Claudia Tenney

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), member of the Ways and Means Committee, today cosponsored the Financing Lead Out of Water (FLOW) Act, bipartisan legislation that will remove federal red tape to help more municipalities finance water projects focused on the removal of lead service lines. The legislation will make it easier for upstate New York counties to finance and execute water projects.

This legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-8).

The FLOW Act would allow bonds issued by public water utilities to finance the replacement of private lead service lines to bypass the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’s) “private business use test.” Streamlining this process in the tax code will help more communities access low-cost financing for lead service line replacement. This becomes more important as laws regulating lead in drinking water are updated nationwide.

Lead service lines are unique pieces of infrastructure often owned by the local government and private citizens. Removing them is costly but can be financed by issuing tax-exempt bonds. However, under current law, if a water utility issues bonds to fund the replacement of lead service lines buried on private property, the utility must prove that the bond proceeds will not mainly benefit private businesses. Providing this documentation to the IRS requires extensive and costly analysis, delaying these infrastructure projects. The FLOW Act would remove this expensive and time-consuming barrier.

“Outdated lead pipes are still an issue for many communities, but the process to install new pipes is often filled with unnecessary and costly roadblocks for municipalities,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. “The FLOW Act removes the federal red tape that prevents too many of our communities from affordably tapping into the investments they need to provide affordable, clean drinking water. I'm introducing this bill to support water infrastructure programs and address hazardous lead pipes.”

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), co-chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, introduced a resolution calling for an amendment to the Constitution to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in federal, state, and local elections.

Cosponsors of this resolution include Rep Barry Moore (R-AL), Rep Mike Bost (R-IL), Rep Mary Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Delegate James Moylan (Guam).

Recently, multiple jurisdictions around the nation, including New York City, San Francisco, Vermont, and the District of Columbia, have attempted to water down our sacred right of citizenship by extending the right to vote to non-citizens. Tenney’s resolution provides for an amendment to the United States Constitution to ensure that only citizens of the United States are allowed to vote in federal, state, and local elections.

“The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights we have as American citizens,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “A citizen of another nation should not be allowed to vote in elections that will influence government officials and U.S. laws at any level. It is time to restore confidence in our elections and rebuild faith in our self-governing Constitutional Republic by making it explicit that only American citizens are permitted to vote in local, state, and federal elections. I am honored to introduce this important piece of legislation.”

You can view the text of this resolution here.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), today announced that she has joined the newly formed "Northern Border Security Caucus." The caucus is a coalition of 28 members of Congress who are concerned about the increased human and drug trafficking along the U.S.-Canada border.

The Northern Border Security Caucus, which all House Republicans and Democrats were invited to join, is supported by House Republican Leadership and the National Border Patrol Council, among other groups and organizations.

The U.S.-Canada border is the longest international border in the world. Recent news reports, along with data compiled over the past two years, show a surge in illegal migrant crossings and drug trafficking across the Northern border. Specifically, in the North Country sector of the border, there has been an 846% increase in illegal border crossings. As the national security threat at our Northern Border continues to grow exponentially, there has been no corresponding increase in U.S. Border Patrol staffing, which is still at the same level as it was in Fiscal Year 2009.

“There’s been an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase across the North Country alone," said Congresswoman Tenney.  "Under President Biden’s failed leadership, our borders are less secure, and our communities are at risk. The Northern Border Security Caucus is needed now more than ever for members of Congress to come together with one voice to advocate against Joe Biden’s reckless policies and to focus on delivering the resources needed by our brave Border Patrol agents at our Northern Border to do their jobs effectively.”

