WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko joined Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) and 212 other Representatives in the House to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Senate back into session immediately and pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. The letter reads in part: “This inaction must stop. We know background checks save lives. Every day background checks stop more than 170 felon... Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) marked the 200th day of the new Congress this week by highlighting milestone legislative achievements passed in the House of Representatives during the 116th Congress to-date. Tonko-supported bills that have passed in the House since January includes legislation to strengthen the security and integrity of U.S. elections, protect Americans with preexisting health conditions, permanently fund health and survivor benefits for 9/11 first responders, close l... Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) voted late yesterday to pass H.R. 3375, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, a bill he cosponsors that would bring much needed relief to Americans who are sick and tired of dealing with abusive robocalls. This bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 429-3 and will now head to the Senate. “The epidemic of spam robocalls has become a serious problem for families throughout the Capital Region and across the country,” noted Tonko. “This bipartisan legislation... Read more

WASHINGTON – The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology advanced two clean energy innovation bills sponsored by Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), the first supporting expanded U.S. wind energy research and innovation, the other investing in research and development to improve gas turbine efficiency. “As floodwaters rise, wildfires spread and heat waves continue to threaten our communities, technology improvements and energy innovation cannot come soon enough,” said Tonko. “The legislation... Read more

"After a decade spent working harder for less and watching their paychecks shrink with inflation, America’s workers have earned this long-overdue raise, which will put more money in the pockets of millions of working and middle class families and grow local economies in New York and beyond." Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), the lead sponsor behind H.R. 1709: the Scientific Integrity Act in the House of Representatives, delivered the following remarks during opening statements at today’s House Science Committee Hearing, “Scientific Integrity In Federal Agencies”: Thank you Chairs Johnson and Stevens for today’s hearing and for joining me as original cosponsors introducing the Scientific Integrity Act! Thanks to Chairwoman Sherrill for your strong support of the bill and to... Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) announced today that his weatherization bill, cosponsored by Reps. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), was approved by a vote of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. H.R. 2041, The Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act, would reauthorize and strengthen the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) that plays a vital role in helping Americans make their homes mor... Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) joined with his colleagues in the House today to pass H.R. 1327, the “Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alverez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act” by a vote of 402-12. This legislation extends the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) until 2092, similar to the timeline of the World Trade Center Health Program, and reverses all cuts in compensation for both current and future claims, tak... Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) announced today that his newly-introduced wind energy legislation, cosponsored by Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE). Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), has advanced through the Space, Science, and Technology Committee Subcommittee on Energy. Tonko’s bipartisan bill, H.R. 3609, Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019, would give formal authorization to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Wind Energy. This legislation was fir... Read more

WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and SUNY Albany grants for a combined total of $501,937. Union College will receive $249,984 from the NSF’s IPP, Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships, to develop sustainable, eco-friendly materials that will reduce automobile emitted pollution. This specific grant also includes funding to create a research and entrepren... Read more