Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I wish everyone a very happy holidays and a Merry Christmas tomorrow. As we celebrate with family and friends this holiday season, may we take time to reflect on the season's true meaning and the many blessings we have in our lives. As we gather with our families this Christmas, let us also remember those who cannot. From the brave frontline workers and first responders to the courageous men and women of the Armed Forces serving at home and abroad, thank you!

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I opposed Democrats' reckless spending bill

Just yesterday, the government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) passed the House by a vote of 225-201. I strongly opposed the bill for many reasons, including several of the bill’s wasteful spending provisions and anti-Second Amendment measures. The funding package also failed to address inflation, fix the crisis at our border, or expand American energy production.

After the reckless allocation of trillions in supplementary spending this term by House and Senate Democrats, they capped off their fiscal recklessness with this $1.7 trillion monstrosity of a funding bill. This bill fails to address America’s energy crisis or expand funding to proactively secure the border. Further, it does not include backpay for our military men and women who were unjustly placed on leave or dismissed due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. I could not, in good faith, support this legislation, which at more than 4,000 pages, completely fails to provide the relief that the American people are demanding.

Among the only encouraging aspects of this legislation is that it included several requests I advocated for through the Community Project Funding initiative, each of which was subjected to a rigorous review process to ensure it was fiscally responsible and necessary. Importantly, these projects are spending-neutral and simply ensure federal spending reflects the priorities of our communities.

You can read my full statement, including more about the Community Project Funding initiative, by clicking here.

When I served in the New York State Assembly, we referred to runaway spending bills like the one the House considered yesterday as the “Big Ugly." I joined Mornings with Maria this week to share my concerns with the omnibus spending bill, which may just be the biggest ugly I’ve ever witnessed. You can watch the full video of my interview here or by clicking the link below.

Congresswoman Tenney on Mornings with Maria discussing the FY23 Omnibus

House Democrats' partisan decision to release President Trump's tax returns sets a dangerous precedent

The partisan decision by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee to release the private tax returns of former President Donald J. Trump is absolutely unprecedented. It shows just how far the Left will go to weaponize the bureaucracy against the American people.

Releasing the tax returns of a private citizen in this manner sets a dangerous new precedent, and House Democrats are proving to the American people exactly why we should resist their partisan efforts to enlarge and empower the IRS. One of the greatest threats to our freedom and our nation’s prosperity is an overly powerful bureaucracy that can target and destroy a taxpayer’s reputation and livelihood on a whim, without any accountability or oversight.

This extreme move by congressional Democrats should alarm every American citizen. It is a direct attack on your privacy, overturning long-held precedents and setting the stage for many more Americans to have their tax information and personal records exposed for purely political reasons.

I recently introduced the DIRECT Funds for Border Security Act to stop Joe Biden’s plan to use the IRS to target and extort working families. The bill redirects funding for Biden’s new army of IRS agents to the border so we can invest in law enforcement and restore operational control.

Introduced the bipartisan REGIME Act to hold Iran accountable

The Iranian regime continues to deny its people dignity and fundamental human rights. The same regime thugs who are complicit in the abuse, detention or killing of peaceful protesters are also the ones sending their own children and family members to study, live, and thrive here in the United States.

The bipartisan REGIME Act will ensure that U.S. visas issued to members of the Iranian regime and their families are immediately revoked so that these individuals cannot seek residency and reap the benefits bestowed by the taxpayers of this country while continuing to deny those same opportunities to so many in their own country. I was honored to stand with my colleagues and co-sponsor this important legislation. Click here to read more about this bill.

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. This Congress my office has already explained more than 400 votes.

Some of the key bills we considered this week are explained below. To read more about these votes and see the full list with explanations of all the legislation considered this week by the House of Representatives, please click here.

I voted “Yes” on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7939, the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act. This bill would authorize the VA to pay additional education and training benefits to veterans negatively impacted by emergency situations. The bill also expands eligibility for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to those veterans who receive sole survivorship discharges. Professional licenses would also be made portable for military spouses so they can continue working while they are stationed with their spouse. This important legislation extends GI Bill flexibilities that were established by Congress for COVID-19 to all emergencies, ensuring our heroes can continue to have access to their benefits. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 380-35.

I voted “No” on H.R. 2617, the bloated and inflation fueling omnibus government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). I opposed the bill for many reasons, including several of the bill’s wasteful spending provisions and anti-Second Amendment measures. The bill also failed to address inflation, fix the crisis at our border, or expand American energy exploration. Among the many faults of the bill it hires only 300 Border Patrol agents and reduces the capacity of ICE detention centers, spends $2.4 billion to house illegal immigrants without appropriating any money to building the border wall, and it spends millions to encourage states to enact unconstitutional “red flag” laws. It is time to bring fiscal sanity back to congress so we can finally bring wage-killing inflation under control. This bill passed the House by a vote of 225-201 with 1 member voting present.

Continuing my fight for the Delphi salaried retirees across upstate New York

In 2009, more than 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees, 2,337 of whom reside in New York, lost the full value of their retirement benefits in the aftermath of the General Motors bailout. Following the bankruptcy filing, the company surrendered its pension obligations to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as part of its 2009 bankruptcy agreement. The Obama Administration then worked behind closed doors with union leaders to slash the pensions promised to the 20,000 non-unionized salaried staff.

The Susan Muffley Act was introduced in Congress to correct the egregious wrongs and injustices imposed upon the Delphi Salaried Retirees under the Obama Administration by fully restoring their pension plans, with back pay.

I was honored to introduce a bipartisan amendment to add the Susan Muffley Act of 2022 to the FY23 omnibus after House and Senate leaders failed to add it. The Delphi Salaried Retirees have been fighting for thirteen years to correct this grave injustice, and it would be a travesty if they had to start from square one next year. Since the Susan Muffley Act passed in the House, I have been working tirelessly to ensure it is signed into law. Unfortunately, the amendment was not adopted, but rest assured that I will continue to fight until the Delphi Salaried Retirees have their full pensions restored.

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.