Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Holds Press Conference Promising to Fight to Provide Our Community with Important Resources

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) held a press conference at the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency in Utica, New York to express opposition to the Executive proposal to eliminate funding for Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the budget. Rep. Tenney was joined by Amy Turner, Executive Director of the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Evon Ervin also of MVCAA, as well as Lindy Glennon from Cortland County, Christine Shaver from Tioga County, Sam Kweh, Janice Gillete, Christina Brown and Shawn Horton.

"Eliminating this critical funding will strip vital services to families helped by MVCAA and across the 22nd District. Until the Upstate economy is restored, the elimination of critical funding for CSBG and LIHEAP will be devastating to some of our most vulnerable citizens. Amy Turner and the entire team at Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency are committed to providing vital resources and compassionate assistance to our most at risk populations. Throughout the budget debate, I will continue to fiercely advocate for key programs that constituents in the 22nd District rely," said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

"Mohawk Valley Community Action has been the voice of poverty in our community since 1966. Mohawk Valley Community Action treats all people with dignity and instills hope to assist families living in poverty. Without the Community Services Block Grant, over five thousand families annually would be without vital support services and opportunities that assist them in maintaining or obtaining self-sufficiency. In addition to the loss of support to families, over 100 full time employees with benefits would be without their jobs," said Amy Turner, Executive Director of the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) provides funds to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities. The 22nd district receives nearly $2 million in CSBG funding used to serve nearly 30,000 individuals. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. With its harsh winters, New York is a large recipient of LIHEAP assistance.

Rep. Tenney has advocated aggressively to ensure proper funding of the CSBG program because it is the only dedicated funding source that supports core Community Action Agency (CAA) functions. In the 2018 amendment process, Rep. Tenney offered an amendment to restore $10 million is CSBG funding.

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