We too often forget that those struggling with mental illness are constantly forced to fight a battle on two fronts. Not only do they have to grapple with themselves -- with their own thoughts and mind -- but they also have to contend with the negative assumptions made about those with mental illness, which are pervasive in our society.
Those stereotypes, though, are hardly a… Read more »
For four months, House Republican Leadership shuttered the Export-Import Bank, a federal agency that supports American exports and levels the playing field for U.S. manufacturers overseas. This ‘politics-over-people’ move led by the extreme wing of the House GOP caucus has already put hard working Americans out of work, including more than 200 in Schenectady, New York, in the district I… Read more »
U.S. Representatives Chris Collins (NY-27) and Paul Tonko (NY-20) today released the following statements after introducing the Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act (Medicaid DOC Act), legislation to improve access to doctors for Medicaid participants. Representatives Collins and Tonko are both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Medicaid program and recently held a hearing on how to improve beneficiary access. Read more »
Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement in response to today's announcement from the White House that 5,500 American troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2016 – a reversal from previously stated plans to bring those forces home: Read more »
Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) today joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in urging Social Security Administration (SSA) Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security beneficiaries in 2016. In a letter to Colvin, the Members of Congress expressed concern regarding recent reports that beneficiaries may not receive a COLA increase next year, which would further strain the limited resources afforded to the nation's seniors. Read more »
A partial list of speeches, articles, and statements detailing Congressman Paul Tonko's (NY-20) campaign to stop bad trade deals from hurting American workers Read more »
Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement after voting in favor of bipartisan legislation that avoids a second government shutdown in two years, and keeps federal operations open for an additional 72 days through December 11, 2015. The clean funding bill, which does not include a controversial provision that would defund Planned Parenthood, passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority by a vote of 277-151. Every House Democrat in attendance voted in favor of the legislation and all 151 votes against the bill came from House Republicans. Read more »
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko today announced $3,000,000 in federal funding for the Schenectady County Community College (SCCC). Over the next five years, this funding will help 2,200 students obtain the necessary training to pursue careers in the healthcare sector. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Profession Opportunity Grant to Serve TANF Recipients and Other Low-Income Individuals (HPOG) program. Schumer, Gillibrand and Tonko said this $3 million healthcare job training grant is renewable for five years, which means the total award could be brought to $15 million over the next five years. Read more »
Today, Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) joined 78 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives, urging Speaker Boehner to keep the House in session every day until a deal is reached to prevent another government shutdown.With only five legislative days scheduled before the government closes its doors at 12:01 am on October 1st, the letter calls on the Speaker to use his power to keep Congress working every day, including over the next two weekends, until there's an agreement. Read more »
