Tonko, Paul RSS Articles

Tonko Statement on Massie Amendment Addressing Military Aid to Israel

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement on the amendment that would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act:

“Today, I will vote YES on the Massie amendment that addresses U.S. military aid to Israel.

“Existing U.S. law prohibits military aid from being provided to entities found to be implicated in gross human rights violations. I believe the Netanyahu government met this standard with their horrific conduct in Gaza. Since then, Israel has sought to further entangle the United States in a war of choice against Iran and undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire. These actions have only destabilized the region and are actively harming efforts to achieve lasting peace and security for all sides.

“This is far from a perfect amendment, and I support steps to allow for the continuation of funding for peacebuilding and humanitarian programs that are captured in this overly broad prohibition. However, I will not support additional military aid that enables Netanyahu to bomb other countries relentlessly with the implicit support of the American taxpayers.

“While I strongly oppose the actions of Israel’s current government, I continue to stand in strong support of our local Jewish community and stand firmly against hate and antisemitism in any form. All Israelis and Palestinians deserve a future where they can live in peace and security. Unfortunately, the actions of the Netanyahu government, supported by U.S. assistance, take us farther away from that future every day.

“It’s time to chart a new course.”

Tonko Statement on Passing of Harbe Nagi and Ensuing Islamophobia

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

MENANDS, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement after news of the passing of 7-year-old Harbe Nagi in Menands and following the disgusting Islamophobic comments posted online in the wake of his death:

“I was heartbroken yesterday to learn of the passing of 7-year-old Harbe Nagi in Menands — a devastating loss for his family, his friends, and our entire Capital Region community. I was also horrified to see the casual and disgusting Islamophobia on display in the wake of Harbe’s death. There is no place for Islamophobia here in our Capital Region or anywhere else, and our neighbors deserve better than this unmitigated cruelty in their time of need. Let me be clear: our Muslim neighbors love this community and they belong in our Capital Region and in the United States. I extend my deepest condolences to the Nagi family and all who have been affected by this tremendous loss.”

###

Tonko Cheers $1.5 Million for Montgomery County to Cleanup Brownfield Sites

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) announced that Montgomery County is being awarded $1.5 million for a Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Assessment Coalition Grant. The funding, awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and support cleanup plans for several sites across the county.

“For decades, the Brownfields Program has helped breathe new life into communities across our nation, bolstering local economies, creating new jobs, supporting environmental justice communities and protecting public health,” said Congressman Tonko, Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment. “Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to support this worthy program and bring these sweeping benefits to our Capital Region and beyond. I’m thrilled to see this significant funding that will create new opportunities for those who call Montgomery County home and strengthen our region for years to come.”

EPA’s Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. Tonko has long supported brownfield renewal efforts and pushed for funding provided in this program.

The funding for Montgomery County is one of more than a dozen awardees in New York receiving a total of over $14 million in Brownfields program funding. The grant for Montgomery will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct 26 Phase I and 11 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds will also be used to develop ten cleanup plans and five site reuse assessments, and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Village of St. Johnsville, the Village of Nelliston’s Brownfield Opportunity Area, and the City of Amsterdam’s East End Brownfield Opportunity Area. Priority sites include a 3.7-acre unsecured former industrial property abandoned since the 1990s, a 5.3-acre former carpet mill, and a 2.2-acre lot used for cheese production from the 1940s until it was abandoned in the 1990s.

Tonko Announces $487K Grant for City of Rensselaer to Construct Timber Bridge Over Quackenderry Creek

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

RENSSELAER, NY — Today, Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) announced that the City of Rensselaer has been awarded $487,174 in federal funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Timber for Transit program to design and construct a timber bridge over Quackenderry Creek. Once constructed, this bridge will provide residents and visitors with safe, permanent access into the City-owned property known as The Hollow.

Separate from this funding, Tonko is also pushing for additional federal dollars for the City of Rensselaer Hollow Trail through the Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding Process. That project would fund development of a trailhead at The Hollow’s southern entry-point, add accessible parking, and better connect existing trails. Further details on that project can be found HERE.

