Setting The Record Straight

My goal in Congress is to be as transparent as possible, and that includes sharing the real truth about the bills and proposals being promoted in Washington. Often times, there is more than meets the eye on many of the ideas coming from the federal government, which is why I am setting the record straight. Below you will find helpful fact sheets that dispel some of the biggest myths being pushed in the legislative ideas and national proposals. 

• Setting the Record Straight: The Biden-Pelosi-Bernie Reconciliation Bill
• Setting the Record Straight: H.R. 1 The For the People Act
• Setting the Record Straight: Biden's Infrastructure Proposal
• Setting the Record Straight: Supreme Court Packing
• Setting the Record Straight: Biden/Harris Border Crisis
• Setting the Record Straight: Biden's Budget
• Setting the Record Straight: H.R. 4 The John Lewis Voting Rights Act

Broadband Access Plan

In today’s world, your internet connection can determine your destiny. It shapes your access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only driven this point home. Many students have switched to remote learning and employees have moved increasingly to teleworking. This makes a high-speed, reliable internet connection invaluable. Broadband is also quickly becoming vital as healthcare shifts more from traditional in-person visits to telehealth services. High-speed, high-quality broadband is simply a necessity.

However, too many New York families and small businesses lack access to affordable, fast, quality broadband, especially in rural areas. To make matters worse, upstate New York is subject to a virtual broadband monopoly. This has left many rural customers with nonexistent broadband service, or with service that is far too expensive. Instead of allowing Spectrum to dominate the market, we must allow other companies to expand into our region to provide quality and affordable coverage. A practical broadband monopoly prevents students from accessing educational opportunities, healthcare providers from fully serving their patients, and our local businesses from accessing new commercial possibilities in our increasingly digital economy.

I’m committed to supporting policies that increase competition and connectivity. Every New Yorker needs to have access to a robust marketplace of broadband options. In addition, we must lay the groundwork for new technologies, such as 5G, that promise connectivity for a lower cost. To accomplish these objectives, I am supporting a package of bills in Congress that will deliver real results if passed. My plan unleashes private sector innovation to foster competition and bring costs down while boosting resources for rural and underserved communities. 

Unleashing the Private Sector

• Original Cosponsor of H.R. 3377, the Gigabit Opportunity (GO) Act: This legislation will create broadband opportunity zones in areas lacking sufficient internet access, encouraging smaller internet providers to improve and expand their internet offerings. Ultimately, this bill will bring more internet service providers to upstate New York to compete against Spectrum’s monopoly, resulting in lower costs and faster service.

• Cosponsored H.R. 1032, the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act: This bipartisan legislation will help close the workforce shortage in the telecommunications industry and ensure we have the skilled workforce needed to build and maintain 5G networks in underserved communities. Emerging technologies like 5G would offer service that is better, faster, cheaper, and reaches farther than traditional technologies; we need to make sure we have the workforce in place to take full advantage of it.

Holding Spectrum Accountable

• Bringing Greater Competition to New York: I have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to immediately re-evaluate the non-competitive telecommunications market in upstate New York. Since the New York State’s Public Service Commission and the FCC granted Spectrum a virtual monopoly, it has saddled our communities with expensive and unreliable broadband. The FCC must act immediately to bring competitors into upstate New York, giving our communities a robust broadband marketplace of choices that expands access and brings prices down.

Boosting Resources for Underserved Communities

• Cosponsored H.R. 3435, the American Broadband Act: This legislation will authorize $20 billion over five years to expand broadband infrastructure in underserved communities and $3 billion to promote rural wireless infrastructure, while eliminating the waste in the Biden Administration’s current infrastructure proposal. The money will be prioritized for projects offering 100Mbps download speeds so our rural communities will not be stuck with second class internet access. In addition, the bill will cut red tape for cable providers entering new markets or upgrading their network, encouraging a robust broadband marketplace that keeps prices lower and speeds higher.

• Cosponsored H.R. 2400, the Community Broadband Mapping Act: This bipartisan legislation will allow local communities to dispute and correct inaccuracies in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) internet service status claims. These federal broadband maps are often chronically inaccurate, meaning that many of our local communities are ineligible for funds they would otherwise receive. This fix is necessary to close gaps in broadband service and ensure every community receives resources.

• Support Funding for USDA ReConnect Program: I recently testified before the House Appropriations Committee to urge it to continue funding rural broadband expansions through the USDA ReConnect Program and to reform the program to make sure it works for all rural communities. It is fundamental that we boost internet infrastructure that can host multiple internet service providers, so rural communities can access greater broadband options at lower prices. We must also consider raising the federal definition of minimum internet service beyond its already scheduled increase to 25 megabits per second. This standard is simply not high enough to meet the demands of many communities, especially for our schools, healthcare facilities, and libraries.

Having access to fast, reliable, and affordable broadband is vital to the success of our communities in New York’s 22nd Congressional District. If our region is going to grow and thrive in a 21st century economy, we need 21st century tools. It is vitally important that we come together as a nation and work to provide concrete solutions for our digitally underserved communities. Your views are always important to me. Please write to me on my website or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.

Healthcare Plan

Health insurance premiums, prescription drug prices, out-of-pocket costs, and overall healthcare spending have risen dramatically since 2009, making it harder than ever for New York families to access quality care at an affordable price. Total healthcare spending in the United States topped $4 trillion in 2020, which is significantly more than any other advanced economy. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that premiums and deductibles have risen much faster than wages since 2009. In 2019, premiums averaged more than $7,000 for an individual and over $20,000 for families, an increase from 2018. Prescription drug costs have also skyrocketed for families and seniors over the last year, with overall prices rising 33 percent since 2014.

