Paul Tonko for Congress
Published: 12:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Even after a long career in politics, Paul Tonko still has a way of thinking and speaking like the engineer that he once was. It comes in handy this year as he campaigns for re-election to represent the 21st Congressional District. He points to the incremental yet significant progress away from economic collapse that's been made during the past two years, even if President Obama and other Democrats have been unable to fully articulate its virtues.
There's the economic stimulus that Congress passed, for instance. Costly as it was, at some $787 billion, it's meant that some 3.5 million Americans are working today, in jobs that were either created or at least saved by legislation that, in retrospect, didn't go far enough.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from New York (Mr. TONKO) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, on Monday I had the distinguished honor of hosting President Barack Obama to New York’s 21st Congressional District that I represent when he paid a visit to Hudson Valley Community College in the city of Troy.
I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the President for recognizing that New York’s Capital Region has become a leader in advanced technologies, has the ingredients to lead in the clean energy sector, and, most of all, for delivering a message that was full of inspiration and full of hope for a better future.
Dear Friends,
Over the past nine months, my colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to deliver the change that you voted for last November. We passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, directing billions of dollars towards improving our infrastructure. We developed energy efficiency projects and programs, expanded social services and delivered middle class Americans the largest tax cut in our Nation’s history.
We didn’t stop there. In June we passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which will drastically curb our dependence on foreign oil and promote the development of the green-collar workforce I promised to bring to New York’s 21st Congressional District. Thanks to my background and experience in energy policy, I was able to introduce the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009 which will commit $100 billion to developing wind energy over the next five years.
As you can see, it’s been a busy nine months, but I am proud of the work we have accomplished. It has been a particularly hectic August Recess as well, where the opponents to change attempted to take over the debate on reforming our nation’s broken health care system by trying to stifle your voices clamoring for help. It’s quite clear that we’re paying too much and getting too little in return, while insurance companies continue to report record profits.
I ask each of you to take this opportunity to donate $500, $250 or $100 to my campaign so that I can continue to develop and promote progressive policies and work with President Obama, like I did last week when he visited Troy, NY.
We have an important filing deadline coming up on September 30, 2009, making your contribution all the more timely. Please help us send a message to those who would help maintain the status quo that America's working families can't afford to continue the path of inaction.
Your contribution will ensure that a progressive message will continue to be heard in Washington and throughout Upstate New York. I thank you for your tireless support, and I look forward to continuing my work for you on the many exciting and challenging issues of our time.
Sincerely,
Paul D. Tonko
Member of Congress
July 18, 2009
Albany County Democrats!
It is a privilege to join with you for the occasion of the Albany County Democratic Committee’s celebrated annual picnic. For many years, this event has been a proud tradition of the county committee to gather with friends, family and candidates before the height of the campaign season.
While any time is exciting to be a Democrat, we are lifted by the strengths and challenges of this moment in history. President Barack Obama ushers in a new political generation that finds many sparked by a newfound interest in politics. Our party is poised to bring our principles to the forefront of a national debate that will guide our country in a new and bolder direction.
