New Small Business Outreach Tour kicks off this month

This week I announced meetings with small business leaders across New York's 22nd District. Small businesses are the bedrock of our economy in the 22nd District - 94% of workers in our district are employed by small businesses.

As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I'm laser focused on making sure our local employers get the support they need to recover and come back from this pandemic stronger than ever. My meetings will be an opportunity for small businesses to share their experiences dealing with COVID-19 and discuss their priorities for relief and recovery. 

Upcoming Small Business Outreach Stops:

  • Monday, March 15: Cortland County Chamber of Commerce
  • Wednesday, March 17: Chamber Alliance of the Mohawk Valley
  • Friday, March 26: Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
  • Tuesday, March 30: Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce
  • Wednesday, March 31: Commerce Chenango 
  • More events will be announced soon!
It's not too late to apply for a spring internship at one of my three offices in Washington, Utica, or Binghamton. We are looking for exceptional young leaders who are interested in learning more about the legislative process and serving their community. Interested candidates should email their resume and cover letter to NY22InternProgram@mail.house.gov.
Continuing to deliver assistance to our small businesses

This week I was proud to co-sponsor the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act. This critical bipartisan legislation will extend the Paycheck Protection Program, which is set to expire on March 31, 2021. The Paycheck Protection Program has been tremendously effective at providing targeted relief to small businesses across our district. As of March 7, 2021, the Small Business Administration reported that approximately $120 billion remains in unused funding for the program. This funding should continue to be reserved for small businesses and I hope Congress will pass this extension in the coming days. 

This week I also attended a Small Business Committee hearing, where I discussed the importance of the Paycheck Protection Program and the need to extend this program immediately. Many small businesses in our district still need help and Congress must act to deliver it. Watch my remarks here.
Rep. Tenney questions Secretary of State Blinken during Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing

I had the opportunity this week to question Secretary of State Tony Blinken. During my remarks, I underscored the importance of continuing to counter China's malign activities, which undermine American workers and our economy. I also urged Secretary Blinken to build on the historic success of the Abraham Accords to advance peace in the Middle East. Watch our full exchange here.
This week I co-sponsored the REINS ACT. This bill will prevent large, costly, and burdensome rules from being implemented without any input from Congress. The bill would reassert Congress’s role in the legislative process by requiring every new “major rule” proposed by federal agencies to be approved by Congress before being finalized and going into effect. Specifically, both the House and Senate would be required to pass a Joint Resolution of approval for a major rule.
Rep. Tenney opposes partisan, progressive spending bill

My priority in Congress is to make sure families, small businesses, and seniors have the resources and support they need to recover from this pandemic and come back stronger. This unprecedented crisis demands a targeted response from the federal government, which is why Congress came together last year to pass five bipartisan COVID relief bills delivering more than $4 trillion in assistance to the American people. There’s still about $1 trillion left to spend.

Unfortunately, the American Rescue Plan Act doesn’t build on last year's bipartisanship. It spends American tax dollars on priorities that have nothing to do with crushing the COVID-19 pandemic and isn't targeted to those who need help most. It includes $80 billion to bail out multi-employer pension plans, $1.7 billion on Amtrak, at least $270 million on arts and humanities programs, stimulus checks to criminals, and the list goes on. It will also deliver billions of dollars in stimulus checks to millions of Americans who are fully employed.

I'm deeply disappointed that only a small fraction of this massive bill – about 9% – is focused on key health policies like testing, vaccine development and distribution, and additional resources for healthcare providers. These priorities will actually allow us to open our economy faster, get Americans back to work, and further reduce unemployment. I also fear, along with economists on both sides of the aisle, that this massive bill will lead to significantly higher inflation that will hurt working New York families in the long run.
Rep. Tenney calls for order at our Nation's border

I joined with New York Congressman John Katko, Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and other Republican leaders to call on the Biden Administration to reverse several of its executive actions on immigration. These actions have led to a serious crisis at our Southern Border in the middle of a pandemic. Under the Administration’s executive actions, construction of the border wall system has been stopped, our immigration laws are being selectively enforced, “catch and release” has been reimplemented, and the "Remain in Mexico" policy has been terminated to allow the entry of thousands of migrants into the country with practically no COVID-19 safety precautions in place.