My priority in Congress is to expand your access to affordable, quality healthcare. There are many ways to do this, including by fostering greater competition in the marketplace. This would mean more choices for patients, better quality care for everyone, and lower prices that families can afford. I am also working to deliver more resources and support to rural hospitals in our district, which we rely on for care and services. I am committed to working with Republicans and Democrats alike to find solutions that increase competition and improve access and quality.

I encourage you to read more about the initiatives I am supporting in Congress to deliver on my commitment to drive meaningful healthcare reform forward. I look forward to your feedback. 

Expanding Access to Care in Rural Communities

• Introduced H.R. 3069, Access for Rural Communities Act: I introduced this bipartisan bill to allow Sole Community and Medicare Dependent hospitals in New York to receive a fair Medicare Volume Decrease Adjustment (VDA) to maintain core staff and services when experiencing a significant decrease in patient volume due to circumstances beyond their control. It also allows 16 small, rural hospitals in New York to avoid nearly $20 million in erroneous repayments, with a punitive interest rate of over 9 percent.

• Cosponsored H.R. 489, Protecting Rural Access to Care Act: This legislation will protect rural hospitals from losing their certifications as Critical Access Hospitals under Medicare. Guidance issued in 2015 by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services put rural hospitals at a very serious risk of losing this certification, which would result in them losing significant benefits. This bill protects our rural hospitals and their funding.

Supporting Seniors and Other Vulnerable Populations

• Introduced the Essential Caregivers Act: I introduced this legislation to avoid the deadly effects of isolation for seniors in nursing homes and individuals with disabilities in long-term care facilities. Should there be a future public health emergency, residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities would have the opportunity to designate an “essential caregiver” to continue caring for them throughout the emergency, so long as they follow the same strict safety requirements as staff. This will ensure that vulnerable individuals never again suffer alone in the event of a future emergency.

• Cosponsored H.R. 2168, the Expanded Telehealth Access Act: This bill expands coverage for telehealth visits under Medicare, so that seniors never miss critical appointments. This is especially relevant as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. While telehealth may not be appropriate in every circumstance, expanding access offers greater options to seniors who may find it difficult or unsafe to travel.

Driving Down Costs and Increasing Access

• Support Strong Funding for Community Health Centers: I am honored to be part of a bipartisan effort in Congress to expand funding for Community Health Centers. Community Health Centers provide quality and affordable care to those most in need across New York’s 22nd Congressional District. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Health Centers confronted the challenges head on and continued to deliver much-needed care. With robust funding into the future, Community Health Centers will continue to be vitally important resources for communities across New York.

• Cosponsored H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act: This comprehensive bill lowers the cost of life-saving drugs like insulin by capping drug spending under Medicare Part D and also reducing the out-of-pocket costs of insulin for families. The bill also makes it harder for drug companies to prevent safe generics and biosimilars from coming to the market, ensuring that more affordable prescription drugs are made available to consumers. Finally, the bill increases pricing transparency by requiring drug companies to publicly list prices in any future advertisements.

• Voted “Yes” on H.R. 1629, the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act: This bill would institute limitations on market exclusivity for drugs designated as “orphan drugs” under Section 526(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This bipartisan bill closes a loophole that could be used to block pharmaceutical competition and prevent innovative treatments for rare conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people from coming to market. I support bills like this that eliminate barriers for innovative medical-assisted treatments, boost competition, and drive down the cost of new medicine. 

Investing in Research

• Accelerating Treatments for Rare Diseases: I cosponsored H.R. 1730, the Speeding Therapy Access Today Act and H.R. 1184, the Helping Experts Accelerate Rare Treatments Act to improve treatments for rare diseases and ensure equal access to care. These bills direct the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate the development of treatments for rare diseases, which will save lives and make therapeutics more affordable.

• Support Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: As a Member of the Congressional Autism Caucus, I support continued funding for Autism research, which will have a direct impact on the lives of those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Your views are always important to me. Please write to me on my website or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.

Law Enforcement Plan

There are over 800,000 law enforcement officers across the United States serving and protecting our communities commendably at great personal risk. These public servants intervene daily in dangerous and life-threatening situations to deescalate tensions, provide emergency care, apprehend criminals, defend the most vulnerable, and protect the constitutional rights of all Americans.

Over the past year, law enforcement officers have faced unprecedented challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising violent crime. In 2020, 264 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. In 2021 alone, 49 law enforcement officers have died, making it the deadliest period for law enforcement in decades. Amidst these unparalleled challenges, politicians in Washington and around the country have perpetuated the idea that law enforcement officers are the enemy. They have even gone so far as to create a dangerous movement to “defund the police” that demonizes police, imperils our public safety, and needlessly divides communities.

My priorities are to support law enforcement and bring our communities back together. We must move beyond the divisive and damaging rhetoric, mend the relationships between police and the communities they serve, and give our police officers the legal protections and tools they need to safely and effectively do their job. To accomplish these objectives, I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Below are bills in Congress I support to advance real solutions.  

Keeping Illegal Firearms off the Street

1. Cosponsored H.R. 1518, 21st Century NICS Act: This legislation improves the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in order to search the National Data Exchange database when conducting criminal background checks. This bipartisan change will prevent criminals from buying guns even if they committed crimes in different jurisdictions, keeping our streets, communities, and police safer.

