Congresswoman Tenney's Weekly Newsletter Have questions? Contact Me Here Congratulations to NY-22 Students Who Were Offered Appointments to U.S. Military Service Academies! This week, I had the privilege of announcing that six students from New York’s 22nd Congressional District were offered a total of eight appointments to United States Military Service Academies. This year, I nominated 11 students for appointments to Service Academies. These students were nominated by an independent panel based on their academic achievement, exceptional character, and commitment to community service. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I can nominate a select number of candidates to the Service Academies each year. Students were recommended to me for nomination by a local independent committee made up of community leaders and veterans from across our communities. One of the greatest honors I have as a member of Congress is to nominate some of our region’s most talented students to the Military Service Academies. My son attended the Naval Academy, which is why the Service Academy process has always been especially important to me. I am inspired to see so many young people motivated to serve our country in this way. Congratulations to all who received appointments, and I wish them nothing but success in their upcoming academic and military careers! Listed below are the students who were offered appointments: *student offered appointments to multiple academies United States Air Force Academy *Lauren Dorfman, Rome Free Academy Dani Bryan, Ross Corners Christian Academy United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School Aidan Marroquin, Immaculate Heart Central United States Naval Academy *Lauren Dorfman, Rome Free Academy Mario Mannella, Proctor High School Shreya Patel, Central Valley Academy Nicholas Shedd, Central Valley Academy United States Military Academy *Lauren Dorfman, Rome Free Academy High school students interested in applying for a US Service Academy in the future can look forward to attending our region’s annual academy night, which will take place in Fall 2022. More information on the Service Academy nomination process can be found here. New Bill to Ensure American Infrastructure Projects Do Not Line the Pockets of the Chinese Communist Party On Thursday, I introduced the bipartisan Stop Communist Construction of Public Infrastructure Act of 2022. This legislation prohibits entities from using federal funds to enter, engage in, or award public works contracts in the United States to entities headquartered in China, or those affiliated with the Chinese government or Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Joining me were Reps. August Pfluger (TX-11), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), and Dean Phillips (MN-03). The Stop CCP Infrastructure Act addresses the growing concern surrounding awards of costly and sensitive public works projects throughout the United States to entities affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. These bad actors have taken advantage of the availability of unaccountable federal dollars and have been awarded major domestic infrastructure contracts from New York to California. U.S. taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects must be held to the highest standards of quality and security. As China continues to launch its offensive against American national and industrial security, no public funds should be used to line the pockets of the CCP, or help fund the Chinese government’s ongoing human rights abuses. This legislation strengthens the United States efforts to stand up to communist China, while simultaneously bolstering our domestic construction and manufacturing industries. More information on the bill can be found here. House Democrats' Partisan Gun Control Package Infringed on Law-Abiding Citizens This week, House Democrats' pushed a package of partisan gun control bills through the House. The recent shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa are senseless acts of pure evil. Our nation grieves for those lives lost. As a mother, I can only imagine the pain and frustration families are experiencing as they cope with the loss of a son, daughter, mother, father, brother, or sister. In the face of these tragedies, the question is not whether we should respond, but rather how we can respond effectively and responsibly to address rising crime in our communities. Unfortunately, House Democrats once again missed the mark. They failed to acknowledge the root causes of these tragedies. From the breakdown in our society and the fraying of the very social networks that once bound us together to criminal justice reforms that have demonized police while celebrating criminals, our country needs a serious course correction. Instead of knee-jerk reactions that undermine due process and infringe on our Second Amendment, there are commonsense steps Congress can take now to address the problem. First, we should improve the existing background check system to make sure it works as intended. In Congress, I support legislation such as the 21st Century NICS Act, which would close the so-called, ‘Charleston Loophole.’ This measure could have prevented the tragic 2015 shooting in Charleston. Second, we need to invest in mental health care and services. I am honored to have recently joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the REACHING Improved Mental Health Outcomes for Patients Act. This bill would go a long way in improving mental health resources for Americans and law enforcement. Third, we must harden our schools by taking steps to increase teacher training and enhance facility security. These shootings are a tragic symptom of a systemic deterioration of our society and institutions. Infringing further on the Constitutional rights and due process of law-abiding Americans is not the answer, and it will not solve the problem. Wins for Small Businesses this Week in Congress This week, two bipartisan small business bills that I supported in Congress passed the House of Representatives. The first, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program