Rep. Tenney defends Second Amendment rights by opposing two overly broad gun bills in Congress
I opposed two gun-related measures this week that would weaken our constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. The proposed bills would impose new burdensome background check requirements on the purchase or transfer of firearms and expand the current 3-day background check period to 10 days or longer. These new restrictions will negatively impact law-abiding gun owners and do little to prevent criminals from acquiring firearms. 

This week I also co-sponsored the Second Amendment Guarantee Act, which was introduced by New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. This bill would override unconstitutional provisions in the SAFE Act that prohibit law-abiding New Yorkers from purchasing, transferring, and owning legal firearms. It would ensure that states cannot ban the manufacture, sale, importation, or possession of any rifle or shotgun lawfully available under federal law. I have always been a strong defender of the Second Amendment. In the New York Assembly, I was the first member to introduce legislation to repeal the “SAFE” Act.
Celebrating International Women's Day

This week the world celebrated International Women's Day. I was proud to use this occasion to celebrate the tremendous work of the incredible young women on my staff, who work hard each day to deliver results for New York's 22nd District!
New Hartford basketball star hits 2,000 point benchmark!
This week I congratulated New Hartford High School basketball star Kaia Henderson on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Kaia recently joined the 2,000 point club and is one of the top 50 women's high school basketball recruits in the nation. She currently holds at least 12 school records for the Spartans. Congratulations, Kaia! Your drive and success inspires us all.
VIDEO: Rep: Tenney: Cuomo sexual harassment allegations shouldn't overshadow nursing home scandal

I joined Fox and Friends to discuss the ongoing scandal with Governor Cuomo. Governor Cuomo is entitled to due process, but there is a clear double standard being applied to his case. Governor Cuomo previously called on former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to resign after allegations of sexual harassment were made against him. And when Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh faced accusations, Governor Cuomo called for him to take a polygraph. Sexual harassment is an important issue, and the allegations against Governor Cuomo are serious. Governor Cuomo should apply the same standard to himself that he’s applied recently to others.

I don’t want any of this to overshadow another very important issue: Governor Cuomo’s deliberate attempt to coverup the tragic death of nursing home residents as a result of his policies. The sexual harassment claims are serious and the alleged victims deserve to have their accusations investigated, but those who died in nursing homes, assisted living centers, and group homes because of Cuomo’s policies also deserve justice. We must continue to demand accountability – the families in our district are still grieving for those they lost.
Rep. Tenney urges Department of Transportation to support Greater Binghamton Airport's grant application
This week I wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation to express my strong support of Greater Binghamton Airport's application to the Small Community Air Service Development Program. This program is designed to help small communities enhance their air services, with individual grants ranging from $20,000 to nearly $1.6 million. Securing more flights into the Greater Binghamton Airport would be a huge win for the Southern Tier. This grant program will help the Greater Binghamton Airport grow and compete to attract new flights, which will lead to greater opportunities for economic development and tourism across Broome County.
Chenango County leaders share COVID updates
I joined with leaders from across Chenango County earlier this week for an update on the COVID-19 situation. It was great to discuss this important issue with them and learn more about the challenges they face. It was also insightful to discuss the next steps they hope to take in the future.
Recognizing Better Together, a parent-run organization advocating for children with differing abilities
I had the honor of recognizing Kelly Britton and Kathy Caruso for the work they do to advocate for individuals with neurological disorders and special needs. Kelly and Kathy are residents of New York's 22nd District. They started Better Together, an organization to bring awareness to the unmet needs children with differing abilities experience. I recently attended one of their events to see their amazing work firsthand. Thank you, Kelly and Kathy, for all you do for our community. Watch my full remarks.
Community Bulletin: DFAS Rome is hiring!

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, also known as DFAS, is hiring in Rome, NY. There are a range of positions available, whether you're looking for an entry level job or have more experience and are looking for a new challenge.

DFAS Rome is a vital employer in our community, and plays an important role in executing financial functions that support the day-to-day operations of the U.S. Army. I will continue to be an advocate for the needs of this important facility in Congress. The stronger DFAS Rome is, the stronger our community will be.
Contact my offices for help with a federal agency

One of the most important responsibilities I have as your representative in Congress is to ensure you get the help you need when dealing with a federal agency. If you are experiencing any difficulties or have questions regarding eligibility for COVID-related benefits, I encourage you to contact any one of my three offices, which are open for business and ready to serve you.
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 Congressional 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.