NORTHERN BORDER FAST FACTS:

• Drug smuggling has increased by 596% along the Northern border since Fiscal Year 2021, including a 26% increase in fentanyl.
• Since President Biden took office nearly two years ago, there has been an almost 15 times increase in Northern land border encounters.
• There were only 997 Northern land border encounters in January 2021. But that number has increased each month since. In the month of October 2022, there were 15,938 Northern land border encounters. In FY2020, there were 32,376 border encounters. In FY2022, there were 109,535 encounters.
• Border Patrol staffing has remained flat since FY 2009. Since FY09, staffing levels along the Northern border sectors have been between 1,887 and 2,263 personnel. FY2020 Northern border sector staffing was 2,019.
• The longest international border in the world, measuring 5,525 miles, the U.S. Northern border has only 115 ports of entry with no performance measures to assess security between ports.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on Thursday sent a letter to the Biden administration slamming it for failing to comply with a legally-mandated reporting requirement on Iran’s military capabilities. The letter, which was addressed to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, follows her failure to submit a report to Congress on the military capabilities of Iran, which is legally required by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. The report was due 180 days following the passage of the NDAA. It is now 233 days late.

This report requires a detailed description of the advancements in the military capabilities of Iran, especially regarding the capabilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthis. Further, this report requires detailed accountings of attacks against U.S. servicemembers and our allies by Iran and its proxies.

“At a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to escalate tensions in the Middle East and threaten our allies like Israel, Congress required the Biden administration to provide a detailed report on the regime’s military capabilities,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “This report is now 233 days late. The administration’s failure to comply with this legally required reporting requirement from Congress is unacceptable and I am calling on the Director of National Intelligence act immediately to provide this information. Not only is the failure to send this report a clear violation of the law, but it is also detrimental to our national security. I look forward to promptly receiving this report from Director Haines, as well as an explanation for the delay of more than 200 days.”

Tenney’s full letter is available here.     

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on Monday released the following statement after her appointment to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the 118th Congress. This committee has jurisdiction over all non-defense-related federal scientific research and development portfolios. 

Congresswoman Tenney was also named to the committee’s Energy Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Energy’s research and development programs.

"It is an honor to serve on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for the 118th Congress," said Congresswoman Tenney. "This committee is vitally important for maintaining our technological edge over adversaries like China. We simply cannot let our enemies out-compete and out-innovate us. Additionally, with the Biden administration’s war on energy, I am especially honored to serve on the Energy Subcommittee. New York’s three remaining nuclear power plants are in New York’s 24th Congressional District. Safe and reliable nuclear power continues to hold great promise for our nation. As a member of the Energy Subcommittee, I will continue to oppose the Biden administration’s dangerous Green New Deal policies and support targeted investments in energy technologies like nuclear that are clean, affordable, and reliable.”

The Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas released the following statement following Congresswoman Tenney's appointment to the committee.

"I’m very pleased to welcome Congresswoman Tenney to the Science Committee," said Chairman Lucas. "She understands how scientific innovation drives a strong economy, and she’s been a strong voice for an all-of-the-above approach to developing clean, affordable, and reliable American energy. She will be a tremendous asset to our Committee as we tackle the challenges facing us and work to keep America at the cutting edge of scientific, technological, and economic development."

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) yesterday introduced the Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act. This bill would exempt $3,000 worth of firearms from bankruptcy proceedings, allowing Americans to maintain their Second Amendment rights through tough financial times.

Current bankruptcy law allows debtors to maintain items to support a base quality of life, including a primary residency, car, clothing, household appliances, and even musical instruments. But there is no current exemption for a firearm that can be used for self-defense, a constitutional right. This important piece of legislation ensures that Americans can keep their firearms to defend themselves, no matter their financial state.

“No American should ever have to sacrifice their constitutional rights because of their financial situation,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Second Amendment is a constitutional right for all Americans, even those experiencing financial hardship. I am honored to lead this important legislation that protects the rights of gun owners everywhere, no matter their financial situation.”

Additional co-sponsors include Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-9), Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14), and Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5).

Read the full text of the bill here.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, today introduced a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Social Security should be preserved and protected for current beneficiaries, and for future generations to come.

