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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) joined 42 of his colleagues this week in asking Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to cancel recess, citing an extensive list of tasks left untouched by the House Majority. The U.S. House of Representatives stood in recess for 38 days from August 1 to September 8 and, after only eight days of work, has recessed again until November 12. Tonko released the following statement in support of the letter he sent to Boehner:

“By November 12, the House will have only worked eight days out of the previous 100. It’s actions like this that explain why the public has such a low opinion of Congress. It is unconscionable for the Speaker to adjourn with so much left undone. When you show up to your job and refuse to do what is asked of you, you don’t get a seven-week break. Congress hasn’t earned it, plain and simple. For more than a year, I and my Democratic colleagues have called on the House majority to give a simple vote to critical legislation the American people continue to ask to be passed in poll after poll after poll.

“From renewing unemployment insurance, to immigration reform, to enacting fair pay, to raising the minimum wage, to passing meaningful jobs legislation, to a host of other issues, it’s well past time for the House to get its act together and begin to once again work for our constituents.

“With the House now in recess until November, I continue to urge the Speaker to bring us back, re-open the House, and get to work for the American people. Until then, I will meet with constituents and community leaders to push policies that will strengthen the middle-class and boost those struggling to enter it.”

Tonko listed a sample of the issues he believes the House needs to tackle before having left town:

·        Renew Unemployment Insurance: Since December 28^th, more than 3.5 million Americans who lost a job through no fault of their own continue to struggle. Every week, an additional 72,000 individuals are added to this list.

·        Comprehensive Immigration Reform: In June of 2013, the United States Senate passed bipartisan legislation that would address the reality of 11 million undocumented individuals living in the country, boost the economy, and cut the deficit by almost $1 trillion over the next twenty years. The House has left this legislation untouched for more than a year.

·        Make It In America Agenda: More than 45 bills that would boost exports, pursue a national manufacturing strategy, reshore jobs, and promote the Capital Region’s innovation economy await action.

·        Get Big Money Out of Politics: The Government By The People Act and the Democracy for All Constitutional Amendment would reverse recent Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United v FEC and McCutcheon v FEC that put more political power in the hands of the ultra-wealthy while the voice of middle-class Americans is reduced to a whisper.

·        When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: In an effort to strengthen families in Upstate New York and across the nation, this agenda calls for standard paid family leave, equal pay for equal work, and hiking the minimum wage to $10.10.

·        Voting Rights Act:Voting rights for all Americans took a major step back with a June 2013 Supreme Court decision that cleared the path for states make the democratic process onerous and more difficult for those at the ballot box. However, the Supreme Court put the ball back in Congress’ court, which has yet to act to update the Voting Rights Act – a legislative action that passed the House 390-98 in 2006.

·        Long - Term Reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund: While uncertainty dominates many infrastructure projects and jobs in the Capital Region and across the nation, the House recently passed legislation to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat – but only until May. Tonko has called for a robust, multi-year reauthorization that allows states and cities to plan for aggressive infrastructure improvements that boost public safety, put people to work, and promote business development.

·        Act On Climate: Congress continues to operate with no clear national energy policy. The House continues to pass dangerous legislation that boosts polluters, harms public health, and fails to promote clean energy sources that reduces the nation’s dependency on fossil fuels.

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