Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter Contact Me I Need Your Feedback: Community Opportunity Survey I hope you will take a brief minute to complete my new Community Opportunity Survey, which I launched this week. It’s only a few short questions. I need your valuable, first-hand feedback on the economic challenges and opportunities in our region. I’m fighting every day to bring dynamism and growth back to New York. This survey will provide me with key insights from our community that I will take with me to Washington to drive my advocacy. Please click here or on the image above to complete the survey. Holding Blinken Accountable for the Administration's Catastrophic Failures in Afghanistan This week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee heard from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the first time since the deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan. This catastrophic, rushed retreat resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members and many more Afghan civilians. It left thousands of American citizens stranded and paved the way for the Taliban's takeover of the country. I asked Secretary Blinken for his commitment to safely evacuate a family still stuck behind enemy lines with a 2-year-old child who is an American citizen. The State Department has so far not committed to facilitating the group's travel back to the US despite the threats they face on the ground. I will continue leading the charge for answers and accountability in Congress over this withdrawal. President Biden and those in the administration who are responsible for mishandling this crisis cannot get a pass. READ MORE ON FOX: Blinken to face grilling from Congress on Afghanistan withdrawal Rep. Tenney in the Utica Observer Dispatch: Celebrating New York's Small Businesses This week we celebrated National Small Business Week in America. As a member of the Small Business Committee and longtime small business owner, it is an honor to represent Main Street in Washington. Did you know that 94% of employers in New York's 22nd Congressional District are small businesses? I am fighting every day in Congress for policies that help small businesses and their employees. This week the Small Business Committee held a hearing to celebrate our Main Street champions. It was my pleasure to invite Greg Owens of Sherrill Manufacturing to testify before the committee to share an update on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing industry in our region. Greg's insightful testimony is below for you to watch! Expanding Burial Benefits for Veterans Earlier this year, my office was contacted by the families of Thomas R. McNamara, a WWII veteran and Purple Heart Medal recipient who passed in 1974, and PFC Stanley Czerski, a US Army veteran of WWII who earned the Bronze Star with "V" device and Purple Heart Medal who passed in 1965. The relatives of these local veterans were told by the VA that their hometown heroes were not eligible to receive specially furnished headstones or burial plaques because they passed away prior to November 1, 1990. I was disheartened to learn that the VA has been denying veterans proper recognition at their final resting places simply because they passed away before this arbitrary deadline of November 1, 1990. This just is not right, which is why legislation I introduced this week will expand headstone and burial plaque eligibility for veterans who passed on or after December 30, 1960. Our Nation must honor those who so bravely answered the call to serve. My new bill is a small yet important step we can take to ensure veterans who have been laid to rest receive the posthumous honor and recognition they have earned and so richly deserve. Expanding Early Access to COVID-19 Therapeutics Our state has tragically lost more than 54,200 New Yorkers since the start of the pandemic. While unconstitutional mandates and expansive overreach are not the answers, there is more we can do to expand early access to FDA-approved therapeutics. Increasing access to proven therapeutic options like monoclonal antibody treatments will relieve stress on our strained hospital system and improve health outcomes for New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable. I wrote to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this week, urging her to take immediate steps to increase early access to these life-saving treatments. Click here to read my full letter to Governor Hochul. I strongly oppose vaccine mandates and will continue to fight against them in Congress, especially when Executive Branch agencies clearly exceed the power granted to them by Congress. Voluntary vaccinations are a key way for us to beat this virus and continue to keep our economy open. The vaccine is safe and effective, which is why I received mine and encourage others who are willing to get theirs as well. For more information about the vaccine click here. Welcoming Home our Honor Flight Heroes I was honored to attend a welcome home ceremony for 70 WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans this week at the Binghamton Airport. The veterans were returning from an Honor Flight to our Nation’s capital. It was a privilege to personally thank each hero for their service. May God continue to bless them and their families. Click here for more photos from the event. WATCH FROM WBNG: Locals, family members welcome home veterans from the Twin Tiers Honor Flight Visiting the ARC It was my pleasure to visit the ARC in Utica this week. Since 1954, the ARC has been providing a range of critical services to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout our community. I received an update on their important work, which includes the expansion of a new bakery. I’m always honored to support the ARC and its mission. Save the Date: Upcoming USDA Rural Water Infrastructure Seminar for Elected Officials On Monday, September 27 at 9:30am I'm hosting USDA for a seminar on current rural water infrastructure programs and available funding for our communities. I invite all local officials across the District to attend this seminar. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with USDA representatives and ask questions about the programs it administers. Anyone interested in attending must RSVP in order to receive the virtual link to participate in the seminar. Individuals should call 202-225-3665 with any questions. When: Monday, September 27, 2021 Where: Virtual Zoom, rsvp required Time: 9:30am EDT RSVP to [email protected] September Mobile Office Hours I am pleased to announce that my office will be holding office hours in Cortland County this week. If you or someone you know are interested in attending a session, please contact my Binghamton District Office at 607-242-0200 or my Utica District Office at 315-732-0713 to schedule an appointment today. Cortland County Wednesday, September 22, 2021 11AM - 1PM Village of Homer Offices 31 North Main Street Homer, NY 13077 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 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. ‌ ‌ ‌ Rep. Tenney | 1410 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]