WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) marked the 200^th day of the new Congress this week by highlighting milestone legislative achievements passed in the House of Representatives during the 116^th 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 loopholes for gun purchases, raise the minimum wage, ensure paycheck fairness, restore net neutrality, keep us in the Paris climate agreement, end robocall fraud, and much more. The Senate has refused to even debate any of these common-sense measures.

“We have spent the past 200 days advancing smart, common-sense solutions that will make a real difference in the lives of our constituents and give power back to the people,” said Tonko. “Meanwhile, Senator McConnell continues to sit on his hands and brag about being a grim reaper overseeing a legislative graveyard. The American people deserve better. Any Senator who won’t lift a finger to help the American people should be replaced by someone who will.”

During the first 200 days of the new Democratic Majority, Rep. Tonko has secured major legislative and political benchmarks including:

• Leading Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change as Chair
  • Held Trump officials accountable for egregious conflicts of interest including questionable rollbacks of critical public health & environmental protections against exposure to toxic substances such as PFOA
  • Published his “Framework for Climate Action in the U.S. Congress” at Climate Leadership Conference in Baltimore, MD
  • Partnered with Congressional leaders to roll out a bold plan to achieve a 100% clean U.S. economy by 2050
• Secured major wins for his Capital Region constituents in 2020 Fiscal Year funding agreement
• Achieved House passage of Tonko-sponsored bills including the PIRATE Act and ACCESS BROADBAND Act
• Marshalled committee passage of numerous Tonko-sponsored bills including to advance clean energy innovation, weatherization, wind energy research, and more
• Pushed successfully for hearings on Tonko priorities including safeguarding the integrity of public federal science, confronting the climate crisis, protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and more
• Introduced pioneering legislation to combat the opioid crisis, improve Alzheimer’s care and support, strengthen U.S. Heritage Areas including the Erie Canalway, modernize the sport of horse racing, officially recognize Yellow Ribbon Day, and much more

During the first 200 days of the new Democratic Majority, the House of Representatives has passed:

• H.R. 1 – For The People Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 5 – The Equality Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 7 – Paycheck Fairness Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 8 – Bipartisan Background Checks Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 9 – Climate Action Now Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 582 – Raise the Wage Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 583 – PIRATE Act (Rep. Tonko authored)
• H.R. 986 – Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
• H.R. 987 – Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act
• H.R. 1327 – 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 1328 – The ACCESS BROADBAND Act (Rep. Tonko authored)
• H.R. 1585 – Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 1644 – Save The Internet Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)
• H.R. 3375 – Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (Rep. Tonko cosponsored)

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