Summary
Current Position: US Representative of NY District 20 since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 1983 – 2007
Other Positions:
Chair, Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change
Featured Quote:
I told my mom I’d make it on a Wheaties Box one day. Proud to show her that dream come true thanks to this great honor, @scicoalition’s 2020 #ChampionofScience award! I will always fight to ensure science drives our politics and not the other way around.
Featured Video:
Cross Boundaries to (Re)Build America’s National Climate Plan | Paul Tonko | TEDxClarksonUniversity
OnAir Post: Paul Tonko – NY20
News
New York Congressman Paul Tonko held a briefing Sunday at his Albany office where he talked about the situation in Afghanistan.
Tonko, a Democrat from the 20th District, said last week’s bombing at the Kabul airport that killed roughly 170 people, including 13 American service members, was “a tragedy 20 years in the making.”
“I stand by the President’s demand that we get, our efforts to get all Americans out of Afghanistan that choose to flee, and our Afghan allies who helped the troops stand by that effort to work with the strategic efforts of the military, and the Department of State to do everything we need to do. And we will be there in response, to respond to resources that are essential to make that happen. And I stand by the statement of the president who is saying we’re not going to hesitate to respond to any of the attacks that have been made, and that we will make certain that we hold those accountable in every to every measure.”
About
Source: Government page
Congressman Paul Tonko represents New York’s 20th Congressional District, including the communities of Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs and Amsterdam. He represents all of Albany and Schenectady Counties and parts of Montgomery, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties.
He is serving his sixth term, after first being sworn into Congress in 2009.
Paul serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the oldest standing committee in the House, created in December of 1795. He is the first Upstate New York Democratic member to serve on the committee since Leo O’Brien, who resigned the post in October 1966. He was elected by his peers in the 116th Congress to chair the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change. He was also selected to continue his service on the Science, Space and Technology Committee, as well as on the Natural Resources Committee.
He has previously served on the Education and Labor Committee and the Budget Committee.
Voting Record
Caucuses
Tonko is a member of more than 65 House caucuses. Below is a small sample of his memberships:
- Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus (Vice Chair)
- Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease
- Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease
- Congressional Army Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Biomass Caucus
- Heritage Corridor Caucus
- Congressional Safe Climate Caucus
- Congressional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Equality Caucus
- Congressional Mental Health Caucus
- Congressional Voting Rights Caucus
- House Manufacturing Caucus
- House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
- House Baltic Caucus[43]
- Medicare for All Caucus
- Blue Collar Caucus
Offices
Contact
Email:
Web
Government Page, Campaign Site, Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia
Politics
Source: none
Campaign Finance
Open Secrets
Voting Record
VoteSmart – National Key Votes & Ratings
Search
Wikipedia Entry
Contents
Paul David Tonko (/ˈtɒŋkoʊ/ TONK-oh; born June 18, 1949) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York’s 20th congressional district since 2013. He represented the 21st congressional district from 2009 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Tonko has been called a staunch progressive.[1] After the 2020 redistricting cycle and effective for the 118th Congress, the 20th district will include all of Albany County, Saratoga County and Schenectady County, as well as part of Rensselaer County.
From 1983 to 2007, Tonko represented the 105th district in the New York State Assembly. He was appointed to serve as president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority from 2007 until his resignation in April 2008. Soon afterward, he declared his candidacy for Congress, and was elected in November 2008.
