Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter   Have questions? Contact Me Here Strengthening Our Civil Liberties and National Security   At a time when our adversaries are ramping up their intelligence and military capabilities and seeking to orchestrate attacks on our homeland, we must ensure that our intelligence community has the capabilities to swiftly counteract and prevent terrorist attacks. That's why I voted in favor of of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, the largest intelligence reform package since FISA's creation in 1978, to prevent the FBI from targeting Americans, increase transparency and accountability in our intelligence community, and strengthen our national security. Section 702, which applies only to foreigners outside the United States, is the most critical tool to keeping America safe, whether it is countering Cyber Attacks, hindering the flow of deadly fentanyl into our country, or averting threats from China, Iran, and foreign terrorist organizations. Our Republican Majority is committed to preventing another Russia Hoax FISA disaster and ensuring that FISA can no longer be abused to target Americans and political adversaries. The abuses by the FBI have been outrageous and unlawful. I support Representative Mike Garcia’s condemnation of FBI Director Wray for failing to uphold the law and holding those who violated our laws accountable. This legislation provides 56 reforms to current law, including reducing the number of FBI agents who can perform Section 702 searches by 90 percent, and enhances criminal penalties for those who violate FISA, leak FISA applications, or lie to the FISA Court. Importantly, this bill also prohibits vague “abouts” searches that make broad sweeping searches of data. This bill does not include a dangerous proposal that would have granted Fourth Amendment rights to foreign nationals by requiring a warrant to search foreign surveillance data already lawfully collected by our national security agencies. Under existing law, national security agencies already require a warrant to collect data and take any action against U.S. citizens. This amendment would hamper important law enforcement efforts to protect Americans and would further the radical Defund and Demoralize the Police movement that has been codified by New York’s Greenlight and Bail Reform laws. Approximately 90 percent of individuals on the terror watch list have crossed our Northern Border illegally, leaving New York particularly vulnerable to terror threats. Section 702 is a critical tool for law enforcement to protect New Yorkers and all Americans. By not reauthorizing a substantially reformed Section 702, we would have allowed our foreign adversaries to plan terrorist attacks without our knowledge. This would give our enemies the ability to undermine our freedoms and orchestrate attacks on our soil. As a Constitutional lawyer, I remain dedicated to protecting our civil liberties and privacy while defending our national security. This bill furthers the reforms to Section 702, which was made by and supported by President Trump in 2017, and I was honored to support its passage. Biden's Student Loan "Forgiveness" is a Scam 87% of Americans do not have any federal student loan debt. 62% choose not to go to college. Yet, thanks to President Biden's attempt to boost his poll numbers, these Americans will be stuck paying for Biden's student loan bailout! The Biden administration continues to ignore and undermine the highest court in America to score political points. This unconstitutional student loan forgiveness scheme is an insult to hardworking Americans in NY-24! I will continue to work to stop President Biden’s illegal and overreaching student loan debt “cancellation” policy. Introducing the Don't Quit to Lobby Act Elected officials made a commitment to their constituents to serve to the best of their abilities their full elected terms. Recently, an increased number of members of Congress have abandoned their posts and neglected their commitment to their constituents in order to cash out and make millions lobbying. I introduced the Don’t Quit to Lobby Act to change the timeframe that a former Member of Congress is prohibited from lobbying to one year after the Member’s elected term ends in the House, and two years after the Senator’s elected term ends in the Senate. This legislation ensures that when these members leave office, they are forbidden from engaging in lobbying activities for one year after their elected term ends, guarding against potential early retirements solely driven by financial opportunities. We must uphold the integrity of public service! READ MORE: Republican wants to BAN lawmakers who leave Congress early from lobbying for one year after term ends saying 'oath of office' comes first over selfish 'exasperation' after high-profile GOP departures Transparency in Congress and a well-informed electorate are vital to preserving our self-governing Constitutional Republic. My constituents deserve to know how their members of Congress vote, which is why I have explained every vote I have cast in Congress since I was first elected. To read more about my votes and see the full list with explanations of all the legislation considered this week by the House, please click here. ​​I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. At a time when our adversaries are ramping up their military capabilities and seeking to orchestrate attacks on our homeland, we must ensure that our intelligence community has the capabilities to swiftly counteract and prevent terrorist attacks. Section 702, which applies only to foreigners outside the United States, is the most critical tool to keeping America safe. It plays an invaluable role in countering cyber attacks, hindering the flow of deadly fentanyl into our country, and averting threats from China, Iran, and foreign terrorist organizations. In addition, our Republican Majority is committed to preventing another Russia Hoax FISA disaster and ensuring that FISA can no longer be abused to target Americans and political adversaries. The abuses by the FBI have been outrageous and unlawful. That is why I support Representative Mike Garcia’s condemnation of FBI Director Wray for failing to uphold the law and holding those who violated our laws accountable. As a solution to this abuse, this legislation provides 56 reforms to the current law, including reducing the number of FBI agents who can perform Section 702 searches by 90 percent and enhancing criminal penalties for those who violate FISA, leak FISA applications, or lie to the FISA Court. This bill does not include a dangerous proposal that would have undermined the entire purpose of Section 702 through granting Fourth Amendment rights to foreign nationals by requiring a warrant to search foreign surveillance data already lawfully collected by our national security agencies. Under existing law, national security agencies already require a warrant to collect data and take any action against U.S. citizens. This amendment would hamper important law enforcement efforts to protect Americans and would further the radical Defund and Demoralize the Police movement that has been codified by New York’s Greenlight and Bail Reform laws. Approximately 90 percent of individuals on the terror watchlist who have crossed the border illegally have gone through our northern border, leaving New York particularly vulnerable to terror threats. Section 702 is a critical tool for law enforcement to protect New Yorkers and all Americans. By not reauthorizing a substantially reformed Section 702, we would have allowed our foreign adversaries to plan terrorist attacks and undermine our national security without our knowledge. We cannot give our enemies the ability to undermine our freedoms and orchestrate attacks on our soil. As a constitutional lawyer, I remain dedicated to protecting our civil liberties and privacy while defending our national security. The legislation effectively reforms Section 702, which was made by and supported by President Trump in 2017, and I was honored to support its passage. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 273-147.  I voted “Yes” on S. 382, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Land Into Trust Confirmation Act of 2023. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is a federally recognized tribe located in western Washington state. S. 382 places 17.26 acres of land owned by the tribe into trust, while preventing gaming on the land. In addition, due to pre-existing contamination of the land, the bill clarifies that the United States will not be held liable for any contamination of the land that is taken into trust. S. 382 ensures American taxpayers are not held liable for the cleanup of the land, while also giving the tribe the land it needs to pursue economic development and job creation opportunities. The bill passed the House by a vote of 401-15. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 2560, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023. H.R. 2560 would require the Department of Commerce to establish the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Grant Program. The program would award grants for the recovery, care, transportation, and treatment of stranded marine turtles, the release of rescued marine turtles, the collection of data for scientific research related to marine turtle health, and associated facility operations costs. Grants would be limited to $150,000 over a 12-month period, and the non-federal share of any costs of an activity conducted with a grant award would be at least 50 percent, ensuring strong community buy-in. It is a thoughtful step to help these endangered animals without burdensome regulations on landowners and localities. H.R. 2560 passed the House by a vote of 332-82. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 3250, the National Museum of Play Recognition Act. H.R. 3250 designates the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum in Rochester as the National Museum of Play. Margaret Strong, who lived from 1897 to 1969, was a prolific collector of dolls and toys, and amassed more than 27,000 dolls during her lifetime. Since the museum officially opened to the public in 1982, it has grown to more than 375,000 square feet, including the National Toy Hall of Fame and the World Video Game Hall of Fame. H.R. 3250 recognizes the National Museum of Play’s vital role in preserving the changing ways in which American children play. The bill passed the House by a vote of 385-31. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 6655, the A Stronger Workforce for America Act. H.R. 6655 would reauthorize certain programs that support workforce training and career services for adults, dislocated workers, and youth. In particular, the bill would reauthorize the Job Corps and YouthBuild programs and would enact key reforms to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), such as imposing more robust accountability and performance requirements. I am honored to represent the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Medina, which educates youth on career paths in the trades, including masonry, electrical work, and construction. Programs authorized by H.R. 6655 play a key role in supporting our local economy and our national security and I will always be a tireless advocate for those seeking the dignity of work. H.R. 6655 passed the House by a vote of 378-26. I voted “Yes” on S. 2051, the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act. S. 2051 reauthorizes the Missing Children’s Assistance Act and improves the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Specifically, the bill would improve NCMEC’s ability to: assist law enforcement to identify, locate, and recover missing and exploited children; develop educational materials to reduce the risk of child sex trafficking, online enticement, sexual extortion, and cyberbullying; provide education and technical assistance on conducting background checks on individuals working with children; offer support services to missing and exploited children and their families; and facilitate requests to have child sexual abuse material removed from the internet. Congress must continue doing everything it can to combat child exploitation and this bill is an important step in helping our nation’s missing and exploited youth. S. 2051 passed the House by a vote of 406-0. RSVP NOW for my April Webinar with the Social Security Administration Our April Webinar will be focused on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to discuss retirement best practices, fraud protection, and other services the SSA offers. This webinar is open to all NY-24 constituents and will feature insight from guests from the SSA, who will share invaluable tips and strategies for navigating the complexities of retirement and accessing vital SSA resources. When: Tuesday, April 30th Time: 12:00PM Format: Zoom Webinar RSVP: To receive the link to the webinar, email [email protected] You can find the past recordings of my webinars here. Protecting the Second Amendment Rights of NY-24 In 2022, 7,471 Americans were wrongfully denied a firearm because of an administrative error in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. I cosponsored the Firearm Due Process Protection Act to provide recourse for law-abiding Americans who were improperly denied the ability to legally purchase a firearm because of administrative errors made during a background check. Specifically, the Firearm Due Process Protection Act: Allows Americans to petition for court intervention if the FBI fails to address their appeal within two-months Mandates increased congressional oversight by necessitating annual reports to Congress Offers legal recourse for law-abiding citizens who were wrongly denied firearm purchases due to administrative errors The Final Week to Apply for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition The deadline for the 2024 Congressional Art Contest is this upcoming Friday! Our office is encouraging all talented high schoolers in NY-24 sign up for the 2024 Congressional Art Contest for a chance to have your masterpiece displayed in the prestigious halls of the Capitol! Additionally, the winner will be given an exciting opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to witness their masterpiece showcased at the Capitol. Southwest Airlines is donating two round-trip tickets for the winner and a guest to attend this year's celebration on June 27, 2024. All submissions must be delivered to one of my district offices by the close of business this Friday, April 19, 2024. For additional information about the competition, including guidelines and student release forms required to participate, please visit the official competition page here. Need Help with a Federal Agency? Call us today.  If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, we are just a phone call away and are ready to help you! Please contact my Victor Office at 585-869-2060, my Oswego Office at 315-236-7088, or my Lockport Office at 716-514-5130! I am honored to have the opportunity to represent you. Have news or updates to share? Email me!  If you have updates regarding events in the community or other news to share from across New York's 24th District, please visit the "Contact Me" page on my website to share it with me. My team will try to include as many of your updates from around #NY24 as we can each week.     tenney.house.gov Rep. Tenney | 2349 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]