Standing for Free Speech and Against Censorship |
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President Biden is proposing an unconstitutional ‘Ministry of Truth’ to silence dissenting views and stop the spread of information he does not like. This is entirely un-American and sets a dangerous precedent. The First Amendment protects every citizen’s right to free speech and ensures the government does not target political and other views. I am calling for Biden to drop this misguided policy immediately. In the meantime, I am cosponsoring two pieces of legislation to ensure no federal taxpayer dollars are ever used to fund the Ministry of Truth.
The first measure I cosponsored was introduced by Congressman Mike Johnson (LA), and it bars federal funding for the Disinformation Governance Board. The second measure was introduced by Congressman August Pfluger (TX) and similarly bars federal funds from being authorized or appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security for the purposes of establishing the body.
This week I also joined more than 170 of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers about the proposed Ministry of Truth, including what the Department considered to be the "legal authority" the Administration used to establish the body without congressional approval. I will always defend our First Amendment rights.
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Our Veterans Must ALWAYS Come First |
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Recently, I told you about the Biden Administration's plans to divert medical personnel from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Southern Border to process a surge of illegal immigrants expected to arrive after the termination of Title 42. This is absolutely unacceptable.
This week, I became an original cosponsor of the Veterans First Act. This bill stops the White House from diverting resources for our veterans to manage their self-inflicted Southern Border crisis.
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Do you think the Administration should divert VA medical personnel to the Southern Border?
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The Independence of the Supreme Court is Under Attack |
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This week, a draft decision in the highly-anticipated Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson was leaked to the press. To put it frankly, this was an attack on the independence on the Court. Those responsible for the unauthorized leak of Supreme Court documents should be identified and held accountable. As a lawyer and the daughter of the late New York State Supreme Court Judge John R. Tenney, I’m disheartened by the egregious act of professional and ethical malfeasance targeted at the heart of our judicial system’s independence. It is designed to weaken the court and to intimidate its Justices.
The draft ruling reflects the very simple yet profound and enduring truth that the right to abortion is not one that has ever been guaranteed or protected by the Constitution of the United States. This nonexistent constitutional right should never have been codified by an activist Supreme Court, and it remains a fundamentally moral question that should be determined by voters and the public officials they elect. If the draft ruling stands, it thankfully will be once again.
We must continue advocating compassionately for pro-life policies to secure the opportunity of life and liberty for all, including the unborn.
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THIS MONDAY: Join a Webinar on Tips and Resources for Applying for Your Passport! |
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On Monday morning, my office will host the next edition of our Monthly Seminar series, which connects residents of New York's 22nd Congressional District to resources and support at the federal level. The webinar will feature guests from the Department of State and will provide an overview of the passport application process in advance of the summer vacation rush. You will have an opportunity to hear from experts to learn best practices and ask questions.
If you are interested in attending the webinar, you can join directly by clicking here and entering the passcode 040393. I also would encourage you to share this invitation with any others who you think may be interested.
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Congratulations to the 2022 Upstate New York Small Business Person of the Year |
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On Thursday, I joined the Small Business Administration's (SBA) award ceremony to recognize the 2022 Upstate New York Small Business Person of the Year, Anthony Folk. Anthony owns Chenango Point Cycles in Binghamton and used an SBA Express Loan and counseling from the Binghamton Small Business Development Center to help grow his business.
Chenango Point Cycles has served the Binghamton area for more than 20 years. Owner Anthony Folk also sponsors “Trips for Kids” bike rides, serves as a local youth coach for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, and sponsors the Binghamton Area Mountain Biking Initiative to support the development of new trail systems in the Binghamton region.
Anthony is an inspiration to us all and a paradigm of what an entrepreneur should be today. Congratulations again on this significant achievement!
