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WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered news just in the past several hours that two of the Capital Region community projects he has been pushing to get federally-funded are included in the just-released “Labor, Health and Human Services” appropriations text, a critical step that should greatly improve the chances of funding for both local projects being included in the final FY 2022 federal budget.

“Some of America’s greatest success stories have come from the boldest investments we make in each other, and I’m proud that my team and I have secured two more local projects in early stage legislative text that would build on that record of success,” Congressman Tonko said. “News today that these projects are in the latest section of the Labor-HHS budget bill warms my heart and brings these worthy projects one step closer to a reality that will deliver needed support for our communities and help our region reach its fullest potential. My thanks our local leaders and community members at UAlbany, Hometown Health and beyond whose dedication continues to help bring these projects to life. The road ahead remains long and uncertain, but I won’t stop pushing until our Capital Region is getting the federal support we need to spark every aspect of our COVID recovery and build back better than ever.”

The two Capital Region projects Tonko has been pushing to fund include:

• $1,000,000 for the University at Albany to support purchase of RNA research equipment that would better enable the region and state to address COVID as well as help advance new treatments for many other diseases including Myotonic dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
• $750,000 for Schenectady Family Health Services, Inc. Hometown Health Dental Clinic to expand their dental clinic providing critical services to families in the region, an expansion that are even more urgently needed after the closing of Ellis hospital’s dental clinic, which has led Hometown Health to nearly double the number of Capital Region patients they serve.

This newest set of projects—included in the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee appropriations proposal—marks another success in Tonko’s ongoing effort to ensure the Capital Region receives needed federal dollars to support communities and the local economy. Recently, he cheered the inclusion of all five local transportation infrastructure projects in the INVEST in America Act, advanced out of the House earlier this month.

Three other Tonko-backed community projects have also been included in recent committee appropriations proposals, including

• $1,687,500 to the Town of Westerlo to bring broadband internet access to hundreds of underserved households.
• $960,000 to the Town of Rotterdam to support improvements to their wastewater treatment plant to bring it up to modern standards.
• $800,000 to the City of Mechanicville for their water reliability project to replace miles of old water mains currently serving thousands of Capital Region residents and businesses.

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