Tonko has also introduced a bill to establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined-cycle power generation systems.

He voted in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which was passed by the House in June 2009. The bill includes a global warming reduction plan designed to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by the year 2020.

Health Care

Health care is a Tonko priority. He has concentrated on improving health-care coverage for children, senior citizens working families, and veterans, and backed the expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program Act (CHIP). Tonko supports a universal health-care system that would guarantee coverage to all Americans, regardless of income, and supports the public option in President Obama's health-care reform proposal - opposing all other versions, such as cooperatives, individual mandates, and market-driven reforms. He is a member of the Education and Labor Committee, and one of its sub-committees, Healthy Families and Communities.

While still a member of the New York State Assembly, Tonko was a staunch supporter of Timothy's Law, one of the nation's strongest mental-health parity statutes. Timothy's Law mandates that insurance providers must provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse services, and that coverage and cost must be "on par" with all other health-care services covered under such a policy.

The Economy

Tonko successfully lobbied General Electric to locate its expanding GE Wind operations at its plant in Schenectady, N.Y., creating a number of jobs in New York's 21st Congressional district. While an assemblyman, he also was the lead sponsor of the Power For Jobs program, which provides low-cost energy to employers throughout New York State. Tonko contends that the Power For Jobs program has retained or created about 300,000 jobs statewide. In 2006, Tonko negotiated for Beech-Nut to maintain its plant in his Congressional district, and expand its operation by relocating its headquarters. The new Beech-Nut headquarters, located in Florida, NY, will be a "green" building, and will create approximately 135 new jobs while maintaining 356 existing positions.

In February 2009, Tonko voted in favor of President Obama's federal stimulus package. Stimulus funds have already been applied to two projects in Tonko's home district. First, a $1.2 million project to replace a bridge spanning the Walloomsac River in Hoosick, N.Y. will be completely funded with federal stimulus funds. Second, a $14.9 million plan to repave and refurbish 1.6 miles of Delaware Avenue in Albany, N.Y. broke ground in May 2009.

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