“I’m thrilled to announce this significant award that will bring new recreational opportunities and lasting infrastructural improvements to the City of Rensselaer,” Congressman Tonko said. “With this new bridge, residents and visitors to the City will have a safe, permanent point of access to The Hollow, improving connectivity to nearby businesses by linking existing trails to other natural assets in the area. I’m proud to celebrate this grant, and I’m eager to see the benefits this project will bring to the City of Rensselaer and to our region as a whole.”

“The Rensselaer Hollow Trail Project will create a nearly 2-mile paved off-road trail through the Hollow Preserve, connecting several residential neighborhoods with the Rensselaer City School District campus. We are most grateful to Congressman Tonko and the Northern Border Regional Commission for the Timber-For-Transit funded bridge that will enable the trail to cross the Quackenderry Creek which runs from East Greenbush, through Rensselaer, to the Hudson River,” said John DeFrancesco, Mayor of the City of Rensselaer. “Also, with the help of Congressman Tonko, we are seeking funding for a welcoming Trail Head into the Hollow that will have parking, a play area and informational kiosks as well as on-road connections to several existing trails in the community (the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, the Empire State Trail, the Rensselaer Waterfront Trail and the Multi-Use Path being added to the new Livingston Avenue Bridge) that will make the Hollow Trail an accessible resource for the broader community,” concluded Mayor DeFrancesco.

The Northern Border Regional Commission is a Federal-State partnership for economic and community development in northern Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Each year, the NBRC provides federal funding for critical economic and community development projects throughout the northeast, leading to the creation of new jobs and the leveraging of substantial private sector investments.

The NBRC’s Timber for Transit program advances the use of wood materials and composites through applied research and demonstration projects that showcase the suitability of such materials in transportation and transportation-adjacent infrastructure, in alignment with state and community initiatives. These projects help to demonstrate and promote the utility of high value forest products in transportation infrastructure and planning for extreme weather readiness.

Tonko Cheers Advance of Key Health Priorities Out of House Committee

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) today celebrated the advance of several priorities he champions impacting the health and wellbeing of American families out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee today. Among the bills advanced include:

H.R. 8209 the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act
- This legislation would reauthorize the SBHC grant program. SBHCs help to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to millions of children across the country, including in NY-20 where Tonko represents.

H.R. 3747, the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act
- This legislation would equip primary care providers with additional tools and training necessary to detect, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias

H.R. 4348, to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act
- This legislation would reauthorize key programs at the CDC that fund both research and support for local public health agencies to address tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease.

“Over my years in Congress, I have remained laser focused on advancing commonsense, meaningful legislation that bolsters the health and wellbeing of the American people,” Congressman Tonko said. “The movement of several of my health priorities through committee is a powerful step in that effort. I’m grateful to my committee colleagues who helped lead these bipartisan efforts with me, and I’ll continue working to move the needle on these bills and get them signed into law.”

Tonko spoke in support of this legislation during today’s Energy and Commerce Committee markup. He authored and introduced H.R. 8209 and is a lead Democrat co-sponsoring H.R. 3747 and H.R. 4348. His remarks on his School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8209) can be read below:

I rise in strong support of the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act, legislation I was proud to author, along with my colleague, Representative Troy Balderson.

School-Based Health Centers help to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to millions of children across the country. By locating directly ins or near schools, SBHCs are able to provide high-quality care in a convenient setting. Today, there are more than 2,500 school-based health centers nationwide, serving more than 6.3 million K-12 students.

In my district I am especially proud of the work of health centers including Whitney Young Health and Hometown Health which operate multiple school-based health centers in the Capital Region of New York including in Albany, Watervliet and Schenectady.

The services provided by School-Based Health Centers can be a lifeline for children who may not have convenient ways to access care in other settings – especially for services like behavioral health, where there can still be stigma associated with seeking care.