Boosting Community-Based Policing

1. Cosponsored H.R. 677, JUSTICE Act: This commonsense legislation works to rebuild trust between police and their local communities through providing additional funds for body cameras and grants to police departments to implement community policing best practices. It also funds programs to encourage more individuals to serve their local communities as police officers.

Backing the Blue

1. Introduced H.R. 4500, the Local Law Enforcement Protection Act:Over the past few years many states and local governments have acted to curb qualified immunity protections for our local law enforcement, potentially making them personally liable for simply doing their job. This commonsense legislation I introduced will require states and localities to uphold the reasonable right to qualified immunity determined in the U.S. Supreme Court decision Saucier v. Katz.
    
2. Cosponsored H.R. 5797, the SERVE Our Communities Act: New York law enforcement officers have felt the brunt of New York’s failed bail reform and increasing anti-police sentiment. This legislation will create a new federal grant program for jurisdictions that establish a “dangerousness standard”, allowing state courts to consider the danger an individual poses to the community before determining their bail or if they are released. In addition, the jurisdiction can act to expand the hiring and retention of law enforcement and prosecutorial staff or create a public education program to combat anti-police sentiment and improve community-police relations.  
    
3. Cosponsored H.R. 288, Qualified Immunity Act of 2021: This legislation codifies the defense of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in federal law, giving them explicit protections in federal court. Eliminating qualified immunity throws fairness out the door and would remove good-faith legal protections for police officers.
    
4. Cosponsored H.Res. 283, Establishing a Law Enforcement Bill of Rights: This resolution states that all police officers have the right to defend themselves, to not suffer from verbal use, to due process, and to protections under the Fifth Amendment, among other things. It also reiterates how important policing is to our communities and condemns any calls to disband or abolish the police.
    
5. Cosponsored H.R. 377, the Patrick Underwood Federal Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2021: This legislation supports our police officers by increasing penalties for assault on a federal officer, heightening fines and establishing a mandatory imprisonment for assault with a deadly weapon.
    
6. Cosponsored H.R. 1210, the LEOSA Reform Act: This legislation, widely endorsed by police organizations nationally, amends the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) to allow well-qualified off-duty and retired officers to carry their firearms for the protection of themselves, their families, and our communities.
    
7. Cosponsored H.R. 1690, the Defending our Defenders Act: This legislation makes the murder of a state or federal law enforcement officer a federal crime that would be punishable either by life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Law enforcement officers are essential to protecting our communities and the most vulnerable populations among us. It is vitally important that we come together as a nation, have the tough conversations, and work with one another to advance real solutions that restore public safety and rebuild trust. Your views are always important to me. Please write to me on my website or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.

Agriculture Plan

The agriculture industry is the backbone of our region and has driven our economy for generations. The 22nd District is home to over 4,300 farms and 7,400 producers. These enterprises are engines of our Upstate economy that provide jobs to local workers and fill our groceries and schools with nutritious local products. As you know, farms are also family-run businesses. 94% of the farms in the 22nd Congressional District are family owned and operated.

In recent years this indispensable industry has suffered in the face of unfair foreign trade practices, hostile federal policies, and the market disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Farms and agricultural producers are essential to the success of our communities and providing needed jobs and opportunities. We must do all we can to enact smart agricultural policies to allow our farmers and rural communities to compete in the global marketplace.

I am backing a multipronged approach that advances pro-farmer agriculture policies, supports programs that allow our food industry to recover fully from the pandemic, and fights for tax policies that encourage the growth of these family businesses. I am supporting a package of bills and policies in Congress that will deliver results. My plan will unleash the potential of our rural communities and give farmers and producers the certainty and flexibility they need to succeed.

Advocating for pro-farmer agriculture policies

1. Cosponsored H.R. 1661, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act: This bipartisan legislation will allow unflavored and flavored whole milk to be offered in school cafeterias. Whole milk is a healthy source of key nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. This will help support our Upstate dairy farms and give schools the flexibility needed to serve children nutritious food.

1. Cosponsored H.R. 2828, the DAIRY PRIDE Act: This bipartisan legislation will require all food products labeled with dairy terminology such as milk, yogurt, and cheese to have come from a hoofed animal. Mislabeled plant-based imitation dairy products have significantly different nutritional profiles, and it is essential the FDA issue guidance to prevent any confusion for consumers. It is important Americans can easily understand the nutritional benefit from dairy provided by our Upstate dairy farmers and producers.

1. Cosponsored H.Res. 318, to support the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection rule: This legislation will call on the Biden Administration to not repeal the commonsense Navigable Waters Protection rule put in place by the Trump Administration, which ensured the definition of federally protected waterways only included larger bodies such as lakes and rivers. For too long our farmers were burdened with excessive regulation for responsibly managing their land. There is no justification for farm watering ponds and seasonal streams to be included under existing law.

Helping farmers recover from the pandemic

1. Cosponsored H.R. 4568, the ENTRÉE Act: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic our restaurant industry and their suppliers were decimated. This created enormous economic hardship for many of our farmers who have had trouble finding a market for their goods. The ENTRÉE Act will replenish the Restaurant Revitalization fund to get the industry fully reopened and operating. It will also increase oversight of taxpayer funds and eliminate the preferential treatment provisions deemed unconstitutional by the courts.

