NEW YORK – Following is a weekly newsletter from Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney:
This week, the House passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. I was an original co-sponsor of this legislation, which is built on five core principles:
- Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught.
- Parents have the right to be heard.
- Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending.
- Parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy.
- Parents have the right to keep their children safe.
From unconstitutional mask mandates to coping with learning loss from shutdowns, our nation’s children have faced numerous challenges these past few years. Many parents also became aware of concerning things being taught in our schools, like Critical Race Theory or sexualized content in curriculum.
As a mother, a conservative, and a steadfast supporter of our educators, families, and children, I believe it is time to restore transparency in our schools and empower parents. I am honored to support this legislation that will encourage transparency and accountability in our school systems and restore trust between our educators and communities.
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This week, we introduced the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act in the 118th Congress. This commonsense legislation will help protect pro-life pregnancy centers from attacks by radical activists and ensure attackers are held accountable for their violent actions.
Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision last year, pro-life pregnancy centers nationwide have become victims of violent attacks from radical pro-abortion extremist groups, such as “Jane’s Revenge.” CompassCare Pregnancy Services, a pro-life pregnancy center in Amherst, New York, was firebombed in June of last year by the group. Just last week, the facility was criminally vandalized once again.
Pregnancy resource centers across the country are continuing to be attacked and vandalized by radical pro-abortion extremist groups. The recent vandalization of CompassCare and increased attacks on pro-life facilities are reprehensible. The perpetrators of these attacks must be found and prosecuted.
It is my honor to reintroduce the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act on behalf of women and families everywhere who visit centers like CompassCare to receive compassionate and professional care and support. House Republicans remain committed to protecting and preserving the right to life for all.
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Continuing My Fight for Term Limits
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I am a strong supporter of term limits and will continue to fight for them, which is why in Congress I am a cosponsor of several bills to impose term limits on Members for the first time ever. We need to end the politician-for-life syndrome that has driven Washington politics for far too long.
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Do you support my fight for term limits in Congress?
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This week, I introduced the Timothy J. Barber Act, which would require the Department of Labor to study the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) spending on technical support and compliance assistance for heat-related illnesses and recommend ways to increase its effectiveness. Technical support and compliance assistance help small businesses comply with OSHA regulations and defray the costs of compliance.
Tragically, Tim Barber, 35, passed away on July 7, 2020, at a work site on the Route 63 Bridge over the Genesee River in Geneseo. It was Tim’s second day on the job when the temperature hit 93 degrees with a heat index of 95 degrees, and he died from hyperthermia.
After a nine-month investigation, OSHA determined that Tim’s employer “failed to train him and implement other safeguards to protect him and other employees against extreme heat hazards.” Heat-related illnesses like hyperthermia are easily preventable. We must work with companies to help them protect their employees from hyperthermia. OSHA’s compliance assistance and technical support should continue to help our small businesses protect workers without increasing costs. By introducing this bill today, we remember and celebrate the life of Tim Barber while working to make OSHA’s spending more effective.
Additionally, as we begin to enter warmer months, I encourage all of my constituents, especially those who work outdoors, to be careful in the heat, drink water, and take rest breaks when necessary. Together, we can honor Tim’s life and prevent others from needlessly suffering from hyperthermia.
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Transparency and a well-informed public are vital components of our self-governing Constitutional Republic! I’m committed to restoring transparency to government, which is why I explain every vote I take on the House floor.
Some of the key bills we considered this week are explained below. To read more about these votes and see the full list with explanations of all the legislation considered this week by the House of Representatives, please click here.
- I voted “Yes” on H.R. 1159, To amend the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 to require periodic reviews and updated reports relating to the Department of State’s Taiwan Guidelines. This bill increases the Department of State’s reporting requirements to include a biannual update on U.S.-Taiwanese relations and any efforts to deepen and expand our relationship. As China continues to saber rattle and threaten Taiwan, the U.S. must continue to develop our partnership and strategic alliance. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 404-7.
