Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter Have questions? Contact Me Here Backing the Blue and Standing with Law Enforcement READ MORE: War on cops: 24-hour-period sees 13 police officers wounded by gunfire Last weekend, over the span of 24 hours, 13 police officers were shot across the United States. Thankfully, all are expected to survive. But six officers have already been killed this year. Enough is enough. Liberal activists have demonized law enforcement, fueling propaganda that has emboldened criminals to disregard authority and disrespect law enforcement. Left-wing prosecutors have made the problem worse by refusing to punish criminals for various misdemeanors and felonies. Law enforcement officers protect our communities honorably each day. I am firmly committed to standing with them and all families in our region who want secure streets and prosperous communities. The assault on law and order needs to end. We must repeal NY's bail reform law, fully fund the police, invest in vital mental health services, and hold activist prosecutors accountable for failing to enforce the law. Last year, I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Protection Act, which safeguards qualified immunity for law enforcement. I'm also a cosponsor of the Defending our Defenders Act, which establishes a criminal penalty of life in prison or death for those who murder police officers. I will always Back the Blue. Spying on a Sitting President? We Need Answers NOW! Special Counsel John Durham has been tasked with getting to the bottom of the phony Trump-Russian collusion story that the Democrats and mainstream media spent years pushing to tarnish the Trump presidency. In a recent filing, Durham indicated that Clinton campaign operatives were paid to establish a false narrative tying Trump to Russia. This is deeply troubling, and it opens up new questions about what kind of illegal activities the Clinton campaign was up to just before and following the 2016 Presidential Election. Special Counsel Durham's report must be made public once completed and all individuals should be held accountable. I will also continue pressing for congressional investigations. We deserve answers! WATCH: Tenney Discusses Clinton Campaign Spying on President Trump Demanding Answers from the Small Business Administration About Pandemic Relief Loans Granted to Planned Parenthood On Tuesday, I sent a letter to Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), which is the agency responsible for managing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) pandemic relief loans to small businesses. The letter addressed recent news that the SBA granted and forgave a $2.6 million government-provided loan to Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York’s (PPCWNY), which would be a direct violation of the original terms of PPP established by Congress. On May 19, 2020, the SBA informed Planned Parenthood affiliates, such as PPCWNY, that they were not eligible for PPP loans due to the program’s affiliation rules and size standards. Yet at a November 17, 2021 hearing with the House Small Business Committee, Administrator Guzman could not answer my questions about millions of dollars of loans and forgiveness the SBA apparently provided to Planned Parenthood affiliates under Biden's presidency. At a January 12, 2022 hearing, I then pressed SBA Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware for information about these illegal loans. As an advocate for life, taxpayer protections, and good governance, I am continuing to demand answers from the SBA and Planned Parenthood on these illicit loans, which SBA promised they would correct on the back-end. You can read the full letter here. Do You Support Safe Natural Gas Exploration? With energy prices soaring across the country and our dependence on foreign sources of energy growing, I want to hear from you. In 2017, New York State banned hydraulic fracturing, limiting energy exploration in our state. Would you support allowing safe natural gas exploration in NY-22 to drive down energy prices? Yes Select No Select Unsure Select Increasing Home Ownership for First Responders It was a pleasure to join my colleagues this week as a cosponsor of the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act. This important legislation will make it easier for dedicated public servants to access affordable home loans in the communities they serve. This bipartisan legislation will benefit law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and pre-K-12 teachers by allowing them to access a one-time use home loan program. Thank you to all who serve our communities! Marking 6 Months Since the Fall of Kabul, Afghanistan On Tuesday, my Republican colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and I marked the 6-month anniversary of the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan to the hands of the brutal Taliban. We renewed our calls for accountability for the disastrous withdrawal, which saw 13 American service members lose their lives. Since that dreadful day, hundreds of stories have come to light, highlighting how President Biden’s willful blindness to the situation on the ground, coupled with his administration’s criminally negligent failure to plan for the impending fallout, resulted in what can only be described as a systemic failure of the U.S. government. The horrific scenes of people hanging from planes and women desperately passing their children over the wall of the Kabul airport permanently tarnished America’s reputation around the world and angered our allies, with some of them publicly chastising us. All the while, America’s weakness on the world stage has emboldened our adversaries like Russia. Save the Date: Webinar for Constituent Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners This week, I announced that my office will be hosting a webinar for entrepreneurs and small business owners with experts from the Small Business Administration (SBA). It will provide an overview of assistance available to small businesses through the SBA, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. It will also cover general topics on how the SBA can assist small businesses and will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions. Those interested in attending should call 315-732-0713 with any questions prior to the webinar to ensure the presentation is tailored to your specific areas of interest. Participants who register in advance will receive a link to the Zoom meeting on the morning of the event. Don't forget to reserve your spot! >> Register Here << Congratulations to Utica University! This week, Utica College officially became Utica University after receiving the nod from the New York State Board of Regents! This is a fantastic accomplishment, and I applaud Utica University President Laura Casamento, the hardworking faculty and staff, and all of their brilliant students for helping make this happen. Go Pioneers! Governor Hochul: It's Time to End the Vaccine Mandate for Healthcare Workers Under pressure from healthcare providers, myself, and many other elected officials, the New York State Department of Health announced on Friday afternoon that it would not be enforcing a booster shot mandate for healthcare workers that was scheduled to start on Monday, February 21. This reversal is a win for our healthcare heroes. It averted what would have truly been a disaster for Upstate hospitals and the communities they serve. However, it is not the end of the fight. Our hospitals are still facing unprecedented staffing shortages because of Governor Hochul’s existing vaccine mandate. Many local providers have experienced a 100% increase in staff turnover, and Upstate hospitals are facing a 25% vacancy rate. Just to continue delivering vital services, hospitals have been forced to rely on visiting nurses or even the National Guard. Governor Hochul should not stop at just scrapping the booster mandate – she should also reverse her existing vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to ensure our communities have access to the care they deserve and that our healthcare heroes can return to work doing what they love. Reminder: Upcoming Mobile Office Hours Don't forget: My office will be hosting mobile office hours on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency like Social Security, the VA, or the IRS, call my office today to schedule an appointment. We have resolved well over 2,000 cases since last February, and we are eager to make the federal government work for you too! Congratulations to the Union-Endicott Cheer Team on a Great Showing at Nationals! Congratulations to the Union-Endicott varsity cheerleading team for placing 3rd overall in the Universal Cheerleaders Association competition! The team of 18 cheerleaders competed against teams from all over the country at the Walt Disney World Resort last weekend. Our community congratulates you on an incredible achievement! Don't Forget to Take the Survey: New York Broadband Assessment The New York State Broadband Assessment Program is conducting a survey to learn more about broadband service in your neighborhood. Take the survey at [link removed] today. Accurate survey results will help ensure you get the best service possible! I continue to fight in Congress to deliver rural broadband to every Upstate community. To read more about my Broadband Expansion Plan, visit tenney.house.gov! 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. 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