, we know that in that historic time President Roosevelt guided this Nation with a program, and we had reference to his administration being that of a New Deal. Today, many of the workers, many working families, women, those who struggle in our economy, are given a bad deal. The bad deal is intolerable. The bad deal needs to be discontinued. So we work, in very progressive format, here on the House floor offering a Democratic agenda, making certain that all people are embraced, are brought into an inclusive sort of politics where we engage in the ills of the past and correcting those ills of the past, studying them, understanding where the empowerment is required. Certainly, when you look at some of the issues today, there is this greater impact on women in many measurable ways. We have the minimum wage issue, with two-thirds of those working in minimum wage being in a category of women. So we need to address that minimum wage. America stands behind that concept. They understand that if you work hard and are trying to raise a family, you need to do it with great remuneration, with social and economic justice, again, and the appropriateness of enabling people to have just pay for the work that is done. We can address that with a minimum wage agenda here in the House. I believe that those dollars are recirculated into the economy. People earning a minimum wage are going to spend on the basic essentials of life for themselves and for their family members. So it, I believe, is a way to strengthen regional economies, State economies, and this national economy, by being fair to workers and working families. There was also talk about the efforts to provide for family leave time, for sick leave, and the worthiness of providing for that and removing of the stress factor within families. It is critical. It is important to quality of life, and it is the right thing, the fair thing to do. Also, I find very incredibly important the discussion routinely on this House floor about the extension of emergency unemployment insurance. Well, that is something that has received a lot of attention of late, but the leadership of the House is rigid in not addressing the extension of emergency unemployment insurance. Well, let me tell you that that denial of unemployment insurance has impacted women particularly hard, but both women and men, and families in general. Let me tell you about two discussions I had this weekend. I gathered with some folks from my district who are communicating with us about the need to have this done. Two individuals--they happen to be women-- Laurie, Lisa, and I, and others, had met, along with a local assembly member, Pat Fahey, from the Albany region of New York. We heard their stories. They have been without work for nearly a year. They have been actively pursuing work, sending out resumes, indicating wherever a job is possible that may fit their skill set, and they are not getting the response they require. So they have talked about it. We wanted to get a personal saga here, a story. We wanted to relate really well so we could be a stronger voice here on the House floor. Both Laurie and Lisa brought to my attention the fact that their children are watching this. They are watching this whole episode, and they can't understand the insensitivity, the callousness, the cold- heartedness. They thought that government would be there at a time when their parents were struggling for work. They want to work. Unemployment insurance means people have paid into that concept. So when you stumble across hard times, somebody will be there to assist you. They are not getting that assistance. You look at the discrimination, with many that are calling my office, women and men, who may have been 45, 50, 55 years of age, if not 60- some. They are feeling age discrimination as they go to these interviews. They are being bypassed, they believe, because of their age. So the work out there that they require, where three people are chasing every available job, we need in this post-recession to continue to be there on their behalf. We have never not chosen to reauthorize and provide for the unemployment insurance opportunities. In the seven recessions that have followed since 1958, we have always extended that unemployment insurance. Why now? Why now do we say no? We need to be sensitive. We need to understand that many people, a great number of women, require this reauthorization. A number of people are feeling age-discriminated against, and so the right thing to do is to empower these families. The dollars come right back into the economy. In fact, it has been stated that for every dollar of unemployment insurance that is paid to individuals out there, $1.52 is realized in the local economy, and so it more than pays for itself. And when the theories out there, when the many institutes, the economic policy institutes, measure the impact of not doing this, we understand full well that it sets back the economy. Some 400,000 jobs are lost. $400 million was lost in the early stages of not doing the unemployment insurance reauthorization. So there are many ills that come with a lack of action here. There are many ills that need to be undone that have been decades long, generations long in their impact on women, making certain that, as we empower women, as we empower them, we empower families, we empower this Nation. There are many things that need to be done, and I, again, am so proud to work with the Caucus that understands it, that gets it, that is trying to be out there speaking the progressive voice of policy reform that will strengthen this economy, grow the economy. There is no more important issue today than growing our economy, and we do it by a sense of inclusion. With those inclusive politics, women and men, younger workers just entering the workforce, senior workforce members, everyone is empowered when we do the progressive order of reform that enables us to grow this economy. So Representative Garamendi, I am certainly pleased that you are leading us in this discussion on growing the economy, on doing an order of fairness, social and economic justice that speaks to individuals out there, in many cases, the ills that are borne upon women because of a lack of fine tuning to our policy that needs to be addressed. So I am pleased that you are leading us in this discussion here this evening on the House floor so that we can express the contrast, the difference. It is not everyone just holding back on progress. There are those who have an agenda that speaks to the common folk, the workers out there, the individuals, the families, the children that are empowered by quality daycare, child care services, that are empowered by a minimum wage increase, empowered by the extension of emergency unemployment insurance, by skills development programs. There is a package out there, Making It In America, that has been addressed by this Caucus, by the Democratic Caucus in the House, that will grow the economy and strengthen the future and provide a sense of hope. It has been done. We need to replicate history. We saw what happened when we engaged in issues like Social Security, Medicare, workers' rights, standing up for the individuals out there in order to provide for the remuneration that they require and deserve. That is respect, and that is providing hope for America's working families. So let's hope we can move forward with a progressive agenda for this Nation's working families.