Transparency Act, I co-led with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). The second, the COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act, I spoke in support of on the House Floor. As a small business owner, I’ve faced the challenges that all small businesses encounter, including those unique to women-owned small businesses. The WOSB Program Transparency Act will strengthen the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program by enhancing transparency and accountability to ensure the program works for taxpayers as well as our small businesses. The COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act will also play a critical role in ensuring those who abused pandemic relief programs face consequences for their actions. Pandemic relief programs played an important role in keeping small businesses up and running, especially during the draconian lockdowns in states like New York. There is no excuse for fraud or abuse in these programs, which is why I was honored to co-sponsor this bill and support its passage. America’s small businesses and taxpayers are demanding accountability and transparency now more than ever – these bills deliver just that, and I call on the Senate to act on both measures as quickly as possible. A video of my full remarks from the Floor is available here. My Statement on the Partisan January 6 Hearing On Thursday, House Democrats' partisan Select Committee held its first hearing about the events of January 6, 2021. Unfortunately, Nancy Pelosi’s sham committee is not about discovering the truth or preventing future incidents. It is partisan performance art produced by the mainstream media to defame President Trump, attack his supporters, divide the American people, and advance the federal takeover of our elections. House Democrats have reached a new low with this cynical game. I, like many Americans, still want answers about what really happened at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Why was the United States Capitol building left so vulnerable? What role did Speaker Nancy Pelosi play in the inadequate security preparations? What steps have been taken to harden Capitol security, invest in law enforcement, and prevent future incidents? This week, we did not receive answers to any of these questions. Instead, this political theater produced by a former ABC Executive simply sought to score cheap political points. I have and will always condemn unlawful acts. Whether it’s the incidents of January 6 or the summer of unprecedented violence we faced in 2020 from far-left groups, those who threaten or destroy property betray our fundamental Constitutional rights of free speech and peaceful assembly. Instead of coming together to unite America, Democrats in Congress are using this Kangaroo Court to deprive citizens of due process, divide the nation, and promote discord. The American people are deeply concerned about the historic and unprecedented failures of Joe Biden’s Administration, from skyrocketing costs, soaring fuel prices, rising crime, and the erosion of our Constitutional rights. This week's event was a distraction from these very real issues facing our nation. It is a sham, and Americans see right through it. My Votes Explained I'm committed to restoring transparency to government, which is why I explain every vote I take on the House floor. While we may not always agree, you will always know where I stand on the issues and how I vote in Congress. To read more about my votes, please click here. I voted “No” on H.R. 2377, the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. This partisan bill is an undeniable infringement on our due process and Second Amendment rights. It would authorize federal courts to issue ex parte orders requiring law enforcement to seize ammunition and firearms from individuals without proper notice or the opportunity to be heard. This legislation also establishes a grant program to bribe states into issuing such orders with concerningly low evidentiary standards and due process protections. Many of the most dangerous cities across our country already have red flag laws in place and have seen no discernible decrease in gun violence or homicides. A 2018 study by the Crime Prevention Research Center found that “red flag laws had no significant effect on murder, suicide, the number of people killed in mass public shootings, robbery, aggravated assault, or burglary.” Unfortunately, rather than working with Republicans to find commonsense solutions to address rising crime rates and harden our school security, House Democrats chose to advance poorly crafted legislation focused on firearm confiscation and which further undermines the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Infringing further on the Constitutional rights and due process of Americans is not the answer, and it will not solve the problem. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 224-202. I voted “No” on the unconstitutional H.R. 7910, the so-called Protecting Our Kids Act. The recent shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa are senseless acts of pure evil. Our nation grieves for those lives lost. As a mother, I can only imagine the pain and frustration families are experiencing as they cope with the loss of a son, daughter, mother, father, brother, or sister. In the face of these tragedies, the question is not whether we should respond, but rather how we can respond effectively and responsibly to address rising crime in our communities. Unfortunately, House Democrats once again missed the mark. This partisan bill undermines the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans and fails to make the changes required to keep our communities safe and fight the tide of rising crime across America. First, this legislation prohibits 18 to 20-year-olds from purchasing almost all semiautomatic rifles and shotguns, a restriction already found illegal by a recent ruling in federal court. This restriction would, in practice, create an underclass of American citizens who can vote and die for our country but who cannot defend themselves in their own home. Second, it creates a top-down