Delgado Reacts To Mueller Report
Talks Water, Health Care And Agriculture in Phone Conference
By Doug La Rocque
19th Congressional District Representative Antonio Delgado said in his monthly phone conference with area media on Tuesday, March 26. He joins other members of the House of Representatives, from both sides of the political aisle, in calling for the full release of the report by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller into any possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election.
He called it “imperative” that Congress and the American public know what is in the report that took nearly two years and $25 million to produce. But the Congressman also said it is important to stay focused, and to “do the work and maintain the interest of people across the country.”
In his opening remarks, representative Delgado also criticized President Donald Trump for his call to have the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) struck down. The congressman spent the past week visiting a number of health care facilities in the District, and said that as the wealthiest country in the world, “it is inexcusable that when it comes to health care, we are leaving people behind.” He further chastised the President for not offering any alternatives to the ACA, also known as ObamaCare, and renewed his call for Universal Health Care.
Water Contamination
The Eastwick Press asked Representative Delgado if he has seen any progress on the federal level concerning the PFOA contamination issues in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh. He called it “a difficult matter,” reiterating the legislation he has co-sponsored and his correspondence with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the matter. He again criticized what he called their lack of action, and one individual’s refusal to highlight the issue, a reference to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
Mr. Delgado also mentioned last week’s visit to the Dewey Loeffel landfill in Nassau, a site that has been contaminated with PCBs since the 1960s that continues to be the focus of cleanup and remediation efforts.
Touched upon during the conference as well were agriculture and rural broadband service. Mr. Delgado noted his district-wide Agricultural Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from Rensselaer and Columbia counties, recently met for the first time, and again highlighted the importance of agriculture in the district. He further reiterated his support for more rural broadband access, something that has been a bit of a sore spot for many towns in Eastern Rensselaer County.