1. Demanded USDA immediately improve administration of the CFAP program: In September 2021, I sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to urge them to immediately overhaul their administration of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This program was created to assist farmers who faced market disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when the Biden Administration entered office, they immediately suspended this assistance for months until they could formulate a new program. When the new CFAP2 program was launched in April 2021, many farmers were unable to get promised guidance from the USDA regarding how to apply for and use these funds. This is simply unacceptable, and Congress must provide oversight to ensure these essential funds are properly administered.

Fighting for fair tax treatment for family farms

1. Cosponsored H.R. 1712, the Death Tax Repeal Act: The death tax unfairly targets family farms, small businesses, and those who chose to save. Americans already pay taxes on earned and investment incomes, making the death tax double taxation. To pay this tax many families are forced to sell off farms or take on debt that hampers growth. This legislation would immediately eliminate this unfair tax, giving family enterprises and farms the certainty they need to grow and pass their legacy on to future generations.

1. Cosponsored H.R. 1381, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act: This legislation would permanently reauthorize the successful Qualified Business Income tax deduction created in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For years, many small businesses, including farmers, had to pay the individual income tax rate, giving them a much larger tax bill than their larger corporate competition. This deduction allows these small businesses to effectively lower their tax rate, giving them a more equal playing field.

1. Signed letter to President Biden to support stepped-up basis: Earlier this year I joined with my colleagues in Congress to urge President Biden to drop his plan to eliminate stepped-up basis. This important tax provision allows Americans to reset the value of their home, business, or farm for tax purposes when it is passed from one generation to the next. Eliminating it will simply create a back door death tax for any American who wants to pass something on to their children and loved ones.

Your views are always important to me. Please write to me on my website or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.

Border Security Plan

Our nation is currently facing a humanitarian and national security crisis at the Southern Border that must be addressed. As Americans continue to bear the social and economic burdens of President Biden’s failed policies, like skyrocketing inflation and exorbitant gas prices, it continues to be a free-for-all on the Southern Border. We are now on a path to over two million illegal immigrants crossing into the country this year under President Biden. It's the worst illegal immigration crisis our nation has faced in more than two decades.

When President Biden took office one year ago, he paused deportations for millions of illegal immigrants and halted construction of the border wall. Since then, we have seen eight straight months of record-breaking illegal immigrant crossings and over 1.8 million apprehensions. Biden’s push for open border policies and amnesty for illegal immigrants has created and continues to bolster the worst border crisis in modern history. The current situation is a public health and humanitarian crisis, a haven for criminal activity, and a threat to our national security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been derelict in his duties by failing to address this situation, which is why I have called on him to resign.

I visited the border last year to meet with Customs and Border Protection Agents (CBP). From this visit and my ongoing review of the situation, I am supporting several steps to secure our border. First, we must immediately restart work on completing the border wall, which the Biden Administration inexplicably halted. A border wall is a tremendous tool that allows law enforcement to better manage the situation more safely and enhance our national security.

Second, we need to invest in and deploy better border technology. There are proven technologies that help border agents identify illegal activity and address it while reducing risks to themselves. The Biden Administration must work with Congress to fund and fully deploy these technologies. Third, the Administration must also work with Congress to provide law enforcement with greater budget flexibility so they can surge financial resources in times of crisis like we have now.

It is time to put America First and secure our border – this is a national security and humanitarian imperative. I will continue fighting for legislation to do just this in addition to fully advocating for the enforcement of our laws. We can and must secure our border in a manner that is compassionate, principled, and rooted firmly in our nation’s highest and most treasured values.

Securing our Southern Border

• Support H.R. 4828, the Border Security for America Act of 2021: This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume all activities to construct a border barrier system along the U.S.-Mexico border that were underway or planned. It also requires DHS to deploy tactical infrastructure and technology to achieve improved situational awareness and operational control of the Southern Border. This legislation would reinstitute President Trump's successful border policies and invest in critical infrastructure as well as support our federal law enforcement officers. We need strong policies at our Southern Border to protect and enhance our national security. Securing our borders helps ensure our national security as well as our economic prosperity.

• Support H.R. 5759, the BE GONE Act: This bill would block and deport illegal immigrants trying to enter the United States who have been convicted of sexual assault. Specifically, this legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 to include sexual abuse, sexual assault, and aggravated sexual violence as crimes that would disqualify foreign applicants for residence in the United States. This measure would also make resident immigrants who are not citizens deportable. Border security is national security, and this legislation would help keep our communities safe.

Prioritizing America First

• Support H.R. 7458, the Public Health and Border Security Act: Earlier this year, President Biden announced his intent to remove Title 42 without first implementing a plan to replace it and secure our border. The current policy was put in place by President Trump and allows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to send illegal immigrants back to their home countries immediately after apprehension. It was implemented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I continue to advocate for maintaining Title 42 authorities until a strategy is put in place to address the anticipated influx of illegal immigrants, which is exactly what this bill does: it prevents President Biden from lifting Title 42 restrictions currently in place without a plan in place to address the anticipated surge of immigrants. 

• Support H.R. 2076, the COVID-19 Border Protection Act: This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to develop a comprehensive strategy to test migrants encountered by DHS and HHS officials at the border and quarantine those who test positive. We must do everything in our power to protect our constituents from a resurgence of COVID-19 and this bill accomplishes that vital objective.

• Support H.Res. 1002, Calling for the Removal of Vice President Kamala Harris as head of the Border Crisis: Vice President Kamala Harris has abjectly failed as Border Czar. This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Vice President Kamala Harris should be removed from her position as the head of the Biden administration's strategy to address the root causes of migration and replaced with someone who will put America’s interests and security first. We need a leader who cares about securing our Southern Border and protecting American communities.

