March 9, 2022
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today released the following statement in response to the passage of an omnibus government funding bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). Tenney voted for the defense and security portions of the omnibus, which received bipartisan support and includes critical funding for Rome Lab. She opposed the non-security portion of the bill because it failed to deliver relief to seniors on fixed incomes, address the ongoing energy crisis, or reduce wasteful spending.
The non-security portion of the bill also received bipartisan support. Rep. Reed, whom Rep. Tenney seeks to succeed in office, voted for both parts.
First, Tenney claims:
Unfortunately, the non-security portion of the omnibus package failed to address the severe crises facing our country, while wastefully increasing spending in many areas at a time when inflation is already at record levels. The bill does not defund President Biden’s vaccine mandates and does nothing to jumpstart American energy production, despite the unprecedented energy catastrophe we now face. Further, the bill includes a 21% increase in budgets for congressional offices, while not providing any relief for seniors and those on fixed incomes, who are suffering due to Biden’s inflationary policies.
From a different perspective, Tenney writes:
While I could not support this (non-defense) portion of the bill, I am pleased that the bill includes several Community Funding Projects I advocated for to benefit our local communities. This includes a water systems improvement project in Frankfort, a broadband expansion project in Sherburne, among several others. I vetted these programs thoroughly and worked with all recipients to make sure the funding requests were targeted and responsible. I am extremely disappointed these important priorities were tied to a partisan spending package that overall is irresponsible and reckless.
These programs said to benefit Tenney’s district would not likely have passed had they not been included in the Omnibus package.
Why non-defense spending is partisan and reckless while defense spending isn’t, Rep. Tenney doesn’t say.
