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Supporting Parents and Stopping CRT

This week Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memorandum to law enforcement agencies instructing them to more closely monitor parents who have expressed concern about critical race theory and other policies in schools. I take very strong issue with Attorney General Garland potentially weaponizing the Department of Justice against concerned parents who are appropriately exercising their rights. Parents are justified in their concern about their children’s curriculum, and they have every right to engage responsibly with elected officials to make their voices heard. Critical race theory is not history, it is a political ideology that has the intentional goal of dividing Americans. It shouldn’t be taught in our schools. I will continue to support the role of parents, not the government, as those with ultimate responsibility for the wellbeing and education of our children. I encourage more parents to get involved responsibly to stop indoctrination and hate from being taught in American schools. MORE: Read a letter I sent to Attorney General Garland standing up for parents and raising concerns about this policy change.

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Opposition to Red Flag Provision in Defense Bill

I oppose the inclusion of a red flag provision in the annual defense authorization bill. I recently joined 160 of my House colleagues in sending a letter to the House and Senate Armed Service Committee Chairs and Ranking Members requesting that Sec. 529 be removed from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This provision would allow the military court on an ex parte basis to take a service members Second Amendment right away without due process.  Leading up to consideration of the House-passed NDAA earlier this month, I advocated strongly for the provision’s removal. I received an assurance from House and Senate leaders that this provision would not be included once the bill is reconciled between the House and Senate, which will happen later this year. I will hold congressional leaders to this commitment.  MORE: Read a letter I sent to House and Senate leaders urging them to keep their word and strip this provision from the final bill.

Candlelight Vigil Honoring Our Fallen Heroes

Rome Sentinel: Fallen Troops Remembered in Candlelight Vigil This week's candlelight vigil was a touching tribute to honor those who paid with their lives in service to our country. Rome Mayor Jackie Izzo, State Senator Joe Griffo, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, and Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol joined me and almost 100 members of our community to honor the fallen. In addition, Gold Star Mother Maria Babula delivered moving keynote remarks, where she underscored the importance of continuing to honor those who served. Maria Babula lost her oldest son, Captain George A. Wood, on November 20, 2003. His armored tank was hit with an improvised explosive device while he was serving in Iraq. Captain Wood’s memory is kept alive today physically in monuments across our community and by his family. We must continue to mourn the loss of our service members and carry on their legacies as best we can. May God continue to bless our heroes and the families they leave behind.

Time is running out. Complete the Community Opportunity Survey today!

A strong economy is vital to our region's prosperity. I want to hear your perspectives on the opportunities available in our area. If you’ve not already done so, please complete the Community Opportunity Survey on my website. It will only take a couple of minutes, but will give me a better understanding of the employment and training challenges you face as I fight to improve our economy. Please click here or on the image above to complete the survey.

Fighting to Expand Veterans Burial Benefits

Thomas R. McNamara received the Purple Heart Medal for his valiant service to this country during World War II. Several months ago, Mr. McNamara’s sons contacted my office to try to have a headstone placed at their father’s grave.  But due to arbitrary rules from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. McNamara did not qualify for a VA headstone. Now, we are working to change this. I am honored to have introduced a bill to expand burial benefits for veterans who honorably served. I met with the McNamara’s sons this week to discuss the status of this bill and its path forward in Congress. I will always do whatever I can to honor the legacy and service of our veterans.

Chenango County Farms Visits

I had the great pleasure of visiting Norwich Meadows Farm and Southtown Dairy Farm in Chenango County this week. I was joined by Ken Smith from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Agriculture is integral to our region’s economy and I was honored to learn more about operations at each of these farms. I also unveiled my Agriculture Plan that supports Upstate farmers. The plan advances pro-farmer policies, invests in programs that allow our food industry to recover fully from the pandemic, and fights for tax policies that encourage the growth of family farms. Read more about my plan by clicking the link below! MORE: My Agriculture Plan Fights for the Backbone of Region's Economy

New Mobile Office Hours Announced

I am pleased to announce that my office will be holding office hours in Madison County this week and Oneida County the following 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. Madison County  Wednesday, October 13, 2021 11AM - 1PM  Town of DeRuyter Offices  735 Utica Street  DeRuyter, NY 13052  Oneida County  Wednesday, October 20, 2021 11AM - 1PM  Village of Booneville Offices  13149 NY-12  Booneville, NY 13309

Carnegie Library Grand Opening

I was honored to attend the Grand Opening of the revitalized Carnegie Library in Binghamton. The Historic Tax Credit has been such an important tool for communities like ours and I have been honored to support it in Congress. This federal tax credit helped drive the completion of this project. Thank you to all those in our community whose vision and commitment made this possible!

9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Owego

I enjoyed visiting the Town of Owego’s 9/11 Memorial for the first time this week. It was a pleasure to join members of our community to highlight the power of honoring those we lost and the importance of investing in memorials like this. Earlier this year, I introduced the Remembering our Local Heroes Act to make it easier for communities to invest in memorials to honor the fallen. Thank you to all who came out!

Feed Our Vets Hosts Food Drive

This week, Team Tenney attended the Feed Our Vets (FOV) open house in New York Mills. Through its food pantries, FOV serves veterans and their families from all over Central New York. Approximately 500 Veterans from our communities and their loved ones receive the assistance they need through the work of this outstanding organization. This event was an opportunity for the public to see the FOV’s work and better understand the needs of our veterans.

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.

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