Make the U.S. Energy Independent Again! |
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This week, gas prices hit their highest national average ever. In New York, as of Friday, the average price of a gallon of gas is up to $4.46, according to AAA. Prices have continued to skyrocket, with the average price in New York rising 41 cents over the past week. This is unacceptable and entirely unsustainable.
While Vladimir Putin bears full responsibility for his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, our lack of energy independence is a result of the White House's war on domestic energy as well as policies in our own state.
That's why I am calling on President Biden and Governor Hochul to take immediate action to restore American energy independence and drive down soaring costs. We must reopen federal lands to safe oil and gas drilling, restart construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, and open New York to responsible and regulated natural gas exploration to create jobs and drive down costs.
The war on domestic energy coming from the White House and the Governor must stop immediately. Americans cannot bear these costs any longer and we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy that seeks to harness resources from a much wider range of sources, including fossil fuels and renewables!
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Update on Government Funding for FY22 |
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After refusing to pass a bipartisan, long-term funding package three separate times since the end of the last fiscal year, House Democrats once again proved they are unable to govern effectively by ramming a 2,700-page, $1.5 trillion bloated omnibus bill through Congress. The bill was released in the dead of night, leaving Members of Congress virtually no time to read its text, let alone seriously analyze its contents.
After working around the clock to thoroughly review the legislation, I voted for the defense and security portions of the omnibus, which received bipartisan support and included an additional $30 million in funding for Rome Lab. However, I opposed the non-security portion of the bill because it failed to deliver relief to seniors on fixed incomes, address the ongoing energy crisis, or reduce wasteful spending. The bill does nothing to jumpstart American energy production and included a 21% increase in budgets for congressional offices. It is unconscionable that I would give myself a 21% raise when so many New Yorkers, especially seniors on fixed incomes, are suffering.
I am tremendously pleased that of the ten community projects I submitted to the House of Representatives earlier this year, eight were approved, returning $12.5 million to the 22nd Congressional District. This will allow us to make generational investments in our infrastructure that are targeted and based on demonstrated community need, not Washington political agendas. While I did have strong concerns with several provisions of the omnibus spending package and therefore could not support every portion, I never once stopped advocating for our community’s priorities to be included in the final bill.
NY-22 wins in defense portions of the omnibus, which Tenney supported:
- $30 million increase in funding for Rome Lab over the President’s budget request, leading to an annual research budget of more than $221 million.
- This includes a $10 million increase for Air Force quantum network testbed, $10 million increase for Air Force ion trap quantum computing, and $10 million increase for Air Force academic partnership intermediary agreements.
- $18.17 million increase for the Civil Air Patrol.
- $1.8 million for procurement of new Civil Air Patrol Vehicles.
Concerns with non-defense portions of the omnibus, which Tenney opposed:
- A 21% funding increase for congressional offices, amounting to $300,000+, at a time when Americans are suffering, many living paycheck to paycheck.
- Continues the COVID-19 emergency even though our economy has reopened, Americans are returning to work, and our lives are getting back to normal.
- Fails to end Biden’s overreaching and unconstitutional vaccine mandates.
- Increases funding across the federal government, despite record levels of inflation.
- Continues to fund Planned Parenthood through Title X.
- Increases the IRS budget by $675 million, despite concerns about consumer privacy and overreaching bureaucracy.
- Adds an additional $88 billion in spending this year and $500 billion over the next 10 years, an unsustainable and unprecedented sum.
Community Project Funding secured by Tenney:
- $500,000 for Herkimer County for the Eastern Mohawk Valley Regional transmission main project.
- $3 million for the Town of Vernon for the Vernon Central water project.
- $3 million for the Village of Frankfort for a water system improvements project.
- $600,000 for the Village of Marathon for a water river crossing project.
- $2 million for the Utica Harbor Pedestrian Bridge.
- $3 million for the Griffiss-Woodhaven Revitalization project.
- $212,000 for the Village of Sherburne Broadband Expansion.
- $200,000 for the SkyDome Trusted Smart-X Experimentation Environment.
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Highlighting the Risks of Chinese Tech Companies |
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On Wednesday, I joined China Tech Threat to discuss the hazards posed by risky Chinese technology and technology companies, including those used by the New York State government and federal law enforcement.
In New York, we've spent tens of millions of dollars on contracts with Chinese state-owned or influenced companies. Earlier this year I sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressing concerns over New York State’s continued business with these risky Chinese entities and highlighted the risks they pose to our state's security and your privacy.
In Congress, issues pertaining to the threat of Chinese technology equipment and software are incredibly important to me. I am an original cosponsor of the Secure Equipment Act, which was signed into law and barred the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from approving new authorizations for any equipment listed on the Covered List of high-risk technologies. I also am an original cosponsor of the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would add DJI Technologies, a Chinese state-linked company, to the FCC Covered List.
A full video of my remarks is available here.
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This Week's Tele-Town Hall Recap |
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Thank you to all who joined my tele-town hall on Tuesday night! This was my fifth tele-town hall event. I enjoyed our thoughtful conversation about rising energy costs, assistance for seniors on fixed incomes, and much more.
Nearly 21,500 constituents from across New York's 22nd District joined the tele-town hall, making it my most widely-attended town hall event yet! Since I began hosting these events last year, I have heard from individuals who overwhelmingly support this format. While I have held and will continue to hold a mix of in-person forums and tele-town hall events, I want to be sure to hear your thoughts too!
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Do you prefer to take part in town hall events in-person or from the comfort of your home?
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Transparency in government is key, and I'm pleased to keep you updated on how I voted on legislation in the House of Representatives. For a more detailed explanation of my votes on each of the bills below, click here.