Upholding the Rule of Law

• Support H.R. 6592, the Immigration Transparency and Transit Notification Act of 2022: This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to notify the relevant federal, state, and local officials about the transportation, by bus or plane, and placement of illegal immigrants or unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in their state. It is unacceptable for thousands of illegal aliens to be transported and released into towns and communities across our country. This is yet another example of the Biden Administration’s failed approach to border and immigration enforcement. This legislation would bring accountability, oversight, and local input into immigration matters impacting our communities.

• Support H.R. 5854, the Illegal Immigrant Payoff Prohibition Act: This legislation would prevent the Attorney General of the United States from making settlement payments to individuals and families who entered the United States illegally. This bill is a direct response to reports that the Biden Administration is proposing to pay as much as $450,000 per person to compensate families that unlawfully entered the United States. The Administration’s policy would worsen the border crisis and lead to an increase in drug cartels and human traffickers. Law-abiding, hardworking Americans deserve rational and strong policies that, instead, work to preserve and instill the rule of law.

Your views are very important to me. I hope you will take the time to review this plan and let me know what you think. If you would like to contact me, you can write to me on my website at tenney.house.gov or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.

Education Plan

Access to a high quality education is vital for economic and social success. Students should be equipped for life and prepared for the world in ways that best suit their learning styles and future needs. The past two years have been challenging and raised many concerns. The pandemic shut down schools and educational services. In addition, previously fringe academic movements have gained traction in many American schools, curbing free debate and indoctrinating students with toxic ideologies that divide society and promote victimhood. This watering down of educational standards does nothing to cultivate success; it simply harms students and our communities.

The promise of a high-quality public education is a vital commitment we must uphold. Moving forward we must promote policies that raise academic standards and outcomes while expanding opportunities for every student in all communities. We must ensure students have access to safe in-person learning. We must empower students to be critical thinkers and engage in the robust debate and collaborative decision-making required to succeed in the workplace. And we must provide students with the civic education and background to excel as engaged citizens.

To achieve these objectives, I am backing a multipronged approach to safely reopen our schools, ensure our education system cultivates engaged citizens, and support the educational success of students regardless of the path they pursue. I support a package of bills and policies in Congress to deliver results. Whether they are attending university, high school, or trade school, this commonsense plan will unleash the potential of our students and empower them to succeed.

Safely Reopening Schools for Learning

1. Cosponsored H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act: This legislation would require any school district receiving COVID-19 relief funds to provide in-person instruction to at least 50% of its students. Over the past two years of the pandemic, too many of our children have been left behind, unable to receive individual attention and direction.

1. Cosponsored H.R. 2520, the KIDS Success Act: This legislation would mandate that any school district receiving COVID-19 relief funds assesses the impact of school closures due to COVID-19. The report must focus on the long-term effects of extended e-learning and hybrid learning on students as well as the effect of closures on student absenteeism and disciplinary changes. As we move forward, it is important we know the full educational impacts of the pandemic. Only with this information can we ensure we are equipped to address any of the resulting inequalities or deficiencies.

Supporting the Success of All Students

1. Cosponsored H.R. 2174, the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act: This bipartisan bill creates a new grant program to support rural college education as well as the growth and development of rural communities like those in upstate New York.
    
2. Cosponsored H.R. 3586, the Veterans Education Empowerment Act: This bipartisan legislation will make grants available to colleges and universities to create and run veteran student centers. These centers will provide students who are veterans or members of the Armed Services a space to gather, a single point of contact to coordinate veterans support services, as well as access to comprehensive academic and tutoring services.

1. Cosponsored H.R. 2303, the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act: This legislation will create a grant program within the Department of Education to encourage apprenticeship colleges to further develop their construction and manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs. These funds will be focused on supporting outreach to high schools, local businesses, and local workforce development groups as well as providing advising and support programs to students enrolled in these programs.

1. Support Funding for Campus-Based Aid: This spring I joined my colleagues to support Fiscal Year 2022 funding for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Work Study (FWS) programs. SEOG provides grants to low- and middle-income students and funds programs that help at-risk students get into and stay in college. Providing low-income students with grant aid, instead of just loans, helps keep them in school and working toward their full potential. With similar long-term benefits, FWS provides a wide variety of on campus job opportunities to help students.

Cultivating Critical Thinking Skills and Engaged Citizens

1. Cosponsored H.R. 4007, the Campus Free Speech Restoration Act: This bill prohibits any college or university receiving federal funding from restricting the noncommercial first amendment rights of their students, such as peacefully assembling, distributing literature, or carrying signs. In the great tradition of America, university campuses must be forums for the free exchange of ideas. Partisan groups or academics cannot act to silence important conversations. In a free society such as ours, it is vital that our colleges and universities are crucibles for good citizenry, not sites of mass indoctrination.

1. Cosponsored H.R. 3179, the Stop CRT Act: This commonsense bill will ban federal funds from being used to promote and teach Critical Race Theory (CRT). For our Constitutional Republic to succeed, we much encourage citizens to work together to debate and advocate for solutions to advance the common good. However, CRT’s cultivation of racial animus and labeling of our Constitution and national ideals such as life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as inherently racist run counter to these needs. Our educational system must promote constructive debate and national improvement.

Energy and Environment Plan

Since President Biden took office, sky-high energy prices have burdened far too many New York families, making it unaffordable for far too many. The Biden administration blames the energy crisis on Vladimir Putin and America’s energy producers. In reality, it’s the result of a failed approach that pursues unattainable green-energy goals instead of realistic ones. If this approach continues, costs will keep skyrocketing while dependence on foreign sources increases.