Through the School Based Health Center program, funding can be used to establish new school-based sites or to upgrade current facilities to serve additional children.

I’ve been proud to be a long-time supporter of this program, and I’m grateful for the bipartisan support in reauthorizing this program today.

However, as we think about the role of school-based health centers moving forward, I would encourage this committee to think bigger and bolder, because every child, family and community can benefit from SBHCs.

We can do this not only by expanding this grant funding stream to bring hundreds of new and expanded sites on board, but also by securing and strengthening programs like Medicaid and CHIP that help make the SBHC model sustainable.

Our children deserve nothing less.

Tonko, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Behavioral Health Care for Rare Disease Community

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Don Bacon (NE-2) announced the introduction of a bipartisan resolution recognizing the significant and often overlooked behavioral health needs experienced by individuals and their families affected by rare diseases.

An estimated 1 in 10 Americans are affected by a rare disease, over half of those affected being children, yet 95 percent of rare diseases do not have any FDA-approved treatments. On top of that, access to behavioral health care for rare disease patients and caregivers remains limited due to the shortages of trained clinicians, geographic barriers, low reimbursement rates, and fragmented mental health care.

“Patients, caregivers, and families have often spoken to me about the huge mental toll of living with a rare disease, from delayed diagnoses, to limited treatment options, to the emotional and financial strain of navigating fragmented healthcare systems,” Congressman Tonko said. “For these millions fighting for hope, behavioral health support is not ancillary, but a requirement that cannot be ignored. I’m proud to join Representative Bacon to bring attention to this issue and will push for Congress to address the too often unmet behavioral health needs of our rare disease community.”

“The mental health crisis affecting our communities is one of the most serious challenges of our time, and we cannot overlook the rare disease community,” said Rep. Bacon. “Patients, caregivers, and families often face delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and years of uncertainty. I’m pleased to join Rep. Tonko in introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize these challenges and support better access to mental health care.”

As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Addiction Treatment and Recovery (ATR) Caucus, Rep. Tonko has long worked on issues surrounding mental health parity and access to quality and affordable mental health care. Further, he authored the Helping Experts Accelerate Rare Treatments (HEART) Act, legislation that became law in 2022 and that strengthens the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process for drugs that treat rare and ultra-rare diseases by directly involving scientists and doctors with expertise throughout the review process.

The bill is endorsed by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the Caregiver Action Network, the American Psychological Association, and Give an Hour.

Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.

Tonko Announces Student Winners of 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SCHENECTADY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko held a reception last week at the Nott Memorial at Union College to announce the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 20^th Congressional District. The winning artworks were chosen from among 42 student submissions representing 21 high schools across the Capital Region.

“Each year I am inspired anew by the incredible talent and creativity displayed by the students entering our Congressional Art Competition, and this year was no different,” Congressman Tonko said. “Last week, I had the honor of joining a group of remarkable local students to celebrate both their artistic skill and their dedication to the creative process. Art plays a vital role in our students’ education, giving them a powerful outlet to share their ideas, their talents, and their unique perspectives on the world. I’m thrilled to recognize this year’s gifted participants, and I’m incredibly grateful to the parents, teachers, and supporters who have helped guide and encourage them along the way.”

This year’s honorees are as follows:

· Winner: Sofia Kennedy, Shaker High School, “Composed”

· Runner-Up: Emma Schweitzer, Academy of the Holy Names, “1900s Breakfast”

· Runner-Up: Sienna Stewart, Albany High School, “The Pink Room”

· Runner-Up: May Nyein, The Doane Stuart School, “Eudora”

· Honorable Mention: Anastazia Valachovic, Averill Park High School, “And Still They Laugh”

· Honorable Mention: Avery Lobban, Bethlehem High School, “Bits and Pieces”

· Honorable Mention: Lachlan Flores, Niskayuna High School, “United States of Amnesia”

“Congratulations to Sofia on her incredible winning piece,” Tonko continued, “and congratulations to all who participated in this year’s competition. Thank you all for sharing your talents with us!”