- I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5616, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act. This bill requires reporting by the Secretary of Homeland Security to Congress on the accreditation status of each of the Department’s basic training programs. Ensuring these basic training programs are up-to-par is critical to our national security and will make our country safer. This bill passed the House by a vote of 390 – 33.
- I voted “Yes” on S. 658, the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act. This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work with the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) to help prepare for and respond to cybersecurity risks at the national, state, and local levels. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 403 – 19.
- I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5681, the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act. This legislation would authorize the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reclassify officers of the Shadow Wolves from tactical enforcement officers to Special Agents upon the completion of specialized training, including federal criminal investigator training and customs enforcement training. Shadow Wolves are “a Native American tactical patrol unit assigned to Homeland Security Investigations.” The unit specializes in the interception of human and drug smugglers in a border territory of 8 million acres and a 76-mile stretch of land shared with Mexico. This bill passed the House by a vote of 387-33.
- I voted “Yes” on H.ConRes. 70, condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and reaffirming support for historically Black colleges and their students. This bill passed the House by a unanimous vote of 418-0.
- I voted “No” on the non-defense portion of the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. After failing to pass a bipartisan, long-term funding package three separate times since the end of the last fiscal year, House Democrats continue their abject failure at responsible governance. The 2,700-page, $1.5 trillion omnibus bill to fund the government through the end of September was released in the dead of night, leaving Members of Congress virtually no time to read its text, let alone seriously analyze its contents. This is no way to govern. Unfortunately, the non-security portion of the omnibus package fails to address the severe crises facing our country, while wastefully increasing spending in many areas at a time when inflation is already at record levels. The bill does not defund President Biden’s vaccine mandates and does nothing to jumpstart American energy production, despite the unprecedented energy crisis we now face. Further, it includes a 21% increase in budgets for congressional offices, while not taking a single meaningful step to help seniors and those on fixed incomes who are desperate for relief because of Biden’s inflationary policies. While I could not support this portion of the bill given these very serious issues, I am nonetheless pleased that the underlying text included several Community Funding Projects I tirelessly advocated for in Congress. This includes a water systems improvement project in Frankfort, a broadband expansion project in Sherburne, among several others. I vetted these programs thoroughly and worked with all recipients to make sure the funding requests were targeted and responsible. I am extremely disappointed these important priorities were tied to a partisan spending package that overall is irresponsible and reckless. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 260 – 171.
- I voted “Yes” on the defense portion of the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. I supported the defense portion of this omnibus package because it included important priorities for our national defense, like a 5.6% increase in defense spending and a 2.7% pay increase for our troops. I also fought hard to secure an additional $30 million in funding for the Air Force Research Lab in Rome, which will lead to significantly more resources for Central New York’s high-tech eco-system. The brave men and women of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also received an increase of $800 million, and the bill included targeted and much-needed security assistance to Ukraine. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 361 – 69.
- I voted “Yes” on H.R. 6968, the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act. This bill would block all imports from Russia of oil, gas, coal, and other energy products under Chapter 27 of the tariff code. It would also reauthorize and expand the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and remove its sunset. In addition, the bill would direct the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to use the voice and influence of the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to condemn the recent aggression in Ukraine, to encourage other WTO members to suspend trade concessions to Russia and consider further steps to suspend Russia’s membership in the WTO. Although this legislation was not as strong as an earlier bipartisan agreement I strongly supported, which was inexplicably abandoned by Democratic leadership at the last minute, this bill is nonetheless a step in the right direction to stop funding Putin’s war machine.This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 414 – 17.
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Resources for Seniors Struggling Due to Inflation |
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With gas prices reaching record highs and inflation rising to 7.9% last month, the highest figure on record in more than four decades, many seniors have contacted my office looking for resources to help make ends meet.
Seniors who worked their whole lives never should have to worry about whether they will be able to pay their bills. That's why I am cosponsoring the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act to ensure federal income taxes are not levied on seniors collecting Social Security. I also support policies to drive down oil and gas costs, such as reopening federal lands to oil and gas drilling and restarting construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
I am fully committed to ensuring the resources of the federal government are readily available for everyone in New York’s 22nd District. If you have questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my Binghamton District Office at 607-242-0200 or my Utica District Office at 315-732-0713.
Federal and State Resources Available to Help Seniors (pending eligibility):
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REGISTER TODAY: Webinar for Constituents Nearing Retirement |
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This week I announced that my office will host a webinar with guests from the Social Security Administration (SSA) open to all constituents.
The webinar will provide an overview of best practices when preparing for
retirement. Those who are nearing retirement or know a loved one who is, are strongly encouraged to join this session. You will be able to talk with experts from the SSA to learn more about the retirement process and ensure you are taking all the right steps as you prepare for this next chapter. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected].
You are encouraged to share any questions you may have with my office in advance by calling 315-732-0713 to give mean opportunity to tailor the presentation 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. Please note that this event will only be available live, and a video of the session will not be available in our archives.
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Recognizing Congressional App Challenge Winner, Logan Henyan |
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This week, I recognized Logan Henyan as the winner of this year’s Congressional App Challenge in a speech on the Floor of the House of Representatives. Logan is an eighth-grade student at Chenango Valley Middle School. His application, “STUDDY BUDDY,” provides students with academic assistance from peers while allowing them to build lasting friendships.
The Congressional App Challenge launched in 2016 and is an “officially-sanctioned” congressional program providing students the opportunity to develop and submit technology applications. In the first four years of the program, the App Challenge received submissions from 14,000 students across 48 states.
Congratulations, Logan!
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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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