This is exactly what has happened in New York. As New Yorkers know all too well, a 2014 decision by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, codified by the state Legislature in 2021, banned hydraulic fracturing in New York, which has been proved to lower emissions compared with other forms of oil and gas extraction. Governor Cuomo also halted the construction of numerous interstate gas pipelines and closed the Indian Point nuclear plant, all while failing to provide an achievable path for sustainable energy production. New York continues to consume vast amounts of natural gas, but we must import it, often at higher cost.

The Biden Administration’s current strategy is straight from the Cuomo-Hochul playbook. Immediately upon taking office, President Biden has done all he can to quash the oil and gas sector and put an end to domestic exploration. After canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and issuing a moratorium on energy production on federal lands and waters, the administration ramped up energy imports from Russia by 34%. Abroad, its lax policies toward Russia’s Nord Stream 2 left Europe even more vulnerable to Russia’s natural-gas coercion.

As the administration spurns domestic production, it has failed to articulate a serious alternative. Such a shortsighted approach will yield the same result nationally as it has in New York. As demand for energy remains steady and domestic supplies are cut off, the cost-of-living rises, good jobs disappear, and our reliance on imported energy increases.

The fact is, we do not have to choose between clean, affordable energy and protecting our environment. We can and must do both. In Congress, I am supporting a robust package of legislative initiatives to do just that – expand safe, clean, reliable American energy while continuing to be a good steward of our environment. Over the past decade, our nation’s embrace of natural gas has allowed us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a greater margin than any other country. Future technological innovations share the potential of building on this environmental success while making our energy more dependable and affordable.

Upstate New York is home to some of our nation's most beautiful landscapes. Through commonsense conservation and pro-energy policies, we can do our part to preserve these treasures for future generations, while unleashing prosperity. I encourage you to read more about the initiatives I support in Congress to deliver affordable energy and a healthy environment.

Unleashing American Energy Production

• Support H.R. 543, the Protecting Our Wealth of Energy and Resources (POWER) Act: This bill would reverse President Biden’s job-killing and price-raising Executive Orders banning oil and gas leasing on federal lands. Prohibiting the president from issuing arbitrary moratoria on leasing on federal lands will solidify American energy and mineral independence for generations to come.

• Support H.R. 2604, the Accessing America’s Critical Minerals Act: For decades activists groups have hijacked the land and mineral permitting process, which has only served to make us even more reliant on foreign nations for the minerals required to make semiconductors, batteries, and solar panels. This bill will prevent duplication of work in the permitting process and keep the process confined to reasonable time frame.

• Support H.R. 684, the Keystone XL Pipeline Construction and Jobs Preservation Act: This bill would reverse President Biden’s job-killing Executive Order halting construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. It would finally allow the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline to resume construction, creating new American jobs while safely transporting oil through the safest and cleanest means available.

Investing in Clean, Affordable Energy

• Introduced H.R. 4153, the Clean Energy Future Through Innovation Act: This bipartisan legislation that I co-led with several members of Congress uses innovation and regulatory reform to drive a least-cost, fuel diverse modernization of the electric power sector. This bill requires an 80% CO2 reduction in the power sector by 2050 while also decreasing the cost of electricity for American families and businesses.

• Support H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act: This bill would promote innovative projects in hydropower and modernize the licensing process for future hydropower projects. As the largest producer of hydropower east of the Rockies, this bill will allow New York to harness more power from its abundant water resources.

• Support H.R. 1748, the Strengthening Nuclear Competitiveness Act: This bill would improve the competitiveness of American civilian nuclear commerce and cut down on the burdensome Department of Energy review process of nuclear technology exports. This will solidify our nation as a leader in safe, reliable, and clean nuclear technology.

Protecting our Natural Environment

• Support H.R. 2639, the Trillion Trees Act: This bipartisan legislation would ensure the United States is at the forefront of the worldwide One Trillion Trees initiative. This initiative is intended to grow and conserve one trillion trees globally, sequestering roughly two-thirds of all manmade carbon emissions remaining in the atmosphere today.

• Support Federal Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund: This fund, using no taxpayer money, invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to protect the natural beauty of our lands and waterways and provide recreational opportunities to all. The fund is used both to provide grants to state and local governments and for the federal government to acquire land and waters and to assist with recreation management.

• Support Federal Funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative targets the biggest threats to the Great Lakes such as toxic substances and invasive species. The Great Lakes are one of the world’s most important water sources for drinking, transportation, recreation, and power generation. That’s why it is vitally important that we continue to protect them for generations to come.

Securing Energy Independence from Our Adversaries

• Support H.R. 6919, the Prohibition on Imports of Russian Oil Act: This bill would immediately cease all U.S. imports of Russian oil and other petroleum-based energy products. This bill would hold Vladimir Putin accountable for its unprovoked and ruthless attack on Ukraine. The United States has been purchasing nearly 700,000 barrels of Russian oil and other petroleum products per day, and therefore indirectly funding Putin’s war machine. This legislation would cause crippling effects on Putin’s regime.

• Support H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act: This bill would require President Biden to submit an energy security plan to Congress to evaluate U.S. oil and natural gas imports, identify importing countries that pose an energy security risk to America, and encourage domestic production of oil and natural gas to offset imports from Russia. The bill would also immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline and unleash U.S. LNG exports to boost domestic natural gas production.

