Rep. Claudia Tenney is the Republican candidate for New York’s 22nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before being elected as congresswoman in 2016, Tenney represented New York’s 101st assembly district in the New York State Assembly for six years. She is originally from New Hartford, New York, and holds a law degree from the Taft College of Law at the University of Cincinnati.
1. What do you see as the biggest concerns of people in this district? How do you propose to address those concerns?
“As a small business owner who raised her son as a single mother, I know well the impact that high taxes and over-regulation have on an individual’s and business’ ability to grow and thrive. New York state has seen the highest out-migration of jobs and people since 2010, a direct result of the high taxes and failed policies coming out of Albany. That is why I voted to overturn burdensome and unnecessary regulations at the federal level and supported passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provided once-in-a-generation relief to [middle-class] families, who will receive a tax cut of $1,400 per year on average, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money.”
2. If elected, how do you plan to communicate with the people in your district?
“Just as I have throughout my first term, I will continue to travel across the district hearing directly from hardworking New Yorkers, family farmers, small business owners and families suffering from the opioid epidemic. In [my] first two years, I have had the opportunity to meet with truly remarkable constituents who have shared great ideas and thoughts on how we can turn the tide in our communities. Many of these conversations have influenced the way I vote and the legislation I introduce. I will continue to hold open forums and discussions with national and local leaders on how best to address the most pressing issues facing our district.”
3. What is your plan to address gun violence in the United States? What needs to change at the federal level?
“I voted in favor of the Fix NICS Act [of 2017] (HR 4477), which addressed a deficiency on the part of federal, local and state agencies and their failure to include information that would prevent guns from falling into the hands of individuals who had criminal records or were suffering from various forms of mental illness. I also co-sponsored the Securing Our Schools Act of 2018 (HR 4811), which provides grants to educational agencies to purchase and install emergency notification devices. As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I will continue to advocate for the rights of law-abiding gun owners while identifying ways to prevent guns from ending up in the hands of those who wish to do harm to others.”
4. Why should students and young people across New York vote for you?
“In my time in the New York State Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives, I have been laser-focused on policies that will enable students who attend college in the district to stay here and obtain high-paying jobs after graduation. I have worked with President [Donald] Trump to secure more than $1 billion for career and technical education to provide students who may not want to attend a four-year college the opportunity to learn a skill or a trade in various fields. I will continue to advocate for policies that drive down the cost of student loans while ensuring greater access to higher education for all.”