Join Me for a Town Hall this Wednesday
I am pleased to invite you to a virtual Town Hall this coming Wednesday, where we can discuss issues important to you and our community. You can sign up for the virtual discussion by clicking the link below. Please provide your full name, email address, and phone number to receive instructions to join the discussion this upcoming week. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office at (202) 225-3665 if you have any questions. I’m looking forward to the conversation!
Click the link below to sign up or email your full name, email address, and phone number to [email protected].
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Election Integrity Caucus
I launched the Congressional Election Integrity Caucus this week to proactively educate and inform the American public about issues related to election security and actively drive commonsense policy solutions to restore faith in the democratic process and improve the administration of elections. The caucus will be led by myself and Congressman Mike Garcia of California
More Americans than ever before have deep concerns regarding how elections are administered in our country. Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our constitutional republic, and voting is one of the most sacred rights and responsibilities we have as Americans. I firmly believe Congress must focus on restoring people’s faith in the democratic process but House Democrats are trying to nationalize harmful election mandates through bills like H.R. 1, which would ban voter ID, permit ballot harvesting, require same-day voting and registration, and include other changes that will increase administrative confusion and the likelihood of fraud and abuse.
The Election Integrity Caucus will shape the debate around election reform in Congress and drive real policy outcomes. I want every eligible American to vote. House Democrats continue to claim that we can’t protect our elections while also increasing participation, but they’re wrong. This caucus will focus on proactively educating voters about their sacred right to vote and enacting solutions to increase turnout and participation while securing safeguards to make sure only legal votes count.
When a record number of Americans are concerned about the integrity of our elections, we need to come together to find solutions to the problem. That’s the focus of the Election Integrity Caucus.
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Supporting Our Veterans
Too many veterans struggle to transition into the civilian workforce, which is why Congress must do more to tackle this issue head on. I have joined several of my colleagues to introduce the Veterans Fellowship Act (H.R. 2391) in Congress. This bill will connect veterans with non-profits around the country to focus on growing their professional experience and expertise in the workplace. America’s veterans served selflessly and put it all on the line for our great Nation, and we have to have their backs once they leave activity-duty service. I’m honored to join Representative Madison Cawthorn to support this legislation.
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Cosponsor Update
I am pleased to share several bills that I cosponsored in Congress this week. I am focused on representing you in Washington and will continue to support commonsense legislation that delivers results for New York families, small businesses and seniors. This is what I cosponsored this week:
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H.R. 2437 - To extend to May 17 the first scheduled individual estimated tax payment for 2021
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H.R. 2391 - To direct the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training to carry out a pilot program on short-term fellowship programs for veterans
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H.R. 2290 - To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to submit a report on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on small business concerns, and for other purposes.
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H.Res. 280 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that decades of policies rooted in socialism have stifled United States domestic pharmaceutical drug manufacturing and left the United States exposed to the hostile actions and unfair trade practices of the People's Republic of China.
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Tenney Introduces the National Essential Caregivers Act to Protect Seniors and other Long-Term Care Residents During Public Health Emergencies
This week, I introduced the Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 2114) in Congress to protect our seniors and long-term care residents in the event of a future public health emergency. One of the greatest tragedies of the COVID-19 pandemic is that individuals living in nursing and group homes were put at greater risk because of negligent policies put in place by Governor Cuomo. Even worse is these individuals were forced to suffer for more than a year without the care, love, and support of their loved ones. The Essential Caregivers Act will ensure this never happens again by requiring long-term care facilities to guarantee access to designated essential caregivers during any public health crisis.
This new federal standard will prevent seniors and those with disabilities from the indignity of being cut off from their caregivers. While so many New York families continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones and demand Governor Cuomo be held accountable, this bill is one compassionate step toward making sure the most vulnerable among us never suffer alone in isolation again.
I am especially grateful to the many stakeholders who worked with me on this bill, and to the many New Yorkers who joined me to introduce this bill and share their personal experiences about losing their loved ones. I was extremely moved by their stories and the determination they have in raising awareness of this issue. It further underscores the need for a federal standard to be passed into law, and I am committed to bringing this fight to Washington.
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"I believe every facility in America needs the Essential Caregiver Bill. No resident anywhere deserves isolation, neglect, or failure to thrive,” said NY-22 resident, Karla Abraham-Conley, who lost her mother in a nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Supporting Our Local Community Action Agencies in Congress
This week, I met with Amy Turner, Executive Director of the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA), David Bradley, CEO of the National Community Action Foundation, and Jackie Orr, CEO of the New York State Community Action Association, among other stakeholders from Community Action Agencies across New York’s 22nd District.
I am so appreciative of the work the MVCAA does to support the most vulnerable in our community. I enjoyed discussing their latest outreach efforts and sharing an update on my efforts to support them in Congress. Their work is focused on empowering those most in need in our community, and it is truly rewarding to see such meaningful work taking place in our area. Importantly, these organizations are accountable and good stewards of taxpayer money.
Just as I have done in the past, I am once again seeking funding in Congress for Community Service Block Grants and Community Development Block Grants to provide necessary support to Community Action Agencies, so they can continue delivering on their important mission to change lives for the better. These are challenging times, and these organizations must have the resources to complete their vitally important work.
As part of the annual appropriations process in Congress, I have called on the House Appropriations Committee to allocate $800 million to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) fund for the upcoming fiscal year and $4.2 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). These funding sources directly benefit organizations like MVCAA by supporting low- and moderate-income persons through public improvements, including seniors' centers, childcare centers, and centers for people with disabilities.
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"Claudia Tenney’s lifelong commitment to supporting communities and helping families achieve critical support was on full display again today. Rarely have I witnessed a Member of Congress so in touch with the needs of their community. Her leadership is sorely needed in these difficult times," said David Bradley, CEO of the National Community Action Foundation.
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My Small Business Outreach Tour Comes to Broome and Chenango Counties
This week, I continued engaging with small business owners across the 22nd District as part of my Small Business Outreach Tour, where I've met with more than 100 businesses. I joined members of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and Commerce Chenango for virtual and in-person discussions on our local business climate. I learned more about how employers are keeping their doors open to customers during such a challenging time. As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I will continue meeting with small businesses throughout our community. My focus in Congress continues to be to empower our small businesses so they are steps ahead of the curve when our economy is fully opened safely.
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Supporting Our Local Hospitals
On Thursday, I joined Community Memorial Hospital’s President & CEO Jeff Coakley, and the Vice President of Clinical Services Diane Chase for a tour of the hospital and a chance to see how they are continuing operations during the pandemic. Later in the day, I was also able to visit with the incredible staff and leadership at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital to extend my gratitude to those who have been on the frontline in our fight against the pandemic.
Our rural hospitals play a critical role in our communities, and I am committed to ensuring healthcare providers in our state have the resources and funding necessary to continue delivering high-quality care to every New Yorker. To that end, I have cosponsored legislation (HR 489) in Congress that would protect hospitals like Community Memorial by allowing them to maintain their important status as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). This designation ensures hospitals in rural areas in our community can continue providing quality services as a CAH.
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This week, Julius Cummings opened Mr. Swirls Coffee & Tea in Rome, and I was pleased to present him with a congratulatory certificate in honor of this exciting new venture. As a lifelong business owner and member of the House Small Business Committee, I’m always excited to see new businesses opening in our communities and contributing to our local economy. Congratulations to Mr. Cummings on his grand opening! |
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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 22nd Congressional 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 #NY22 as we can each week.
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