• Support H.R. 6894, the No Energy Revenues for Russian Hostilities Act of 2022: This bill would close a loophole in recently announced U.S. sanctions against Russia to limit transactions with Russian oil and gas producers. This legislation would hit the heart of the Russian economy and impose real costs on its lucrative energy sector as long as it continues its brutal war in Ukraine.

• Support H.R. 6740, the Midland Over Moscow Act: This bill would impose sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and revises the expedited approval process for natural gas imports and exports in or out of the United States. This would boost private investment in our domestic energy sector.

Monthly Seminars

Every month I will be holding virtual seminars for residents of New York's 22nd Congressional District, local elected officials, and other interested stakeholders to receive updates and information directly from federal agencies and offices in Washington and around the country. There are so many existing federal resources and programs available to our community and I am committed to making sure you have the information to fully utilize them. Below you will find an archive of seminars from previous months. Please click the link to watch the seminar and please contact my office with any questions you may have.

*indicates a recording of the webinar is not available.

June 2022: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Homeland Security Investigations*

May 2022: State Dept. Webinar on Passport Applications

April 2022: USDA Webinar on Broadband Expansion

March 2022: SSA Webinar on Pre-Retirement Best Practices*

February 2022: SBA Webinar on Pandemic Relief Programs

January 2022: IRS Webinar on Filing 2021 Tax Returns

November 2021: FEMA Webinar on Assistance to Firefighters Grants

October 2021: FEMA Webinar on Flooding and Flood Mitigation

September 2021: USDA Webinar on Rural Water Infrastructure

Tax Plan

I have always fought for New York taxpayers. For America to remain competitive and free, our nation needs a straightforward tax code that encourages work, allows Americans to keep more of their earnings, and establishes competitive rates for employers. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed with my support in 2017, was the most significant tax reform legislation signed into law since Ronald Regan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986. This once in a generation overhaul of the U.S. tax code lowered rates for individuals and businesses, encouraging significant investment and growth. While the legislation was not perfect, it was the first major step forward to ensure that America’s tax code fit the needs of our nation in the 21st century.

I am committed to expanding on the progress achieved by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This means forcefully opposing efforts by Congressional Democrats to raise taxes on American small businesses and family farms or manipulate our tax code to punish family formation and discourage work. I am also working to build upon the legislation’s successes, including by strengthening the child tax credit expansion and ensuring there is transparency and oversight into how taxpayer funds are used. Finally, we must never return to the days when the Internal Revenue Service was used to target Americans and civic organizations for political purposes.

In the 117th Congress, Democrats have proposed a range of new taxes, including creating a new tax on unrealized capital gains and methane emissions, reducing exemptions on the death tax, and drastically increasing the federal excise tax on tobacco products – a regressive tax that most severely impacts low-income Americans. These new burdens would harm Americans just as we emerge from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. I refuse to be a rubber stamp on punitive taxes that will reduce economic dynamism and weaken families and communities.

I have long campaigned for the rights and interests of New York taxpayers. In addition to advocating for low tax rates and commonsense proposals that strengthen American industry, this means fighting against new and onerous taxes and ensuring that the government uses tax revenue in ways that are transparent, accountable, and necessary. This effort is more critical now than ever, as Congress recently authorized trillions in new spending for COVID-19 relief measures.

Building on the Successes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

1. Cosponsored H.R. 1381, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act: This legislation would make permanent the 20 percent pass-through small business tax deduction. This deduction, originally passed as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, is critical for small businesses that operate as sole proprietorships or through partnerships, S corporations, trusts, or estates. It also applies to qualified REIT dividends and income from publicly traded partnerships. In doing so, this bill empowers small business to compete on a level playing field.
2. Cosponsored H.R. 1712, the Death Tax Repeal Act: This bill would permanently eliminate the death tax, which impacts countless family businesses and farms upon the death of the business owner. Formally known as the federal estate tax, this tax is ruinous for the growth of generational businesses and farms. It prevents companies from growing and carrying on a family legacy. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provided temporary relief from this tax. The Death Tax Repeal Act would expand the relief and make it permanent.

Revitalizing our Communities and Supporting our Families 

1. Original Cosponsor of H.R.5163, the Care for Her Act: This bill would introduce support systems and services to provide for expecting mothers and their children. Included in the Care for Her Act are child tax credits, maternity housing grants, mentorship programs, job-training, and incentives for communities to improve maternal and child outcomes. This innovative, community-based approach would help women who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy meet the physical, financial, social, and emotional challenges of childbirth and rearing. 

1. Cosponsored H.R. 2294, the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act: This bill would increase the tax credit for historic rehabilitation projects and modifies certain requirements for receiving the credit. The credit would increase from 20% to 30% for certain small projects whose qualified rehabilitation expenditures do not exceed $2.5 million. It would also expand the types of buildings eligible for rehabilitation by decreasing the requirements threshold. To date, the Historic Tax Credit program has helped raise more than $173 billion in private investment to revitalize over 45,000 historic buildings, creating more than 3 million jobs in the process. 

1. Cosponsored H.R. 1321, the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2021: This bill would make the new markets tax credit a permanent part of the Internal Revenue Code, provide adjustments for inflation, and exempt investments from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Private investors would be provided with a 39% credit against federal income taxes for any investments made in underserved communities. As defined by U.S. Census data, businesses located in designated low-income communities would be eligible. The COVID-19 pandemic has put tremendous economic strain on these areas. This bill would serve to create jobs and revitalize these economies.  