This year’s awardees were chosen by a distinguished panel of local artists. The winner will be honored at a reception in Washington D.C. this fall, and her artwork will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for the remainder of the year.

The annual Congressional Art Competition celebrates the artistic achievements of the nation’s high school students. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated, with more than 10,000 student artworks displayed at the U.S. Capitol.

###

Tonko Visits Johnsonville Home Undergoing Weatherization Upgrades

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

JOHNSONVILLE, NY — Today, Congressman Paul D. Tonko visited a Rensselaer County home undergoing weatherization improvements to view the ongoing progress, meet with the homeowner and local advocates, and discuss ways to help more families take advantage of the benefits provided by home weatherization.

During the visit, Tonko highlighted his Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act, a bipartisan bill that would invest federal funding in home weatherization efforts to help low-income families save hundreds of dollars on their energy bills while making their homes safer, healthier, and more energy efficient. Tonko’s legislation was recently advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a unanimous vote of 50-0.

“I was thrilled to visit this local home today to see firsthand how weatherization improvements can help families save on their energy bills and make their homes more energy efficient,” Congressman Tonko said. “With millions of American families facing rising utility costs thanks to Trump-caused inflation, the time is now for Congress to take action to help lower energy prices — and my Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act does just that. The Weatherization Assistance Program is already saving families hundreds each year on their home energy bills, and with my legislation, we can continue to improve upon this vital program and ensure that communities here in our Capital Region and beyond have the resources and support they need to carry these efforts forward.”

Data shows that home weatherization efforts, or weatherproofing, reduces energy burdens by providing safe, cost-effective energy efficiency retrofit investments including sealing and insulating. Additionally, households receiving services from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) save an average of $372 each year on their energy bills.

The Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act would strengthen the WAP program by:

· Reauthorizing the WAP through Fiscal Year 2030; and

· Raising the statutory Average Cost Per Unit from $6,500 to $12,000, allowing households to receive more assistance and allowing WAP implementers to pay competitive wages and retain their workforces.

Photos from today’s visit can be found on Congressman Tonko’s social media platforms at Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, or X (formerly Twitter).

###

Tonko Calls Out Farm Bill that Leaves Families and Farmers High and Dry

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released a statement following the House passage of the Farm Bill:

"Republicans spent the last several years crafting a Farm Bill, and this is all they have to show for it: legislation that ignores the cost-of-living crisis that so many American families are shouldering in favor of cementing massive cuts to SNAP and to cost-saving conservation and energy programs, all the while greenlighting Trump’s illegal tariffs.

"Over this past year, farmers have felt continued economic hardship from Trump’s reckless tariff scheme, and with his latest war of choice with Iran, costs from fuel to fertilizer continue to skyrocket, adding to the farm bankruptcy crisis gripping our nation. Further, this bill locks in the $187 billion cuts to food assistance made in Republicans’ One Big Ugly Bill last year — the largest cut to food assistance in history — all but ensuring our children, veterans, and seniors go hungry. This bill fails in the most basic obligations to support farmers and working families. That’s why I voted no."

Tonko Statement on Death of Former CDTA CEO Carm Basile

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

AMSTERDAM, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement after news of the death this morning of former Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) CEO Carm Basile:

“I’m deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former CDTA CEO Carm Basile, a true friend and dedicated public servant who spent his brilliant career working to better connect and serve our Capital Region communities. Carm started at CDTA in 1981 as a transportation planner and moved steadily up the ranks, concluding his 43-year tenure at the Authority with 15 years as its CEO. I was proud to work closely with Carm on expanding transit access in Montgomery County and on building a greener, more energy-efficient fleet of vehicles that helped steer CDTA firmly into the 21^st century. Through his skillful navigation of CDTA through the pandemic and subsequent recovery, he never lost sight of his signature determination to improve the lives of those he served. Carm will be sorely missed by all of us in the Capital Region, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife Sheila and his two sons as they mourn this tragic loss.”