Mr. TONKO. Absolutely.

Mr. TONKO. Sure. And I thank, again, the gentleman from California for yielding. The Make It In America program, the concept of that, is a very strong domestic agenda. In and of itself, it has great merit. But let's put that into the context of the bigger picture, and that is the international sweepstakes for the economy, for landing jobs. Many of us can recall the global race on space in the sixties, and it was critical to win that race. We had come off a failing moment with Sputnik, dusted off our backside and said never again. So this Nation committed, with passionate resolve, that we would win that global race on space. That was just two nations, U.S. vs. USSR. Who would land on that Moon, stake their flag first? We were determined it was going to be the United States. And a rather youthful President led the Nation, again, with passionate resolve, so that we had dollars for training, for research, for education, for equipment, and we were going to win that race, and we did. In my first year in Congress, in 2009, we celebrated the 40th anniversary. Neil Armstrong was here to shake the hands of many Members of Congress, thanking him for the poetry of the moment in that July of 1969. It was more than the one small step for man, one giant step for mankind, the poetry of the moment. It was the unleashing of untold amounts of technology that impacted communications, energy generation, health care. Across the gamut of job creation, technology entered in. Fast-forward to today. A rather youthful President is asking again that we embrace, with passion, our entry into a global race, this time on innovation and clean energy and high tech. But this time, dozens of competitors. So Make It In America is noble in and of its own right, but it is critical when we place it into the bigger picture of a global race on innovation. And it is not our choice to determine if we are going to enter the race. Our choice ought to be how prepared, how strong, how competitive will we be as we enter that race. That requires education, higher education, skills development, energy costs, innovation of all sorts. That comes with the passion of reform. So we need an agenda like that presented with Make It In America that addresses the needs of the workers, that speaks to the empowerment that comes with research which equals jobs. For us to have that pioneer spirit, which I believe is in the DNA of America and her workers, we need to embrace that pioneer spirit and move forward. Now, Representative Garamendi is going to joke that I always talk about the donor area that the 20th Congressional District of New York is and was to the development of the Industrial Revolution in this Nation. But the Erie Canal made a port out of a little town called New York, and then developed into the birthing of a necklace of communities called mill towns that became the epicenters of invention and innovation. We need that same spirit to be embraced today with this out-of-the- box thinking, where we can bring about the best of America and provide hope for workers, for families across this Nation, and do it in a way that allows us to win this given race, this global race on innovation. Whoever wins this race, as the President, President Obama, has been quoted oftentimes, will be the kingpin of the international economy. That is an important assignment to this House, the House of Representatives. It is an important assignment to Congress. It is an important challenge to all of us, as Americans, to commit to that agenda of investing, investing in America so that our best days lie ahead. I am convinced that with this sort of progressive thinking, our best days lie ahead, and that we deliver hope to the doorsteps of individuals and families across this Nation with a vision of how we can win this next quarter of global competition.

Mr. TONKO. I will just indicate that not far from the 20th Congressional District in upstate New York is the Women's Hall of Fame. And just recently, our leader, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, was inducted into that hall of fame. We think of the stories of women in the chronicles of American history, the women who embraced sacrifice and struggled to make a difference. Think of what happens when we empower the inexorable outcomes that they have journeyed through over the course of our history. Think of the empowerment that comes. So with the vision of progressive orders of reform, our best days lie ahead; and we can deliver that hope that we are challenged to deliver. So it has been tremendous speaking with you and our colleagues on the floor here this evening. Let's move forward and provide that hope to America's working families.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, with all of the recent reporting on snow and rain events, it is hard to imagine that water scarcity is one of the greatest threats from climate change, but it is. And water scarcity already imposes tremendous costs and suffering on some 1.3 billion people around the world. A study published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences combined agricultural and water models to gain a more realistic estimate of the impacts of climate change on food production. The results were not encouraging. Agriculture is our largest single use of water, primarily for irrigation; and it is irrigation water that the study's authors project will be reduced significantly, converting between 48 and 148 million acres from irrigated to rain-fed land. There are substitutes for many materials we use but not for water. We must protect water resources and use them with care. And part of that effort must be to address climate change by limiting the emissions that are threatening our futures and that of our children. Food supplies, human health, and economic and social progress all require adequate, reliable clean water supplies. We should act now before any more people are forced to endure water shortages.

Mr. TONKO

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.