Tonko is the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials in the 118th Congress. Since 2013, he has been the highest-ranking Democrat on the panel, which authorizes, oversees and investigates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Early life, education and early career
Tonko is a lifelong resident of Amsterdam, New York, near Schenectady, and is of primarily Polish descent.[2] He graduated from Amsterdam’s Wilbur H. Lynch High School in 1967, and received a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York in 1971.[3]
An engineer for the New York Public Service Commission, Tonko became active in local politics in the early 1970s and successfully ran for the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. He was a member of the board from 1976 to 1983,[4] and the board’s chairman from 1981 to 1983.[5] Tonko was the youngest person in county history to be elected to the board of supervisors.[6]
New York State Assembly (1983–2007)
In January 1983, Assemblywoman Gail S. Shaffer resigned her 105th district seat to take office as Secretary of State of New York. The Democratic Party, as well as the Liberal Party, nominated Tonko to contest an April 12 special election for the seat against former Schoharie County Clerk Eugene Hallock, the Republican and Conservative nominee. Tonko defeated Hallock in a close race.[7][8] Tonko was reelected 13 times, serving in the Assembly until 2007.[9]
While in the Assembly, Tonko served as chair of the Energy Committee from 1992 until his departure from the Assembly in 2007.[10] He was also a member of standing committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Education, where he was the original sponsor and a chief proponent of the College Tuition Savings Program that was signed into law in 1997.[11]
Tonko sponsored Timothy’s Law,[12] a 2006 law that requires health insurers to cover mental health treatment.[13] He also sponsored the Northeast Dairy Compact,[14] and chaired the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources,[15]
Tonko resigned his Assembly seat in June 2007 to become President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.[4]
U.S. House of Representatives (2009–present)
Elections
2008
On April 25, 2008, Tonko stepped down from his position at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority after ten-term Democratic Congressman Michael McNulty announced his upcoming retirement from Congress.[16] He subsequently entered the race to succeed McNulty in the 21st district.[17] Tonko won the Democratic primary on September 9, defeating four other candidates.[18]
In the November 4 general election, Tonko defeated Republican Schenectady County Legislator James Buhrmaster by a decisive margin.[19] According to the Times Union, “Tonko’s name recognition … accomplishment in the Legislature, such as the passage of mental health parity legislation, and his record” contributed to his win.[20] He had effectively clinched a seat in Congress in the primary; the 21st had long been the only safe Democratic district in the state outside the New York City, Buffalo and Rochester areas.
2010–present
Tonko ran for reelection on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence Party lines. He was challenged by Republican and Conservative Party nominee Ted Danz, a former United States Navy Reservist and small business owner in the cooling and heating business. Tonko raised almost $980,000, and spent almost $780,000 on his campaign; Danz raised about $44,000 and spent about $42,000 on his campaign.[21][22] The New York Times rated the seat “Solid Democratic”, with a “99.8%” to “100% chance” that Tonko would win.[22] The major issues in the 2010 race were Tonko’s votes for Obamacare, the Stimulus Package (ARRA), and the Energy Bill.[22] The Albany Times Union endorsed Tonko, citing “a way of thinking and speaking like the engineer that he once was” and his support of the economic stimulus bill and health care bills.[23] Tonko won the November 2 general election, 124,889 votes to 85,752.[24]
Redistricting saw Tonko’s district renumbered the 20th district.[25] It lost much of its more rural territory to the west. To make up for the loss in population, it was pushed further into Saratoga County. The new 20th was no less Democratic than the old 21st, and Tonko defeated Bob Dieterich in 2012,[26] Jim Fischer in 2014,[27] and Joe Vitollo in 2016[28] and 2018.[29] He defeated Liz Joy in 2020 and 2022.[30]
Year | General Election Opponent | Opponent % | Tonko % |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | James Buhrmaster | 31% | 54.9%[32] |
2010 | Ted Danz | 39.1% | 56.9%[33] |
2012 | Robert Dieterich | 29.5% | 64%[34] |
2014 | Jim Fischer | 37.3% | 59%[35] |
2016 | Joe Vitollo | 32.1% | 67.9%[36] |
2018 | Joe Vitollo | 33.5% | 66.5%[37] |
2020 | Liz Joy | 38.8% | 61.2%[38] |
2022 | Liz Joy | 44.4% | 54.2%[39] |
Tenure
Tonko was one of the 19 most liberal House members, according to the National Journal, for 2011.[40] He voted with President Joe Biden‘s stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.