Ensuring Taxpayer Protections 

1. Introduced H.R. 5672, the Transparency in COVID-19 Expenditures Act: This bill would direct the Comptroller General of the United States to audit all funding provided by the five COVID-19 relief bills passed by Congress has passed since March 2020. Since that time, Congress has spent $5.3 trillion in COVID-19 relief, but many provisions lacked adequate security measures and safeguards to ensure funding was distributed properly. As a result, alarming cases of fraud have cropped up across the country. This audit would ensure taxpayer dollars made it into the right hands and were spent responsibly. The audit would cover all COVID-19 relief spending bills, including the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. 

1.  Cosponsored H.R. 2437, to extend to May 17 the first scheduled individual estimated tax payment for 2021: This bill would extend the date of the first installment of estimated income tax from April 15 to May 17, aligning it with the new individual tax filing date. Small businesses file estimated tax payments based on the previous year’s records. Requiring businesses to file estimated payments before many have filed their annual taxes could result in penalties for any discrepancies in the reports and additional interest charges. Aligning these two due dates would prevent any additional tax penalties on small business still trying to recover from the COVIC-19 pandemic. 

Opposing Onerous New Taxes on Businesses and Families 

1. Cosponsored H.R.3101, the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act: This bill would repeal the excise tax on the sale of firearms regulated by under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Under current law, there is a $200 tax on the transfer and purchase of firearms. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the tax’s “underlying purpose was to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions in NFA firearms.” This is a direct violation of the Second Amendment since it places a financial barrier on American’s right to keep and bear arms.  

Veterans Plan

America’s veterans have put so much on the line to defend our great Nation and safeguard our freedoms. As the mother of a Marine, I understand the sacrifices that are made by our servicemembers and their families each day. That’s why one of my top priorities in Congress is to ensure every American servicemember and veteran is well-equipped and properly supported, whether they are serving actively or returning to civilian life.

Congress and the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs (VA) have an obligation to deliver for our military community. Programs for veterans must be transparent, effective, and affordable. Given the problems that have historically plagued the VA, including misspending, inconsistency in providing quality healthcare, and backlogs of claims, my focus is on making sure the VA is reformed to effectively meet its mission set and serve our veterans.

My Plan to Deliver for America’s Veterans focuses on four core pillars: ensuring VA Transparency and Accountability, Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare, Supporting the Transition to Civilian Life, and Honoring the Sacrifice of Those Who Served.  I encourage you to read more about each of these initiatives below and I look forward to your feedback.

Ensuring VA Transparency and Accountability

• Supported H.R. 2704, the Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021: This legislation will make significant strides in accountability at the VA to ensure our country’s heroes are not subjected to the evils of sexual harassment. In particular, the bill requires the VA to report sexual harassment allegations and update its policies and training. This legislation passed the House of Representatives on May 18, 2021 with strong bipartisan support.

• Supported H.R. 2911, the VA Transparency and Trust Act: This bill will ensure the VA is effectively handling all funds it has received as part of its COVID-19 response efforts. The VA has received tens of billions of dollars in funding from Congress to respond to COVID, and this legislation will provide full accountability over those funds. This bill passed the House of Representatives on May 17, 2021 with bipartisan support.

Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare

• Cosponsored H.R. 2127, the Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act: This legislation will improve VA healthcare benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic materials through burn pits during their service. Open burn pits were responsible for conditions affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, eyes, skin, and the gastrointestinal tract. Every veteran suffering from as a result of such exposure deserves the best care available. Relatedly, I also have cosponsored H.R. 2436, which recognizes that veterans were subjected to toxic exposure through burn pits.

• Supported H.R. 2441, the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act: This bill will expand the VA’s capacity to assist veterans experiencing mental health illnesses. It will require the VA to maintain new centers of the rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program. It also will initiate a study to make certain the VA has sufficient resources to serve mental health care needs of veterans in rural areas. This bill passed the House of Representatives on May 18, 2021 with bipartisan support.

Supporting the Transition to Civilian Life

• Cosponsored H.R. 1448, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act: 30% of Vietnam veterans and 11-20% of veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lifetimes. This bipartisan legislation will allow the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mobile illnesses and create a program to assess its effectiveness. Research from Purdue University has shown that service dogs for PTSD can help restore feelings of confidence, safety, and independence in veterans’ daily lives. This legislation was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support on May 12, 2021.

• Cosponsored H.R. 1476, the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act: This legislation will create a national program that connects veterans suffering from PTSD or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with other veterans suffering under similar circumstances. Connecting veterans with their peers allows them to confide in someone they can trust in addition to trained VA civilian staff.

• Cosponsored H.R. 2391, the Veterans Fellowship Act: This bill will create short-term fellowships for veterans and provide them an opportunity to be employed on a long-term basis after completion. This will help veterans reacclimate to civilian life and find meaningful careers following their service in a range of roles in the Armed Forces.

Honoring the Sacrifice of Those Who Served

• Introduced the Remembering Our Local Heroes Act: This bill will honor our fallen or disabled heroes by providing grants to local governments to support memorials to veterans of the United States Armed Forces, as well as law enforcement officers and firefighters. We cannot forget our history and the sacrifice of our local heroes; we owe it to their memory to erect these memorials or to keep these local landmarks maintained.

• Cosponsored H.R. 1115, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act: This bipartisan legislation will establish a memorial for the Global War on Terrorism at a location near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. We must never forget those servicemembers who made great sacrifices to protect our homeland in the wake of the most devastating terrorist attack in our nation’s history.