Email from Rep. Tenney Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter   Have Questions? Contact Me Here Visiting Local Hospitals Amid Democrat Shutdown Threats to Health Care I visited Noyes Hospital in Dansville and Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua to meet with leaders and providers about the urgent need to protect rural health care access during the ongoing Democrat-led shutdown. These facilities are lifelines for our communities, providing emergency care, cancer treatment, maternity services, and long-term care. Their teams shared firsthand how the shutdown and Democrats’ proposed funding cuts are creating serious uncertainty for patients, providers, and local families. To fund their far-left agenda, Democrats are pushing to slash $50 billion from the Rural Health Transformation Program, created in President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, to modernize and sustain rural hospitals over the next five years. This critical investment helps small hospitals recruit staff, expand care, and keep lifesaving programs running. I will continue fighting to protect these resources and ensure our local hospitals have the support they need to serve families and strengthen communities across Upstate New York. President Trump is Ensuring Our Troops Are Paid and Women and Children Are Supported During the Democrat Shutdown President Trump once again demonstrated that real leadership means putting the American people first. During the ongoing Democrat-led shutdown, he acted decisively to ensure our troops are paid and our most vulnerable families are protected. Through National Security Presidential Memorandum 8, President Trump directed the Department of War to use available funds to guarantee full pay and benefits for active duty and reserve service members, preventing a devastating lapse in military readiness. At the same time, he authorized a $300 million emergency boost to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, using tariff revenues to ensure mothers and children across the country can continue to access nutritious food and infant formula. While Democrats play politics with people’s lives, President Trump is showing true leadership by standing up for our troops, supporting our families, and keeping America strong. Discussing Government Shutdown Impact on NASA The ongoing Democrat-led shutdown is grounding NASA and America’s future in space. Over 15,000 of the agency’s 18,000 employees have been furloughed, leaving only a small fraction of the workforce to protect life, property, and essential missions such as the International Space Station and Artemis. Nearly all other NASA operations, including climate monitoring, spacecraft testing, public education, and research, have come to a halt. The Office of Science and Technology Policy, which coordinates federal research priorities, has also furloughed 14 of its 23 staff, relying on nine employees to maintain basic interagency coordination. This shutdown does not just pause paychecks; it stalls innovation, weakens national security, and cedes ground to adversaries like China and Russia in the global space race. America’s scientists and engineers should be advancing discovery, not waiting on political games in Washington. 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. 4398, the Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act: This bill would mandate that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinicians certify the death of a veteran within 48 hours of notification or permit local coroners, medical examiners, and nurse practitioners to sign the veteran’s death certificate if the VA misses the deadline. Under current VA policies, it can take up to eight weeks to certify a veteran’s death when a veteran passes away from natural causes, delaying military funerals and making it harder for families to receive earned benefits. America’s veterans have risked everything to defend our great nation and protect our freedoms, and this bill ensures that their families can honor them and receive the benefits they deserve. H.R. 174, the Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act: This bill would add additional penalties to criminal noncitizens who defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA). Specifically, a noncitizen who has been convicted of, or admits to committing Social Security fraud or identification document fraud, is inadmissible or deportable. Social Security is a lifeline for many hardworking families and seniors, and it is vital that Social Security remains stable and reliable for those who have contributed to it throughout their working lives. H.R. 1037, the Voter Eligibility Verification Act of 2025: This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist States in verifying the citizenship status of potential voters. Furthermore, DHS would be required to respond to state officials’ inquiries regarding an individual’s immigration status within 15 days. Protecting elections from fraud is crucial to preserving our democracy and ensuring that governance remains in the hands of the people. Seneca Nation WNY Delegation Lunch Our team joined President J.C. Seneca and members of the Seneca Nation Council for a luncheon with Western New York legislators and local officials at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino to discuss shared priorities and review the Nation’s 2024 Economic Impact Study. The Seneca Nation remains a major economic engine for our region, supporting more than 8,000 jobs, paying over $540 million in wages, and generating $2 billion in total economic impact across Western New York. The conversation centered on economic growth, public safety, environmental stewardship, and the ongoing gaming compact negotiations with New York State. I appreciate the Nation’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and partnership, as well as their continued investment in local jobs, health care, education, and infrastructure that strengthen our entire region. Successful Casework Story A Finger Lakes business had been fighting with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for several months to receive the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) for several quarters. My office worked tirelessly with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and the business until this money was released: "[Your staffer] was great to work with." 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