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Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation which would help close the wage gap between women and men working the same jobs. On average, women make just 78 cents for every dollar made by a man nationwide. Read more »

This week, Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), and 35 of their House Democratic colleagues asked Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Ranking Member David Price (D-NC) to support funding that ensures safe transportation of energy products, including the shipment of Bakken crude oil. Read more »

Today, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) joined Representatives Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Chris Collins (R-NY) in introducing the bipartisan Manufacturing Universities Act. The bill would establish a Manufacturing Universities program within the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. Colleges and universities with existing engineering programs would be eligible to apply for the Manufacturing University designation, which would include up to $5 million annually for four years to improve engineering programs with an emphasis on manufacturing, increase the number of joint projects with manufacturing firms, and support students who participate in cooperative education and apprenticeships with manufacturers. Read more »

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement in response to a clean, long-term bill providing funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September 30, 2015. The measure passed on a bipartisan basis by a vote of 257-167. Read more »

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) this week cosponsored H.R. 861, a clean funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation would keep DHS open through the end of the fiscal year, preventing a February 28th shutdown of the agency charged with coordinating efforts to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism on American soil. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a funding bill last month, but the legislation included several partisan, hyper-political messaging amendments that the Republican-led Senate rejected. Read more »

Today, President Obama signed H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act into law. This bipartisan legislation – which unanimously passed both the House and Senate – addresses the epidemic of suicide among our nation's veterans. Read more »

This week, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) was selected to serve on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology in addition to his work on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Typically, members of Energy and Commerce do not serve on additional committees, but Tonko worked to receive a waiver that allows him to provide his expertise as an engineer and a Capital Region resident on the Science Committee's Subcommittee on Research and Technology. Read more »

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) today released the following statement after Pope Francis accepted an invitation to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on September 24 during his visit to the United States. Read more »

Congressman Paul Tonko will spend his fifth consecutive Super Bowl Sunday volunteering with community organizations to serve meals to the needy. Read more »

I first met Timothy O' Clair at a little league game in 2001. Timothy was a bright and energetic youngster with the whole world ahead of him. Unfortunately, Timothy also suffered from a debilitating mental illness. When Timothy's insurance would no longer cover his treatment, his parents were forced to disown him in order to get treatment. Unable to receive the appropriate care, at the age of 12, Timothy tragically completed suicide. Timothy's struggle to get the care he needed is what first led me down the path of working to improve the mental health system in America. Read more »