When he entered Congress, Tonko said he wanted to focus on the issue he said he knows best—energy policy.[42] He sponsored a bill to create an $800 million research program in wind energy technologies, which would benefit GE in his district. He also wanted to create a research program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in power generation systems that convert heat into energy. In 2010, Tonko got a provision in a House-passed bill, following the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, to prevent future spills and help small businesses in spill research. In 2011, he sponsored an amendment seeking to protect the Environmental Protection Agency‘s authority to regulate carbon emissions.[43]
Tonko praised the 2011 State of the Union address, saying, “the President set out a bold agenda for our nation, an agenda that will focus on growing our economy, growing jobs, and growing opportunity for the middle class”.[44] He has also often warned of the threat that Obamacare’s repeal would pose to small businesses, young people, and seniors.[45]
Tonko has worked to raise awareness about the region’s waterways, chiefly the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, and the effects of flooding after Hurricane Irene. Seeking a comprehensive flood mitigation and economic development strategy, Tonko introduced the Hudson-Mohawk Basin Act in 2012.[46]
Tonko became a prominent opponent of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2015, citing American trade deficits and the use of child labor by at least four countries that had already signed the pact as among his reasons for opposing the deal.[47]
In 2017, Tonko was one of three Catholic politicians whom Bishop Edward Bernard Scharfenberger of Albany publicly rebuked for participating in a rally supporting Planned Parenthood.[48]
In January 2019, Tonko—a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee—was named chair of that committee’s Subcommittee on the Environment and Climate Change.[49]
On October 1, 2020, Tonko co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that condemned Azerbaijan’s offensive operations against the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, denounced Turkey’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and criticized “false equivalence between Armenia and Azerbaijan, even as the latter threatens war and refuses to agree to monitoring along the line of contact.”[50]
In 2022, Tonko was instrumental in passing provisions contained in the CHIPS and Science Act (PL 117-167) into law.[51]
Syria
In 2023, Tonko was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[52][53]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
Tonko is a member of more than 65 House caucuses. Below is a small sample of his memberships:
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[54]
- Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus (Vice Chair)[citation needed]
- Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease[citation needed]
- Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease[citation needed]
- Congressional Army Caucus[citation needed]
- Congressional Arts Caucus[55]
- Congressional Biomass Caucus[citation needed]
- Heritage Corridor Caucus[citation needed]
- Congressional Safe Climate Caucus[citation needed]
- Congressional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Equality Caucus[citation needed]
- Congressional Mental Health Caucus[citation needed]
- Congressional Voting Rights Caucus[citation needed]
- House Manufacturing Caucus[citation needed]
- House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus[citation needed]
- House Baltic Caucus[56]
- Medicare for All Caucus[citation needed]
- Blue Collar Caucus[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ “Tonko has major advantage in congressional race – The Daily Gazette”. dailygazette.com. November 4, 2018.
- ^ “Congressman Paul Tonko : Press Releases : CONGRESSMAN PAUL TONKO SPEAKS ON POLISH TRAGEDY”. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
- ^ “GASD honors 2017 Hall of Fame inductees”. Recorder News. September 22, 2017.
- ^ a b “Taking the reins: Tonko stepping into national role on climate change”. Recorder News. April 26, 2019.
- ^ US Congress Joint Committee on Printing (2013). Official Congressional Directory: 113th Congress. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-16-091922-0.
- ^ Sanzone, Danielle. “2 Republicans, 5 Democrats to vie in 21st District primary”. The Saratogian.
- ^ Fowler, Glenn (April 13, 1983). “State Senator to be Chosen in Queens”. The New York Times.
- ^ Stavisky Wins Race for State Senate; …Paul Tonko, of Amsterdam, a Democrat, was the winner… in The New York Times on April 13, 1983
- ^ Barnes, Steve (November 14, 2017). “Community-minded Tonko gets around”. Times Union.
- ^ “Meet The New Chair, House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change”. Daily Kos.
- ^ Eaton, Leslie (December 6, 1998). “New Yorkers Rush to Invest In College Plan”. The New York Times. New York, New York. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
- ^ “Buhrmaster, Tonko bring different approaches to challenges – The Daily Gazette”. dailygazette.com. October 26, 2008.
- ^ WRGB (January 23, 2017). “AG Schneiderman announces Cigna settlement”. WSTM.
- ^ Lamendola, Michael (November 5, 2008). “Tonko wins to succeed McNulty”. The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, New York. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
- ^ “Tonko speaking at SUNY Cobleskill”. The Daily Star. Oneonta, New York. May 18, 2007. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
- ^ “Tonko resigns from NYSERDA”. Albany Business Review. April 28, 2008.