Congresswoman Tenney released the following statement after the introduction of the resolution: 

“Last night, in his State of the Union address, President Biden once again spewed lies and a false narrative surrounding House Republican’s plan for Social Security and Medicare,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “This resolution reaffirms House Republicans’ commitment to protecting Social Security for current beneficiaries and future generations to come. Programs like Social Security and Medicare were lifelines for my parents when they were older, and I will always fight to preserve and strengthen them for seniors, retirees, and future beneficiaries. Joe Biden’s shameful and deliberate deception demonstrates once again how unserious he is about working with Republicans to address the crises facing our nation under his leadership.”

Read the full text of the resolution here.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) tonight issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

“Tonight, President Biden once again tried to take a victory lap despite the endless crises caused by his administration,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “From the economy to national security, the President has continued to fail this country. The list is endless, but to start, inflation has risen over 13%, 4.5 million illegal aliens have flooded across our Southern Border, and homicides are up 13% since Joe Biden took office. 

“Despite Biden’s disastrous presidency, our Republican House Majority is committed to delivering real results for the American people. In the first month that Republicans have been in the Majority, we have fully reopened the Capitol to the American People, voted to defund Biden’s 87,000 new IRS Agents, established a bipartisan Select Committee to hold the Chinese Communist Party Accountable, stood up for the right to life and voted to end unconstitutional and overreaching vaccine mandates.

“Republicans will continue fighting to preserve our self-governing Constitutional Republic and defend our individual rights. We will keep our communities safe, make life more affordable, and make the government more transparent. And we will always hold Joe Biden and the federal bureaucracy accountable to the American people.”

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) announced today that she will be hosting a live Tele-Town Hall for constituents in New York’s 24th Congressional District from 6 to 7  p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9.

Participants can ask questions, provide feedback through interactive polls, and hear directly from Tenney on important issues in the district and across the country.

If you are interested in registering for the Tele-Town Hall, you can call Tenney’s office at (202) 225-3665, visit the Congresswoman's website at tenney.house.gov/rsvp, or dial in directly at the time of the call at (833) 419-0132.

Tenny has also scheduled mobile office hours in Genesee County on Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 7 Main St., Batavia.

Press release:

During these mobile office hours, expert caseworkers from Congresswoman Tenney’s staff will be on hand to provide constituents assistance dealing with federal agencies. This includes issues surrounding Social Security benefits, veterans' health care, passport applications, and much more.

If you are interested in attending any of the mobile office hours below, you can schedule an appointment in advance by calling (315) 236-7088 or walk-in at any time. Please note that scheduling your appointment in advance will provide a more expedited casework experience and ensure that every constituent is able to receive the help they need.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) introduced three bills to combat the China Communist Party (CCP) amid China’s deployment of a surveillance balloon over the United States. These three bills will increase transparency and stop federal funds from going to the CCP and CCP-affiliated entities.

First, Congresswoman Tenney led H.R. 748, or the Stop CCP Infrastructure Act, alongside Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-7), which prohibits federally funded public works projects from granting contracts to entities affiliated with the Chinese government, the CCP, or those headquartered in China. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed last Congress appropriated almost $1.2 trillion for infrastructure spending, but it did not include necessary safeguards to ensure these funds do not go to the CCP or CCP-affiliated entities. This bill will remedy this omission for IIJA funds and other public works spending.

Next, H.R. 747, or the No Chinese Communist Subterfuge via Unregistered Regime Presence Rendered Indivisible to Shareholders and Equivalent (SURPRISE) Parties Act, was introduced by Congresswoman Tenney alongside Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Congressman Max Miller (OH-7). This bill requires publicly traded companies to disclose their ties to the CCP. Many companies that have divisions that operate in China have CCP cells and CCP members on their corporate boards. Americans should be entitled to know which companies are under the malign influence of the CCP when making investment and purchasing decisions.

Finally, H.R. 749, or the Turn Off Federal Funding of Threatening Entities that Thwart American Prosperity (Turn OFF THE TAP) Act, was led by Congresswoman Tenney and Senator Rubio. This bill will explicitly prohibit any federal funds from going to entities on federal trade blacklists and sanctions lists directly or through third parties. Under current federal law, there is no central ban on contracts with foreign firms that are on U.S. government blacklists or from contracting with companies that do business with blacklisted firms. This bill will fix this gap and ensure the federal blacklists work the way they are intended.

“Time and again, the CCP has refused to play by the rules and has engaged in exploitative trade policies, corrupt business deals, and severe human rights abuses,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Today, China is operating a surveillance balloon over American soil. China is emboldened by President Biden’s weak policies, and it continues to threaten both our economic and national security. We must begin taking China’s threat seriously and end their abuse of hardworking Americans. These pieces of legislation are critical first steps in combatting the malign influence of the CCP in our economy and their exploitation of U.S. public and private investment funds.”

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, introduced The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act alongside Congressman Greg Stuebe (R-Fl.). Additional original cosponsors of this legislation include Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), and Rob Wittman (R-Va.).

This legislation guarantees women and girls a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring that school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This commonsense bill ensures that biological females are not forced to compete against biological men in women's competitive sports funded through Title IX.

“This legislation is about protecting the equal opportunity for women and girls to fairly compete and succeed in athletics,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “President Joe Biden’s Department of Education and state agencies across the nation are allowing – even encouraging – biological men to participate in women’s sports. This is fundamentally unfair. It deprives women and girls of what so many of us fought for decades to achieve: equal opportunity to train, compete, excel in athletics. The Republican majority has pledged to protect women’s sports, and today we’re delivering on that promise.”

On behalf of Congressman Greg Stuebe, Congresswoman Tenney spoke on the House floor to introduce this piece of legislation.

Watch her full remarks here or read the full remarks prepared for delivery below:

Sports and athletic competitions provide essential opportunities for women to thrive at every state of their life. As children in youth sports, as teens in high school, in college, and beyond.

As a former athlete in high school and college, I know the unparalleled opportunities that sports offer to women and girls. They are a chance to learn new skills, develop lifelong friendships, and challenge yourself to compete at the highest levels. Title Nine and the banning of discrimination against women in school sports made so much of this possible for me, and countless other women.

But today, these opportunities are under threat.

Joe Biden’s Department of Education and state agencies across the nation are allowing – even encouraging – biological men to participate in women’s sports. This is fundamentally unfair. It deprives women and girls of what so many of us fought for decades to achieve: equal opportunity to train, compete, excel in athletics.

 We saw this last year in the NCAA women’s swimming championship, when a female athlete was robbed of her title by a biological male. And this is not an isolated incident. It is happening in countless other sports and athletic leagues.

Today we take a stand up, with compassion for all, in defense of women’s sports and to stop this dangerous precedent.

This is why I am honored to cosponsor Rep. Greg Steube’s Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and to announce its introduction today in honor of National Women and Girls in Sports Day.

This bill will make it a violation of Title Nine for biological men to compete in sports designated for women or girls. 

Further, it sensibly defines sex based on one’s biological designation at birth. This bill isn’t just anti-woke, it is pro-science.

This bill will protect opportunities for women and girls to compete fairly on the athletic field and in life - without interference from woke agencies or politicians who are making up definitions of sex and gender as they go, all to fit toxic political agendas and ideologies.

 Women have fought hard over the years for equality of opportunity, and it is essential we protect these opportunities we cherish today for generations of girls to come.

The Republican majority has pledged to protect women’s sports, and today we’re delivering on that promise.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today voted in favor of H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill she cosponsored to end the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. In addition, the Congresswoman also voted in favor of H.R. 382, the Pandemic is Over Act, which officially ends the COVID-19 public health emergency declared by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2020.

H.R. 497 passed the House by a vote of 227-203, while H.R. 382 passed the House by 220-210.

Following her vote on these bills, Congresswoman Tenney released the following statement:

"The president has said it himself: the pandemic is over," said Congresswoman Tenney. "As New York families and small businesses have returned to normal, it is finally time for the government to do the same by ending the permanent state of emergency and lifting its overreaching and unconstitutional mandates. I was honored to support these critical pieces of legislation, which make good on the Republican commitment to restore our fundamental freedoms and ensure the government is accountable to the people."

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, reintroduced the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which would work to provide financial assistance to investment companies that finance small manufacturing businesses.

This bicameral legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).

The AIM Act works to provide additional capital to Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) to leverage private capital to provide more patient and flexible financing to smaller and mid-sized manufacturers.

“By incentivizing and creating manufacturing jobs not only in Upstate and Western New York but across the country, we can work to rebuild and grow our nation’s economy,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Many Americans rely on the essential goods and services from our smaller manufacturers, and the AIM Act will work to stimulate economic growth and opportunities for these businesses. I am honored to lead this bicameral legislation alongside Senator Rubio. Boosting support for our small manufacturing businesses remains a top priority for House Republicans.”

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today reintroduced the Health Freedom for All Act to prevent the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from overstepping its congressional authority by enacting a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

In September of 2021, the Biden Administration, through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) attempted to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees of businesses with 100 or more employees and require weekly testing for those who remain unvaccinated.

While this mandate was blocked by the Supreme Court, this legislation will stop the Biden Administration from ever attempting a COVID-19 mandate through OSHA again. The bill finally clarifies that under existing law, OSHA does not have the authority to implement rules requiring Americans to undergo COVID-19 vaccinations or testing.

The Health Freedom for All Act was co-sponsored by Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-2), Congressman Bill Posey (FL-8), Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17), Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-3), and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-2).

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission expressing concerns regarding the new national broadband map. This map is essential in determining eligibility for many federal broadband grants, including the Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Loan and Grant program and the new Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

Tenney raised concerns about the map’s methodology and its failure to provide information about libraries and other community anchor institutions (CAIs). Finally, she urged the FCC to extend the Jan. 13 deadline to submit disputes to ensure underserved communities and stakeholders throughout New York’s 24th Congressional District have adequate time to correct errors in the map. 

“There are far too many communities in New York’s 24th District and across the country that do not have access to reliable broadband,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “When broadband companies exaggerate or misstate their service availability in rural and low-income areas, this has a negative impact on everything from economic activity to educational opportunity. The proposed map put forward by the FCC is concerning for many reasons, including its lack of consideration for the rural communities I am honored to represent. I urge the Chairwoman of the FCC to take a deeper look into this issue and reevaluate this map to ensure it better serves all communities.”

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today reintroduced H.R. 348, the Transparency in COVID-19 Expenditures Act, alongside Representatives Mike Gallagher (WI-08), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Darrell Issa (CA-48), and Chris Smith (NJ-04).

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to audit the funding provided by the COVID-19 relief bills Congress passed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, the GAO must audit and report on the use of funding provided by:

• the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
• the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• the CARES Act
• the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
• Divisions M and N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and
• the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The United States has spent over $4 trillion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of which was spent without proper oversight. In fact, the New York State Comptroller reported that over $11 billion in fraudulent unemployment insurance payments were made during the first year of the pandemic alone.

Following the release of H.R. 348, the lawmaker released the following statement:

“Taxpayers deserve to know where their money went and how it was spent,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Now that we are in the Majority, House Republicans are leading to charge to make the government more accountable and transparent, and that starts with how American’s tax dollars were spent. The financial fraud following the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented and we must ensure we never give out a blank check and make these same mistakes again. I’m honored to lead this charge to create a more transparent government.”

Read the full text of the bill here.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today joined the entire New York Republican delegation in introducing the Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering (SERVE) Our Communities Act.

Since taking effect in 2020, New York State’s bail reform has eliminated cash bail and expanded pre-trial release for a variety of misdemeanor and felony charges, creating a revolving door that keeps criminals on our streets.

 This bill provides an incentive for states like New York to adopt policies that hold repeat offenders accountable and bolster public safety. Specifically, the SERVE Our Communities Act would authorize $10 million in anti-recidivism grant funding from the Department of Justice for states that have laws directing courts to consider dangerousness when determining bail or pretrial release. To receive grant money, states with these laws must also take steps to hire and retain law enforcement or administer a public awareness campaign that combats anti-police sentiment and improves community-police relations.

 “New York’s radical left cashless bail reform has been a disaster. The SERVE Act works to hold repeat offenders accountable and support our brave men and women who risk their lives to ensure our communities are safe. We must end the continuous cycle of ‘defund the police’ and ‘catch and release’ policies. I’m honored to join my fellow New York Republicans in reintroducing this vital piece of legislation and look forward to real improvement in our justice system,” Congresswoman Claudia Tenney said.

Tenney was joined by Representatives Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Nicholas LaLota (NY-01), George Santos (NY-03), Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Brandon Williams (NY-22), and Nick Langworthy (NY-23) in introducing this bill.

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) yesterday alongside Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) sent a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on his agency to do all it can to ensure Western New York farmers can quickly recover from the deadly Winter Storm Elliott.

Winter Storm Elliot has been referred to as the storm of the century, and rightly so. This storm produced over four feet of snow and hurricane-strength winds, resulting in at least 40 deaths across our region and $5.4 billion in losses nationwide. Numerous businesses suffered countless damages, specifically the Western New York agriculture sector.

“[The storm was] devastating to our agricultural producers, who are already struggling with record inflation, high energy and fertilizer prices, and the existing supply chain dysfunctions,”  wrote the Republican Lawmakers. “It is imperative for our local and national economy that we provide these producers the help they need to quickly recover from this severe winter storm.”

The Republican lawmakers are calling on the Department of Agriculture to use all the tools at its disposal to accelerate aid distribution and assistance to the affected agricultural businesses across Western New York.

Previously: After digging out of the storm, Lamb Farms thankful for community and safety of staff and animals

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released the following statement after being selected by the Republican Steering Committee to serve on the important House Ways and Means Committee.

“I am grateful to the members of the Republican Steering Committee, especially Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, and New York Representative Andrew Garbarino, for selecting me to serve on the prestigious House Ways and Means Committee," said Congresswoman Tenney. "As a tax and business attorney and small manufacturing firm owner, I understand the struggles faced by seniors, small businesses, and family farms. I will serve as a strong voice for hardworking New Yorkers and a tenacious and compassionate advocate for our region.

“The Republican Commitment to America starts with an economy that is strong for all. The Ways and Means Committee under the leadership of Chairman Jason Smith will play a critical role in restoring our nation’s economic prosperity. We will focus on re-shoring America’s lost manufacturing jobs and securing our domestic supply chains. We will fight for small businesses and working families to ensure we have a tax code that is fairer and simpler. We will prioritize America’s family farms and advocate for trade policies that put our nation first. We will hold the IRS accountable to the taxpayers and put an end to the weaponization of the federal bureaucracy. We will protect Social Security and Medicare, while strengthening these programs for future generations. We will also fight to make permanent the vital tax relief and support for families and small businesses under the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. I will advocate every day for the working families, small businesses, family farms, and senior citizens that I am so honored to represent across New York’s 24th District.” 

Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (MO-8) released the following statement following Congresswoman Tenney's selection to the committee:

“The Ways and Means Committee is grateful to welcome Congresswoman Tenney," said Chairman Smith. "A longtime small business owner herself, she is a fierce advocate for working families. Together, we will fight for a tax code that delivers better jobs and higher wages for all Americans and advances the interests of American workers and entrepreneurs. I look forward to serving our country together in this pivotal time.”