Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter   Have questions? Contact Me Here   Fighting for Cuomo to be Held Accountable This week former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared in front of lawmakers on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to answer for his March 25 directive that resulted in the deaths of over 15,000 New Yorkers i. The hearing followed the release of a memo outlining the extent to which Cuomo's office intentionally withheld scientific data on nursing home COVID-19 deaths from official reports. Further, it described how on numerous occasions Cuomo directed his staff to edit New York Department of Health documents in order to obfuscate his responsibility for the thousands of deaths that resulted from his unscientific, authoritarian policies. Rather than take responsibility for his reckless and malignant response to the COVID-19 pandemic, disgraced former Governor Cuomo expressed zero empathy for his directive that sent thousands of positive patients back into nursing homes. This week's hearing exposed the extent of the cover-up by Cuomo and his staff to conceal the true number of nursing home deaths and shift responsibility onto other government employees. On behalf of the victims and the families across New York who lost loved ones due to his cruel policies, I am committed to ensuring Cuomo's deadly actions are not forgotten and that he his held accountable. Read my full statement here. READ MORE: Congresswoman Tenney Demands Cuomo be Held Accountable for Deadly Nursing Home Directive My America First Foreign Policy Plan Over the past three and a half years, the Biden administration’s terrible foreign policy has reduced the United States’ standing on the international stage to its lowest point in modern history. As the mother of a Marine officer and former member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I understand the importance of American leadership on the global stage. We must return to the model of former President Ronald Reagan, who understood that peace through strength makes America stronger. A strong military paired with robust diplomacy are the most effective tools we have at our disposal to protect our homeland for future generations. We must use them wisely to advance core American interests. However, we also must ensure any international efforts in which we engage in are in the United States’ best long- and short-term interests. Currently, the greatest threat to international stability is China and its burgeoning relationships with Russia and Iran, which together comprise a modern Axis of Evil. My American First Foreign Policy Plan combats China’s malign global influence, counters the Iranian Mullah’s brutal regime of terrorism and oppression, maintains peace and stability in the Western Balkans, protects American taxpayer dollars from corrupt international organizations, and supports our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel. READ MY FULL AMERICAN FIRST FOREIGN POLICY PLAN HERE My American and Family Values Plan I believe it is vital that our nation holds true to the framework of values it was founded on. Personal liberty, freedom, and community are uniquely American ideals and the cornerstone of our constitutional republic. In recent years, many of our timeless American values have come under attack, as politicians and bureaucrats in Washington have spent valuable time and resources on programs and initiatives that undermine the value of life, fail to protect our children, and push a dangerous woke agenda. There has been a widespread push to undermine women’s sports, attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers, efforts to promote radical gender ideologies and gender affirming care on children, and CRT and DEI ideologies that have poisoned our once great institutions. I am backing a comprehensive plan that protects the rights of the sanctity of life, defends women’s rights, protections our nation’s children, and bans radical and racist ideologies like CRT and DEI. Together, we can work to protect life and the core values that our country was founded on. READ MY FULL AMERICAN AND FAMILY VALUES PLAN HERE As your representative in Congress, my top priority is championing legislative initiatives that benefit you and your families. Each week, I review numerous bills and letters, engaging in thorough discussions with members of our community to determine which actions to support and address your needs. Below are a few bills I recently cosponsored. H.R. 8386, the President Donald J. Trump Congressional Gold Medal Act – This bill would create a Congressional Gold Medal to honor President Trump’s strong leadership. During his time in office President Trump achieved four years of peace, strengthened our economy, and provided safety and security for Americans domestically. It is the duty of Congress to honor those who have contributed to our nation and there is no one more deserving than President Trump. H.R. 5636, the Protect Children's Innocence Act – This legislation would make performing gender transition surgeries on minors a Class C felony. Performing these genital mutilation surgeries on our children is unconscionable, and we must hold individuals performing these dangerous surgeries on our children accountable. H.R. 9060, the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act – The legislation extends the 40A Biodiesel Tax Credit through 2025 and promotes the production and use of biodiesel fuels to help lower energy costs for New York families. Biodiesel and conventional heating oil blends are safe, efficient, and cleaner than conventional home heating fuels. Introduced the Fort Ontario National Monument Establishment Act The current Fort Ontario State Historic Site is the fourth rendition, built on the ruins of three previous fortifications used during the French War, Indian War, and War of 1812. From 1944 to 1946, while occupied by the U.S. Army, the fort served as the only refugee camp in the United States for 982 Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. Dubbed "Safe Haven," the shelter provided essential needs and services to victims of the Nazi's regime as they fled Europe for protection in America. My bill ensures this important historical site receives the recognition is deserves to continue preserving its profound legacy. I also led a letter with Congressman Brandon Williams to President Biden urging him to use the Antiquities Act to establish the Fort Ontario National Monument. My Votes Explained 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. 1157, the Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act. This bill would authorize $325 million annually to the Countering the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Malign Influence Fund from FY 2023-2027. The bill would also designate a Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator to oversee the obligation of funds from the Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund. As China continues to grow its influence globally, the Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund will allow the U.S. to push back on China’s expanding influence and grow U.S. soft power. This bill passed by a vote of 351-36. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 8333, the BIOSECURE Act. This bill would prohibit federal agencies from entering, renewing, or extending contracts, grants, or loans with biotechnology companies that have been designated as a company of concern by the federal government. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) requires Chinese firms to share any requested collected data, including biotechnology data and some Chinese companies, such as Wuxi App Tec and Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), have collected data without consent and used the data for projects conducted by China’s military that pose a threat to U.S. national security. This commonsense bill prohibits the federal government from working with these companies of concern that have already been deemed a national security threat. This bill passed by a vote of 306-81. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1103, the HKETO Certification Act. This would require the President to remove certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities given to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) should it be determined that Hong Kong is no longer afforded a high degree of autonomy from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The HKETO is critical to U.S. trade and commerce with Hong Kong, however, if China begins cracking down on Hong Kong’s freedom and autonomy, Hong Kong should no longer be allowed to maintain the same privileges. This bill passed by a vote of 413-3. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1516, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act. This bill would prohibit DHS from providing any funds to U.S. institutions of higher educations that have Confucius Institutes or relationships with Chinese entities of concern. Confucius Institutes are CCP-propaganda entities that promote Military-Civil Fusion programs. This bill will protect American national security by ensuring that universities conducting DHS-related scientific and technological research and development are not influenced by CCP. This bill passed by a vote of 249-161. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1425, the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act. This bill would explicitly require any new pandemic preparedness treaty to be submitted to the Senate for ratification, such as the current WHO Treaty that is being negotiated by the Biden administration. This would prevent the Biden administration from skirting around the Senate by arbitrarily declaring this new treaty to be an “executive agreement”, which does not require Senate ratification. I strongly supported this bill’s passage through the House of Representatives and urge my Senate colleagues to pass this critical legislation. This bill passed by a vote of 219-199. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1398, the Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024. This bill would reinstate the Trump Administration’s “China Initiative” to identify and prosecute CCP-affiliated individuals that engage in the theft of U.S. trade secrets and threaten American critical infrastructure. Annually, the CCP steals over $500 billion worth of U.S. intellectual property, threatening American companies and entrepreneurship. Under the Trump Administration, the China Initiative prosecuted over 160 individuals for these crimes. Despite this success, the Biden Administration cancelled this program in February 2022, leaving DOJ without a department focused on prosecuting these crimes by CCP-affiliated individuals. This bill passed by a vote of 237-180. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 9456, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024. This bill would empower the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to thoroughly scrutinize all sales of American agribusinesses and farmland to Chinese Community Party-affiliated individuals and entities. This commonsense bill will help protect American farmland from being mass purchased by the CCP and will help protect American farmers. This bill passed by a vote of 269-149. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7980, the End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act. This legislation addresses a significant oversight in the implementation of electric vehicle subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act and ensures that taxpayer dollars aren’t used to subsidize the Chinese Communist Party. The bill closes two critical loopholes stemming from Treasury’s lenient regulations. First, the “Billionaire Loophole,” which allows wealthy Chinese business owners to benefit from U.S. tax credits if they invest in American EV projects, will be eliminated. Second, the “Chinese Manufacturing Loophole” will be closed, stopping China from using its dominance in the battery supply chain to qualify for EV credits. By supporting this bill, we take an important step in safeguarding American manufacturers, closing loopholes that benefit our adversaries, and standing firm against the CCP. It’s time for Congress to address the issues created by the Biden-Harris Administration and keep American tax dollars out of the hands of the CCP. This bill passed by a vote of 217-192. Attend an Upcoming Service Academy Informational Night Near You! As a member of the House of Representatives and Mother of a Naval Academy graduate, it is my honor to nominate a select number of candidates to four of the five service academies. This honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. If you, or a student you know, are interested in applying for a nomination to one of the service academies, we highly recommend you attend an upcoming Service Academy Informational Night hosted by the New York Congressional delegation. For more information on an event in your area and to RSVP, visit the links below! Central New York, September 30th To apply to be nominated to a Service Academy by our office, please visit our website here and be sure to submit your application by October 11. For more information, feel free to contact my Oswego office at (315) 236-7088! Internships Available in our DC and District Offices Interested in interning in my Washington DC, Oswego, Lockport or Victor offices? Apply today! Our team is looking for students from New York's 24th Congressional District who are interested in learning more about the legislative process. Fall 2024 internships will begin next month, so don't miss your chance! To apply, please fill out the form on my website here. Please call my Washington DC office at 202-225-3665 with any questions. 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 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice