October 22, 2022
Dear Friends,
I was delighted to spend another spectacular week traveling throughout our district to highlight some of the many ways our work in Washington is benefiting the Capital Region. From investments in clean energy to legislation protecting mental wellness and more, here are a few highlights from my week in NY-20:
Driving forward a clean energy future
On Monday, I had the pleasure of joining Senator Gillibrand and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu in Albany to herald a $25 million federal investment in the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) to purchase 12 new electric buses, build out our charging infrastructure, and support workforce development. This announcement was made possible by our work to advance the transformational Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
I’ve long pushed for investments to extend and electrify our public transit. I’m humbled by the progress that has been made over the past few months, from passing EV provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, to successfully pushing for expanded CDTA services to Montgomery County.
This investment will ensure affordable, accessible transit options are available to all Capital Region residents and make our communities more livable and better connected, all with the added benefits of driving down emissions and strengthening public health. These are commonsense, meaningful actions that will have long-lasting benefits for our residents, our economy, and our planet.
Supporting mental wellness and resilience
While investments in clean transportation are key to building a cleaner, more resilient future, this year’s summer of deadly heat waves, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes has made it all too clear that climate change is upon us and causing real, lasting harm to our communities—often in ways that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
These increasingly severe storms and extreme weather, in addition to inflicting devastating physical damage, also have the potential to traumatize people, both directly for those in the path of the storm and indirectly for people who know someone impacted by the disaster. That’s why this week I was joined by my Republican colleague Brian Fitzpatrick to introduce the Community Mental Wellness & Resilience Act, bipartisan legislation that will tackle the nation’s mental health crisis head-on by addressing the extensive community trauma caused by natural disasters.
This bill establishes a new grant program to support community-based initiatives that use a public health approach to address mental health problems stemming from natural disasters and other major traumatic events. It is my hope that this bill advances swiftly to give our communities additional resources to support those impacted by a rapidly changing climate.
Protecting our historic, cherished sites
Unfortunately, our region is no stranger to the damage caused by natural disasters. I think back to the devastation of Hurricane Irene that, more than a decade ago, tore through our communities along the Mohawk River, leveling homes and businesses and causing unimaginable destruction that can still be felt today. One site in particular that bore this upheaval was Guy Park Manor. This historic site was all but swept away in the wake of the storm, depriving us of a cultural hub, economic driver, and cherished part of Amsterdam’s rich history.
For years I pushed to secure federal funding to restore Guy Park Manor, and this week, I was delighted to join the New York Power Authority and Canal Corps to cheer their $36 million investment to rebuild and restore this historic site. The staff and historians at Guy Park plan to restore this historic property with an “educational and resiliency park” that will protect the property against future natural disasters so this local site can be protected and enjoyed for years to come. This is a model that should be replicated across our region to protect our treasured sites, and I am proud to be leading an effort in Congress that would make that possible.
These were just some of the exciting events and actions I announced this week. To learn even more about my work in Washington and in the district, I encourage you to follow my social media at @RepPaulTonko on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
It is my greatest honor to be your Representative and to work to deliver legislation that makes a difference for our communities. I thank you for always sharing your voice and your insights that enable me to better serve our Capital Region.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- This week, the site for Americans to apply for student debt relief went LIVE.
- Earlier this year President Biden announced plans to cancel up to $10,000 in student debt for borrowers making under $125,000 per year, as well as up to $20,000 in relief for those who received a Pell Grant.
- The application takes less than 5 minutes. You don’t need to log in with an ID or to upload any documents. It’s available on mobile and desktop, in English and Spanish.
- Once you submit your application, the Department will review it, determine your eligibility, and if you are eligible, work to process your relief. The Department will contact you if they need any additional information.
- Free webinars and information will be available for those who wish to learn more about this debt cancellation program, hosted by the Federal Student Aid Office and the Student Borrower Protection Center.
- To find out more, you can visit the Department of Education’s frequently asked questions page. This page is also available in Spanish.
