Veterans Day: Honoring All Who Served |
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As we celebrated Veterans Day this week, I reflected on the inspirational and heroic veterans I’ve met throughout my career. From Oswego and Herkimer to Utica and Binghamton and across this great state and our country, we are blessed to have so many among us who answered the call. I extend my gratitude to them and their families for their service, sacrifice, and commitment.
It is my mission in Congress to give back to these Americans and their families. It is vital that we support them with as much passion and commitment as they’ve displayed in serving us. I am honored to sponsor legislation to accomplish this mission and ensure our veterans have our full support when they return home from battle or complete their service. This is why I am continuing to host veterans events for those in our community throughout November.
Next week, we will hold office hours for veterans in Madison County. If you or a family member are having an issue with the Department of Veterans Affairs or another federal agency, please call my Utica office at 315-732-0713 or Binghamton Office at 607-242-0200 to schedule an appointment.
Madison County
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
10:00AM – 12:00PM
Madison County Office Building, #204
138 North Court Street
Wampsville, NY 13163
Also, on November 16 at 6:00PM, I will be hosting officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs for a live Tele-Town Hall. This is a great opportunity for veterans in our community to receive updates from the VA and ask questions about benefits, health care, and more from the comfort of your home. Registration is simple, just click here or below to get started!
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Tenney's Tax Plan: Empowering American Families and Small Businesses |
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I have always fought for New York taxpayers. To remain competitive, America needs a straightforward tax code that encourages work, allows Americans to keep more of what they earn, and establishes competitive rates for small and large employers. This week I released my tax plan, which lays out the bills I'm backing in Congress to achieve these critical objectives.
In 2017, I supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act not because it was perfect, but because it lowered taxes for individuals and small businesses and encouraged job growth and re-investment in our region. It was a major step forward, but we need to continue building on it by further strengthening the child tax credit and ensuring there is transparency and oversight in how taxpayer funds are used. My plan will boost American industry and ensure that the government uses tax revenue in ways that are transparent, accountable, and necessary.
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NY22 Congressional Art Competition Winner's Artwork Now Hanging in U.S. Capitol |
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Last week, I was heading to votes in the Capitol tunnel when I saw that the winner of NY-22's Congressional Art Competition was hanging in the U.S. Capitol at last! It is so great to see New Hartford High School Senior Gavin Schiavi’s “Workshop Tools” on display. His art will hang in the Capitol Building for a year. A great reminder of just how talented our students are across our region.
You may recall that earlier this year, I hosted an award ceremony for our region's winners at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica. You can read more about all the finalists of this year's competition by clicking here.
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Greater Transparency Needed for NIH Research |
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It is unconscionable that American tax dollars can go to foreign laboratories where cruel experiments are carried out on animals. The news that dogs were sedated and then exposed to flesh-eating bacteria is utterly reprehensible.
Recent reports indicate that the NIH has been funding experiments that use primates, dogs, mice, and other animals in more than 300 laboratories in 57 countries. This raises serious questions about animal welfare, scientific rigor, research integrity and even national security. I've joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in calling for more oversight of the NIH to ensure cruel and inhumane practices come to an end. Read our complete letter by clicking here or above.
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Supported the Fentanyl Penalties Parity Act |
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The opioid crisis has devastated communities across the country, including our own. Fentanyl and synthetic opiates are quickly taking over as the leading cause of overdoses in the United States. We must change the status quo by investing more in treatment and mental health resources as well as providing law enforcement greater tools to target those who sell or traffic these deadly substances. That's why this week I’m honored to join many of my colleagues to introduce H.R. 5694, the Fentanyl Penalties Parity Act to ensure penalties for the sale and possession of fentanyl are consistent with the penalties for other substances like heroin. Click here to read more about this bill.
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Honoring Veteran Royal V. Smith of Rome |
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It was my great honor to present Mr. Royal V. Smith’s family with the military service medals he rightfully earned during his time in the Air Force and Army. Smith grew up in the greater Rome area and graduated from Oriskany High School in 1964. He served in the Army and Air Force from 1964 to 1971. When Smith passed away in July 2020, his sister, Beth Jones, began requesting his military records and earned military service medals. My office worked with the Army and the Air Force to obtain Mr. Smith’s medals, which include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Ribbon with "1960" Device.
As we celebrated Veterans Day, this was a chance to reflect on the bravery and service of our treasured veterans like Mr. Smith. I also want to thank Rome Mayor Jackie Izzo for participating in this special ceremony.
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Celebrating Veterans Day Across NY22 |
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Across the district this week, we thanked our veterans for their courage and celebrated their selfless service in moving ceremonies and tributes. From Wampsville and Rome to Cortland and Endicott, we celebrated all of our heroic veterans who stood up for America’s freedom and liberty. |
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Utica, New York
The Parkway Center in Utica honored our area’s Vietnam veterans with a special ceremony and luncheon this week. Thank you to Kelly Walters, Executive Director, for organizing the event. Veteran Marron McLeod, who was a proud and longtime Parkway Center member, was also honored posthumously.
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Verona, New York
I would also like to thank the Parkway Senior Center in Verona for holding a pinning ceremony for Vietnam Veterans. So many from our community came out to support this event, during which the Military Order of the Purple Heart handed out well-deserved medals.
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Little Falls, New York
I was also honored to participate in a flag raising ceremony in Little Falls, which was hosted jointly by Assemblyman Brian Miller and the Herkimer Hunger Coalition.
During the event, I was presented with a banner that lists the names of all U.S. Service Members from New York who were tragically killed in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am going to hang this moving tribute in my Washington, DC office as a constant reminder of the service and sacrifice made by brave New Yorkers.
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Standing up for Remington Arms Workforce |
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I am closely following news that Remington Arms is moving its headquarters to Georgia. Remington Arms has been a staple of the Mohawk Valley for more than 200 years, providing good manufacturing jobs to generations of New York families. I am deeply concerned about the impact of Remington’s recently announced move of its headquarters, though I am encouraged by the company’s verbal commitment to maintaining its manufacturing operation in Ilion.
For too long, far-left progressives in New York, starting with disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, have made it clear their mission was to destroy the Empire State’s iconic firearms industry. The Mohawk Valley is sadly seeing the disastrous fruits of their labor. The assault on our Second Amendment rights started with the unconstitutional SAFE Act and continued this summer with the signing of legislation to make it easier for activists to sue law-abiding gun manufacturers. Politicians in Albany continue to target, criminalize, and destroy our economy, way of life, and everything we upstate New Yorkers hold dear.
I am in touch with local stakeholders and will work to mitigate any fallout from this decision. I will continue to do all I can to advocate on behalf of Remington’s workforce and the Herkimer County community.
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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 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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