- I voted “Yes” on the Veto message for H.J. Res. 30, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights”. After Congress passed a nullification resolution on a bipartisan basis, President Biden vetoed this resolution so private sector employee benefit plans and pensions can prioritize climate change and other far-left priorities over increasing the returns for beneficiaries. Further, as numerous single and multi-employer pensions continue to struggle with solvency issues, President Biden is allowing plan managers to de-prioritize returns to further their leftist political priorities, increasing the risk of future insolvency. Our seniors and those nearing retirement deserve fiduciaries that act in their best financial interests and who are not preoccupied with furthering their personal political beliefs. This rule violates this critical principle. I was honored to vote for this resolution the first time and I was honored to support this veto override to roll back President Biden’s shameful veto. This veto override failed to pass the House of Representatives by a vote of 219-200.
- I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. The pandemic was eye-opening for millions of parents across the country who saw their children being taught inappropriate content. Then when these parents decided to speak out on and engage with their children’s education, they were maligned and labeled domestic terrorists by the Biden administration. That is why I am an original cosponsor of this critical bill, which will guarantee parents the right to know what their children are being taught and what is occurring in our nation’s schools. My amendment was also included in this bill, which will require schools to inform parents if college-credit courses are terminated, including Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment classes. These programs provide students a cost-effective way to reduce the overall price of college. I am a strong supporter of every parent’s right to be involved in their child’s education and this legislation will further this important goal. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 213-208.
- I voted “Yes” on H. Con. Res. 25, Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust. This bill would allow for a Days of Remembrance Ceremony to be held in the Capitol Visitor Center on April 20, 2023. As anti-Semitism continues to rise throughout our country, Holocaust knowledge is at an all-time low. A recent survey showed that only 53% of American adults know that approximately six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust and 60% did not know how Hitler rose to power. These numbers are startling and we must do more to increase Holocaust education and awareness, especially as survivors continue to diminish in number. We must never allow a horror like the Holocaust to happen again. We must never forget. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 405-0.
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Announcing the 2023 Congressional Art Competition
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This week, our office invited High School students from New York’s 24th district to participate in the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. The contest winner will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Started in 1982 by members of the U.S. House of Representatives, High School students across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories are invited to participate in a nationwide annual art competition. Since its creation, over 650,000 high school students have submitted their artwork to the contest.
The deadline to submit artwork to be judged by members of the local art community will be Friday, April 21, 2023.
Additional information about the competition, including guidelines and student release forms required to participate in the 2023 competition, can be found at https://tenney.house.gov/services/art-competition or by calling Tenney’s District office at (716) 514-5130.
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Announcing the Farm Bill Listening Tour
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As your representative in Washington, it is essential that I hear directly from you about the issues impacting our community. Every five years, Congress passes legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policies. This legislation is commonly referred to as the “Farm Bill” and will be considered this year by Congress.
As part of that process, I am hosting a Farm Bill Listening Tour to hear directly from you about issues impacting our agriculture industry in New York’s 24th District. Please see the schedule below for a listening session near you, and use the link to RSVP. I hope to see you there! If you can’t attend a session in person, you can also submit your views virtually using the same RSVP link above. Western New York Farm Bill Roundtable
Tuesday, April 4th, 10:00AM
Old Courthouse
7 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020
Central NY & North Country Farm Bill Roundtable
Wednesday, April 5th, 10:00AM
Oswego County Legislative Chamber
46 E Bridge St., 4th Floor Oswego, NY 13126
Finger Lakes Farm Bill Roundtable
Thursday, April 6th, 10:00AM
Phelps Community Center
8 Banta St., #100, Phelps, NY 14532
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Need Help with a Federal Agency? Call us today.
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If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, we are just a phone call away and are ready to help you! Please contact my Victor Office at 585-869-2060, my Oswego Office at 315-236-7088 or my Lockport Office at 716-514-5130! Thank you for the opportunity to represent you.
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Have news or updates to share? Email me!
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If you have updates regarding events in the community or other news to share from across New York’s 24th District, please visit the “ Contact Me” page on my website to share it with me. My team will try to include as many of your updates from around #NY24 as we can each week.
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