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Rome Lab is Vital to Our National Security and Upstate Community! |
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Recently, I testified in support of the Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate, also known as Rome Lab, at the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). I had the privilege of joining HASC for a full committee hearing on “Member Day” to ask for the Committee’s support for three key investments in Rome Lab in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. You can learn more about these priorities by clicking here.
These initiatives greatly expand Rome Lab’s capabilities and in turn enable the United States to compete globally with our adversaries, dominate the virtual battlespace, and counter emerging threats to our country.
As part of the 2022 national defense bill, I fought hard to successfully secure the inclusion of an additional $30 million in funding for Rome Lab. This included additional funding for the quantum network testbed, ion trap quantum computing, and the Air Force’s academic partnership intermediary agreements.
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Coming Soon: Mobile and Virtual Office Hours |
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On Tuesday, I announced upcoming virtual office hours as well as an in-person mobile office hour session for constituents in New York’s 22nd Congressional District. These sessions are an opportunity for constituents to connect with caseworkers for assistance dealing with a federal agency.
Constituents interested in attending virtual office hours should RSVP directly to my Binghamton District Office at 607-242-0200 with their preferred time. Participants will receive a Zoom link on the morning of the session.
Those interested in attending an in-person mobile office hour session are highly encouraged to schedule their appointments in advance by contacting either my Binghamton District Office at the number above or my Utica District Office at 315-732-0713. Scheduling your appointment in advance will provide a more expedited casework experience for individuals and ensure that every constituent is able to receive the help they need. If you're not able to attend the sessions you can of course call my office any time for assistance!
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Southern Tier Small Business Roundtable |
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On Thursday, I sat down with small business owners from the Southern Tier to talk about the various issues small businesses are facing right now. This included skyrocketing prices and the ongoing labor shortage. It was a privilege to speak with these dedicated community members, including Chuck Jones of Express Employment Professionals.
As a longtime small business owner myself, these issues are personal for me. I understand firsthand the need for policies that support and uplift our small business community. With 94% of all workers in #NY22 being employed by a small business, this is more important than ever!
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Tours are Back in Washington! |
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As our nation returns to normal and reopens, it is my pleasure to share that tours of the White House and Capitol Building have made their long-awaited return!
While tours have resumed at several government locations, sites such as the U.S. Capitol are doing so incrementally. As such, we are still limited in how many constituent tours we are permitted to host each week. At the present time, tours of the Capitol Building have been restricted to one appointment per office per week. Please note, the White House requires 21 days minimum notice to accommodate any tour requests. Availability for both of these tours is extremely limited. I urge you to reach out to my office as soon as possible regarding all future tour requests. You can do so by accessing my tour request portal here.
While my office may be unable to secure a Congressional tour for all the sites you have selected given the high demand and currently limited availability, there are a number of locations that remain available for public tours. I urge you to visit house.gov for more information regarding these opportunities. Such locations include the Supreme Court and the National Archives, which you can view here and here. You may also wish to register to receive your very own reader registration card through the Library of Congress, which you can do here. I would also suggest you contact your U.S. Senators, as they too have been successful in accommodating tour requests. You can submit a tour request to Senator Schumer's office here, as well as to Senator Gillibrand here.
I believe strongly that our Nation's Capitol Building should be opened, which is why I have joined my colleagues in numerous public letters to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to reopen the Capitol for tours. Although tours have started to return, there are still far too many restrictions in place. The American people deserve full access. Rest assured that my office will do all it can to accommodate as many requests as possible. We appreciate your understanding in this matter and wish all visitors a safe and pleasant trip to Washington.
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Interested in Interning in My District Offices? |
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Are you or a young person you know interested in interning in either my Utica or Binghamton District offices for the summer? If so, visit my website to apply today! My team is looking to hire motivated high school and college-aged individuals to join us for the summer months.
Congressional internships offer an opportunity to serve your community while also developing skills necessary for employment in today's economy. In most cases, my office is also able to provide stipends to interns. I hope you will consider spending your summer with Team Tenney!
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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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