firearms storage requirement that would undermine the owner’s right to immediately defend themselves under District of Columbia v. Heller. Third, it bans any magazine of ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 15 rounds, even though the courts have found that magazines greater than 10 rounds are protected under the Second Amendment. The bill would also make it a crime to lend someone a firearm for the purpose of self-protection, including in the case of domestic violence or for training purposes. This legislation is sadly nothing more than a far-left anti-Second Amendment wish list that completely fails to take concrete steps to improve our nation’s mental health system or harden our schools, two issues which many Americans support further action to address. As crime grips our nation, America deserves better than this partisan bill that undermines the Constitution and violates the due process of American citizens. This bill passed the House by a vote of 223-204. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7352, the PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act of 2022. Throughout the pandemic, Congress spent an unprecedented $5.3 trillion dollars on COVID-19 relief programs. Some of these funds went to programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which allowed many businesses to stay afloat duringthe pandemic and continue paying their employees. However, there have been multiple instances of fraud in many of these programs, yet federal law enforcement agencies do not have the time or resources to review increasing fraud claims. This bill would amend the Small Business Act to extend the statute of limitation for fraud by borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to ten years. This higher limit would be consistent with the limitations applied to bank fraud. The current statute of limitations for all SBA programs is six years. The higher limit will give federal authorities more time to identify fraud and claw back fraudulent funds on behalf of the American taxpayers. This bill passed the House by a vote of 421-0. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7334, the COVID-EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act of 2022. Throughout the pandemic, Congress spent an unprecedented $5.3 trillion dollars on COVID-19 relief programs. Some of these funds went to programs like the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (COVID-EIDL) program, which allowed many businesses to stay afloat through the pandemic and continue paying their employees. However, there have been multiple instances of fraud in many of these programs, yet federal law enforcement agencies do not have the time or resources to review increasing fraud claims. This bill would amend the Small Business Act to extend the statute of limitation for fraud by borrowers under the COVID-EIDL program to ten years. This higher limit would be in line with existing limitations for bank fraud. The current statute of limitations for all SBA programs is six years. The higher limit will give federal authorities more time to find fraud and claw back fraudulent funds. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 416-3. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5879, the HubZone Price Evaluation Preference Clarification Act of 2021. It is important for the federal government to cultivate a competitive marketplace of government contractors to ensure accountability and the best long-term value for taxpayers. However, occasionally smaller contractors are unable to provide the absolutely lowest price against larger competitors. This risks shrinking the pool of government contractors and raising the cost to taxpayers in the long run by limiting choices and reducing competition. As a solution, the HubZone program allows qualified firms to compete against larger companies with a 10% price preference. The legislation would extend this price preference to a larger variety of federal contract types, ensuring a larger and more diverse pool of federal contractors and small businesses can compete for federal contracts while maintaining taxpayer protections and cost accountability measures. This bill passed the House by a vote of 359-61. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7622, the Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022. This legislation amends the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to apprenticeship program assistance for small business development centers (SBDC’s). These amendments allow SBDCs to share information from the Department of Labor and related federal agencies regarding the creation and improvement of work-based learning opportunities, as well as apprenticeship and job-training programs. Highly skilled, well-supported employees are essential to the success of any small business, which is why I am a strong supporter of this bill. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 368-52. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7664, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act of 2022. This legislation amends the Small Business Act to require that small businesses and women business centers receive assistance in hiring graduates from career and technical education programs. Graduates of these programs are well-equipped with the skills required to help our nation’s small businesses thrive. Hiring assistance benefits employers and employees alike, bolstering our local economies while simultaneously providing vocational opportunities for program graduates. This bill passed the House by a vote of 399-18. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7670, the Women-Owned Small Business Program Transparency Act. I introduced this legislation alongside Rep. Houlahan (PA), which establishes reporting requirements for the Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, furthering transparency and accountability, while also ensuring that Congress receives the necessary data to closely monitor this program. It would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information as to the amount of contracting dollars awarded through the program, the number of certifications being issued, the amount of program examinations being conducted, the number of companies being decertified, the number of contracts incorrectly awarded, and any actions taken by SBA to more effectively train agency personnel. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 402-19. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7694, the Strengthening Subcontracting for Small Businesses Act of 2022. This legislation amends the Small Business act to extend the requirement that compliance with prior subcontracting plans be considered as part of evaluating past performance for new contract awards. Current law requires that large contractors must have subcontracting plans and shall be assessed on their ability to meet the goals established by them. However, there is no present requirement that previous compliance be considered during the contracting process. Increased transparency and accountability in the federal contracting process will not only expand opportunities for small business to take part in federal contract work, but also make sure that larger contractors utilize small business as part of their required subcontracting plans. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 411-11. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. This bill would provide for improvements to the rivers and harbors of the United States, to ensure the conservation and development of water and other related resources. It will help improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other water resources infrastructure throughout the United States. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 384-37. I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7667, Food and Drug Amendments Act of 2022. This bill would reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) user fees program through fiscal year 2027. The FDA’s user fees program allows the organization to collect user fees from the makers of brand and generic prescription drugs, biosimilars, and medical devices in exchange for commitments to review applications expeditiously. This bill will also include policy changes to improve critical supply chains, promote innovation, and lower the costs of prescription drugs through competition. With Americans paying more than ever for prescription drugs and supply chain disruptions making it harder to get prescriptions, it is critical that we take steps to drive down prices for American consumers, ensure access to needed drugs, and bring more lifesaving drugs to market. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 392-28. I voted “No” on H.R. 6087, the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. This bill would allow nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) to diagnose, prescribe, treat, and certify an injury and extent of disability for purposes of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. Not only does this expand the scope of practice at the federal level, but it takes a critical function away from physicians who have proper education, expertise, and experience. This legislation could threaten the health and safety of patients and increase health care costs while diminishing the responsibilities and oversight of physicians. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 325-83. I voted “Yes” on S. 3823, the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment and Technical Corrections Act. This legislation will raise the debt limit back to $7.5 million for small businesses electing to file for bankruptcy under subchapter V of Chapter 11. It also raises the debt limit for individual Chapter 13 filings to $2.75 million and removes the distinction between secured and unsecured debt for that calculation. This bill will provide greater access for struggling small businesses and families to achieve a fresh financial start for a more stable future. Our nation’s small businesses are the backbone of this country, and we should seek to improve their stability and chances of success. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 392-21. Rome Chamber of Commerce Celebrates its 110th Annual Meeting Team Tenney joined the Rome Chamber of Commerce for its 110th Annual Meeting in Rome. The meeting was the first held in person since 2020, and it was a privilege for my team to be able to join them. Congratulations to Chamber President Bill Guglielmo on being awarded the Chairman's Award, and to the many area small businesses who received awards and recognitions as well. Congratulations Once Again to the #NY22 Congressional Art Competition Participants and Winners This week, I highlighted the participants and winners of the Congressional Art Competition in a speech on the Floor of the House of Representatives. In my speech, I spoke about the success of the community art shows, where more than 100 individuals joined to view artwork and vote on their favorite pieces. I also recognized the winners of the competition and underscored the competitiveness of this year’s contest, with all of the judge’s agreeing it was one of the best years they have seen! Thank you again to the participants and congratulations to all of the winners! You can watch the full video of my remarks here. Remembering Deputy Kurt B. Wyman On June 7, 2011, Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurt Wyman was tragically killed in the line of duty. This week, we honor his sacrifice and remember his legacy. It was a privilege to recently lay a wreath in memory of Deputy Wyman at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Kurt began his career in law enforcement and public service when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He went on to serve, with great distinction, in Iraq. Schedule Your DC Tour Today! 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 locations, sites such as the U.S. Capitol are doing so incrementally. As such, we are still limited in how many constituent tours we can host each week. At present, 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. 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. Tenney | 1410 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]