- ^ “NY-21: Race Heats Up with Tonko Announcement, Steck Endorsement”. Daily Kos.
- ^ “Buhrmaster, Tonko win Congressional primary”. Albany Business Review. September 10, 2008.
- ^ “Tonko wins to succeed McNulty – The Daily Gazette”. dailygazette.com. November 5, 2008.
- ^ Standforth, Lauren, and Carol Demare, “Tonko cruises to win in 21st Congressional District: Democrat goes to D.C. with handy win over Buhrmaster”, November 5, 2008, found at Election coverage [permanent dead link]. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
- ^ Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets. Accessed December 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c Race profile at The New York Times. Accessed December 20, 2010.
- ^ Editorial, “Paul Tonko for Congress,”
Albany Times Union, October 27, 2010. Found at Times Union.com. Accessed December 20, 2010. - ^ New York State Board of elections official returns for November 2, 2010 Archived August 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed December 20, 2010.
- ^ “Tonko secures sixth term in Congress – The Daily Gazette”. dailygazette.com. November 7, 2018.
- ^ Morris, Caitlin (November 6, 2012). “Rep. Paul Tonko defeats challenger Bob Dieterich”. The Saratogian.
- ^ “Tonko defeats Fischer in 20th Congressional District – The Daily Gazette”. dailygazette.com.
- ^ “U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko defeats challenger Joe Vitollo”. Times Union. November 9, 2016.
- ^ “Tonko defeats Vitollo for sixth term in Congress”. Recorder News. November 6, 2018.
- ^ “Rep. Paul Tonko re-elected, defeats Liz Joy in rematch race for NY-20”. spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “Home Page – New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2008 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2010 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2012 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2014 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2016 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2018 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “2020 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ “2022 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections”. www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ “Most Liberal House Members – PICTURES”. National Journal. February 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ “Rep. Paul Tonko (D)”. The National Journal. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012.
- ^ “Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY, 21st District) NationalJournal.com”. Archive.is. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ Tonko, Paul (January 27, 2011). “State of the Union Response”. The Huffington Post.
- ^ “Rep. Paul Tonko”. The Huffington Post.
- ^ LeBrun, Fred. “Tonko bill casts wide river net”. timesunion.com.
- ^ “Trade official boosts Trans Pacific Partnership, but U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, labor have doubts”. April 8, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ Churchill, Chris (February 16, 2017). “Churchill: Bishop scolds Catholic politicians who stood with Planned Parenthood”. Times Union. Albany, NY.
- ^ Willard, Lucas (January 15, 2019). “Tonko Named Chair Of Subcommittee On Climate Change”. www.wamc.org.
- ^ “Senate and House Leaders to Secretary of State Pompeo: Cut Military Aid to Azerbaijan; Sanction Turkey for Ongoing Attacks Against Armenia and Artsakh”. The Armenian Weekly. October 2, 2020.
- ^ Rulison, Larry (June 21, 2022). “Tonko and business executives push passage of CHIPS Act”. Times Union. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ “H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … — House Vote #136 — Mar 8, 2023”. March 8, 2023.
- ^ “House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria”. Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
- ^ “Tonko Joins House Progressive Caucus”. Paul Tonko. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ “Membership”. Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ “Members”. House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
External links
- Congressman Paul D. Tonko official U.S. House website
- Paul Tonko for Congress
- Paul Tonko at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Issues
Source: Government page
Committees
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change (Chair)
- Subcommittee on Energy
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- Committee on Science, Space & Technology
- Subcommittee on Environment
- Subcommittee on Research and Technology
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
Legislation
Issues
Addiction & Recovery
Agriculture
Campaign Finance
Climate Change
Defense, Security, & Foreign Affairs
Education
Energy & the Environment
Gun Violence
Healthcare
Immigration
Infrastructure & Water Systems
Jobs & Economic Development
Mental Health
Senior Citizens
Strengthening the Middle Class
Veterans & Military Families
Voting & Civil Rights