Email from Rep. Tenney Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter   Have questions? Contact Me Here   Voting to Keep the Government Open and Advance President Trump's America First Agenda House Republicans passed a Continuing Resolution this week by a vote of 217-213 to ensure President Trump's America First agenda will be implemented. Americans overwhelmingly voted for President Trump and are eager to take the next steps to achieve the policy priorities of his campaign last year. While I do not favor Continuing Resolutions, it is essential to keep the government open so the reconciliation process will continue to move forward. If we fail to pass a reconciliation package that includes an extension of the Trump Tax Cuts, taxpayers in NY-24 will see an average tax increase of 25%. Expanding the permanency and the certainty of the Trump Tax Cuts is essential and a priority for President Trump and the future prosperity and security of the American people. Funding the federal government is a constitutional obligation, and House Republicans have upheld that duty. Once again, House Republicans passed several individual FY25 appropriations bills, while the Senate, under Chuck Schumer’s failed leadership, did not vote on a single appropriations bill. A shutdown would harm our servicemembers and their families, hinder CBP and ICE from securing our borders and deporting dangerous criminal illegal aliens, and severely cost taxpayers. Notably, House Democrats voted for a nearly identical CR in December. Yet now, with President Trump in the Oval Office, they are voting to send our nation into a costly government shutdown and are putting their disdain for President Trump over the well-being of the American people. While I am disappointed that this CR did not include my FY25 Community Project Funding requests, the CR fully funds essential government services while reducing discretionary spending to lower the topline number. By freezing spending at current levels, this clean CR is another step toward fulfilling the America First Agenda that Congressional Republicans and President Trump promised to the American people. Leading the No Tax on LOSAP Act to Reward and Recruit Volunteer Firefighters Across NY-24, we have over 250 fire departments, many of which rely on volunteer firefighters. Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of our community, and they need the proper resources to carry out their duties safely and effectively. In 2024, I held five roundtable events in five counties to hear directly from volunteer firefighters (one of these events in Oswego County is pictured above). In addition, I've cosponsored the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act to expand access for volunteer emergency responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs. In recent years, the number of volunteer firefighters has declined, making it more important than ever to fairly compensate and reward their dedication. That's why I introduced the No Tax on LOSAP Act to raise the threshold of nontaxable LOSAP awards at the federal level from $600 a year to $12,000 a year. This legislation will raise the tax-exemption threshold to recognize their service and encourage more volunteers to join. Tenney introduces bill to boost tax-free benefits for volunteer firefighters amid NY shortage Hosting Students from NY-24 at the Nation's Capitol Thank you to the students from Oakfield-Alabama High School for visiting our office in Washington, DC, this week! These high school students learned first-hand about the legislative branch while having the opportunity to explore the nation's capital building. Our team discussed with them how specific policies affect our district, the inner workings of Congress, and how high schoolers can play a role in the legislative branch. It's always inspiring to see young people engaged in the democratic process! Supporting Local Golf Courses Golf courses create jobs, promote economic development, and provide a fun and healthy activity for friends and families across New York’s 24th Congressional District to enjoy. Nationwide, the golf industry comprises over 15,000 small businesses, 80% providing public recreational experiences for nearly 30 million Americans every year. It also supports 2 million jobs, and $4 billion is raised for charity each year through America’s golf courses. This week, I reintroduced legislation that will amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove private or commercial golf courses from section 144(c)(6)(B) of the U.S. tax code. This bill would allow golf courses, which provide a family-friendly activity, to use tax-exempt private activity bonds to help recover from natural disasters. This will provide much-needed support to our community’s golf courses, ensuring they have access to various forms of disaster relief and community development programs available to other businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and other leisure activities. By leveling the playing field, we can foster continued economic growth, protect local jobs, and enhance recreational opportunities for our region. 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.1156 - Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act – This bill extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraud in COVID-era pandemic unemployment insurance programs. Shockingly, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has estimated that as much as $100-135 billion in fraudulent UI benefits were sent during the pandemic. H.R. 1919 - the Anti-CBDC Sureveillance State Act - This bill would prevent the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that could undermine Americans' financial privacy and give the government unprecedented control over personal transactions. A government-controlled CBDC could enable real-time monitoring of financial activity, restrict politically unfavorable transactions, and centralize financial data, posing significant threats to financial privacy and civil liberties. By codifying these restrictions into law, the bill aims to protect Americans from potential government overreach and preserve the decentralized nature of the financial system. 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. Monday, March 10 I voted “Yes” on H.R. 495, the Subterranean Border Defense Act. H.R. 495 would amend current law to require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to issue annual reports on counter-illicit cross-border tunnel operations. Dangerous cartels have used tunnels for human trafficking, smuggling illicit drugs such as fentanyl, and bringing known terrorists into our communities. Since 1990, law enforcement officials have discovered at least 230 tunnels bypassing the U.S. border. This legislation will build on the efforts of President Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan to secure our border and make our communities safe. H.R. 495 passed the House by a vote of 402-1. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 901, the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act. H.R. 901 would require the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better safeguard federal research and development and sensitive information. A 2022 report by the DHS Inspector General stated that the S&T Director failed to safeguard their research adequately. Additionally, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has become increasingly brazen in their attempts to undermine our national security and gain access to critical research. This commonsense legislation is an additional measure that ensures that research related to border security and other national defense programs under DHS is secured against foreign adversaries. H.R. 901 passed the House by 410-1. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 993, the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act. H.R. 993 would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a plan to identify, integrate, and deploy new, emerging, or advanced technologies to enhance or address capability gaps in border security operations. To secure our border, the brave men and women of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) need the flexibility to use the latest technology available to them. The bill would authorize the creation of an Innovation Teams taskforce to research and adapt commercial technologies for use along our borders. This bipartisan legislation will help keep our nation safe and support law enforcement’s ability to catch criminals. H.R. 993 passed the House by 406-9. Tuesday, March 11 I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. House Republicans passed a Continuing Resolution that ensures President Trump's America First agenda will be implemented. Americans overwhelmingly voted for President Trump and are eager to take the next steps to achieve the policy priorities of his campaign last year. While I do not favor Continuing Resolutions, it is essential to keep the government open so the reconciliation process will continue to move forward. If we fail to pass a reconciliation package that includes an extension of the Trump Tax Cuts, taxpayers in NY-24 will see an average tax increase of 25%. Expanding the permanency and the certainty of the Trump Tax Cuts is essential and a priority for President Trump and the future prosperity and security of the American people. Funding the federal government is a constitutional obligation, and House Republicans have upheld that duty. Once again, House Republicans passed several individual FY25 appropriations bills, while the Senate, under Chuck Schumer’s failed leadership, did not vote on a single appropriations bill. A shutdown would harm our servicemembers and their families, hinder CBP and ICE from securing our borders and deporting dangerous criminal illegal aliens, and severely cost taxpayers. Notably, Democrats voted for a nearly identical CR in December. Yet now, with President Trump in the Oval Office, they are voting to send our nation into a costly government shutdown and are putting their disdain for President Trump over the well-being of the American people. While I am disappointed that this CR does not include my FY25 Community Project Funding requests, the CR fully funds essential government services while reducing discretionary spending to lower the topline number. By freezing spending at current levels, this clean CR is another step toward fulfilling the America First Agenda that Congressional Republicans and President Trump promised to the American people. This bill passed the House by a vote of 217-213. I voted “Yes” on H.J. Res. 25, the Digital Asset CRA. This joint resolution of disapproval overturns the Biden Administration’s excessive and misguided reporting requirements imposed on certain blockchain developers and service providers — requirements that threaten to cripple the digital asset industry, impose unlawful burdens on software developers, and stifle American innovation. In its final weeks, the Biden Administration’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a rule mandating that trading front-end service providers — which facilitate digital asset transactions directly with users — comply with the same reporting requirements as traditional securities brokers and custodial digital asset platforms, including filing 1099 Forms. However, unlike these brokers and custodial platforms, trading front-end service providers operate in a decentralized manner and do not collect user information, making compliance with these regulations impossible. H.J. Res. 25 seeks to safeguard American cryptocurrency innovation by repealing this burdensome rule, ensuring individuals can continue to freely buy, sell, and trade digital assets without unnecessary government interference. This resolution passed the House by a vote of 292-132. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act. This bill would extend the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions related to fraud in pandemic unemployment programs from 5 years to 10 years, ensuring that those who defrauded these programs are held accountable and taxpayer dollars can be recovered. Under current law, the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraud in COVID-era pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) programs is set to expire on March 27, 2025. Once this deadline passes, Congress will no longer have the authority to retroactively extend the timeframe for criminal prosecutions. This bill aims to prevent fraudsters from escaping accountability and protect taxpayers by allowing more time to pursue cases of pandemic-related unemployment fraud. This bill passed the House by a vote of 295-127. ICYMI: Hosting a Welcome Home Celebration for Ryan Corbett Last weekend, we hosted a special event to welcome Ryan Corbett back home! Nearly 300 people gathered to celebrate his return after enduring 900 days of unlawful detention by the Taliban. During his captivity, Ryan faced horrific conditions, including solitary confinement and limited access to basic necessities like a bathroom, sunlight, and medical care. As Ryan shared his powerful story, we listened closely to his experiences and the challenges he overcame. His resilience is truly inspiring, and we are incredibly grateful to have him back home in NY-24. Thank you to all who attended! Thank you to the Members of the Tri-County YMCA for Stopping By It was a pleasure to meet with Natalie Donahue and Kristoph Kocan from the Tri-County YMCA and learn about their work with the community. We appreciate them for stopping by our office in Washington and giving us an update on their work in our community. We had a great discussion on how the New Markets Tax Credit can support the expansion of the Dansville YMCA. Thank you for all you have done to support our community in NY-24! Welcoming Torrey Farms from Elba, New York to DC Thank you to Max Torrey of Torrey Farms in Elba, New York, for meeting with us in DC as part of the National Onion Association (NOA). We had a great discussion on the concerns of foreign imports and ways to increase domestic onion production to support local agriculture. NY-24 is the largest agriculture District in the Northeast, and we will continue to advocate for our Upstate New York farms! REMINDER: High School Students Submit Your Artwork! As a reminder, our office has launched our 2025 Congressional Art Contest! Last year, over 30 high school students from NY-24 submitted artwork for a chance to have it displayed in the U.S. Capitol. All high students from across our district are invited to submit their artwork for consideration! Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of experts from NY-24, and the winning artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol for one year. All submissions for the 2025 Art Competition must be delivered to one of our district offices between April 14th and April 18th. For more information, please visit our website to review the competition requirements, download the application form, and schedule a drop-off time at one of our district offices. 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 Canandaigua 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 | 2230 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice