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Rep. Paul Tonko was among members of Congress who joined President Barack Obama as he signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law Tuesday afternoon at the SEED School in Washington, D.C. By signing the bill into law, President Obama has launched a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages the opportunity to help our nation recover from the recession and solve… Read more »

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) announced today that MTI Micro Fuel Cells of Albany and Plug Power of Latham have been awarded a combined $8.5 million in federal grants designed to spur growth in fuel cell development.The grants are part of $41.9 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will go to companies nationwide for fuel cell development, to be… Read more »

More than $2.5 million will be heading to several local communities from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for local energy improvement projects, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) announced today. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which will be administered by the Department of Energy, will provide funds to local communities for projects that reduce… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko will host a Congress on your Corner event Friday, March 27, at the Rensselaer County Office Building in Troy from 9am – 11am. The public is invited to meet with Congressmen Tonko to ask questions, share their thoughts and concerns and offer suggestions on how his office can better serve the community. Staff members will also be on hand to help constituents who… Read more »

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) today urged low income tax filers to use the IRS’s free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to save the cost of tax preparation and to make sure they are taking advantage of all tax credits, including the Earned Income Credit. A list of the VITA sites from throughout the 21st Congressional District is posted on Rep. Tonko’s web site,… Read more »

Vita Sites for 21st district of NY.docClick on link to view listThe Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax help to people who generally make $42,000 or less who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns. The program is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service.### Read more »

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) voted today in favor of legislation (H.R. 1586) that would impose a 90% income tax on bonuses paid to individuals from companies that have received more than $5 billion in TARP funds. That would include $165 million in bonuses paid to executives with American International Group. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.“Taxpayer funds… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko joined a bi-partisan majority in the House of Representatives today in voting for a bill that will create a new era of American service and volunteerism. The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act answers President Obama’s call for Americans to help the country though our economic crisis by serving and volunteering in their… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) said today that President Obama’s plan to unfreeze credit markets will be good news for small businesses, which have had a tough time getting loans as the nation’s economy has slowed. Rep. Tonko attended the President’s announcement in the East Room of the White House this morning.The President’s plan will raise government loan… Read more »

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) said today that New York will receive $517,796,513 in grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for weatherization and and energy efficiency programs for low-income individuals, following an announcement by President Obama and the Department of Energy this morning detailing those funds.  According to the Department of Energy, New York will… Read more »