Feb 6, 2025Sponsored
Scientific Integrity Act
Summary not yet generated.
DemocratNew York · U.S. Representative
Paul
Tonko
U.S. Representative for New York
In office
17 yrsSince Jan 2009
Next election
2027Re-elected 2021
Age
76Born Jun 18, 1949
Party
Democrat
What they stand for
Tonko has spent years focused on a few core fights. Each is tied to bills actually introduced or votes actually cast.
- 01Federal scientific integrity standards require legislative protectionTonko has sponsored the Scientific Integrity Act in multiple congresses, most recently as H.R.1106 and previously as H.R.4893. The legislation addresses standards governing the conduct and communication of federally funded scientific research. Both versions attracted between 100 and 199 cosponsors and were referred to committee.
- 02Criminal justice reentry policy warrants dedicated federal legislationTonko has introduced the Reentry Act across consecutive congresses, as H.R.2400 in 2023 and H.R.2586 in 2025. Both versions were referred to committee and attracted between 50 and 99 cosponsors. The bills address federal policy governing the reintegration of individuals returning from incarceration.
- 03Mental health coverage gaps in Medicare and Medicaid should be addressedTonko sponsored the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act of 2025 (H.R.4619), which addresses parity in inpatient mental health coverage under Medicare, and the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2025 (H.R.4744), which pertains to community-based mental health services. He also sponsored the Medicaid Bump Act (H.R.4745), addressing Medicaid reimbursement rates.
- 04Environmental and energy legislation spans air, water, and climateTonko has sponsored the Climate Pollution Standard and Community Investment Act of 2025 (H.R.6918), the Offshore Energy Modernization Act of 2025 (H.R.3742), the New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025 (H.R.5762), and the Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025 (H.R.5123), addressing emissions standards, offshore energy policy, regional water quality, and indoor air quality in school facilities respectively.
- 05Consumer protection covers online markets and sports bettingTonko sponsored the Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2025 (H.R.6822), which addresses the use of automated software in online consumer purchasing, and the SAFE Bet Act of 2025 (H.R.2087), which addresses federal regulation of online sports wagering. Both bills were referred to committee.
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01 · Background
Who they are, where they came from
Paul David Tonko represents New York's 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, a seat he has held since 2013. He previously represented New York's 21st congressional district from 2009 to 2013, when he first entered Congress. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, the 20th district was redrawn to encompass all of Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties as well as part of Rensselaer County, effective with the 118th Congress. Among his legislative priorities, Tonko has sponsored the Scientific Integrity Act (H.R.1106, H.R.4893), which addresses standards for scientific research in the federal government, and the Reentry Act in multiple congresses (H.R.2586, H.R.2400), which pertains to criminal justice reentry policy. He has also sponsored legislation addressing mental health coverage under Medicare (H.R.4619), indoor air quality in schools (H.R.5123), climate emissions standards (H.R.6918), offshore energy policy (H.R.3742), watershed protection for the New York-New Jersey region (H.R.5762), Medicaid reimbursement (H.R.4745), community mental health services (H.R.4744), consumer protections related to online ticket purchasing (H.R.6822), industrial competitiveness (H.R.6676), and online sports betting regulation (H.R.2087). On the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, Tonko voted against final passage of H.R.2670, a vote that went against the majority of his party; the bill subsequently became law.
02 · Recent significant work
What they’ve done lately
Apr 1, 2025Sponsored
Reentry Act of 2025
Summary not yet generated.
Jul 25, 2023Sponsored
Scientific Integrity Act
Summary not yet generated.
Dec 14, 2023Voted no
(HR.2670)
Summary not yet generated.
Mar 30, 2023Sponsored
Reentry Act of 2023
Summary not yet generated.
03 · What's coming up
Bills they’ll vote on next
Bills that have cleared committee and are heading for a floor vote. See all upcoming votes →
House·HR.1071Reported to floor
No Censors on our Shores Act of 2025
Would bar entry and allow deportation of foreign officials who suppressed U.S. citizens' speech.
House·HR.151Reported to floor
Equal Representation Act of 2025
Would base House seat apportionment on citizen population rather than total population.
House·HR.2071Reported to floor
Save Our Shrimpers Act
Would bar U.S. funds to international institutions financing foreign shrimp operations.
House·HR.2076Reported to floor
Lulu’s Law
Would require the FCC to explicitly authorize wireless emergency alerts for shark attacks.
House·HR.2159Reported to floor
Count the Crimes to Cut Act
Would require public databases listing all federal criminal statutory and regulatory offenses.
04 · Money
Where the campaign funds come from
Most of Tonko's funding this cycle came from PACs — 62.8% of $697K in total receipts. Top PAC contributors include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees PEOPLE, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee Voluntary Fund, the Carpenters' Legislative Improvement Committee, and the Machinists Non Partisan PL of the IAMAW, alongside trade-association PACs such as the American Society of Health System Pharmacists PAC and ASTRO-PAC. Individual contributions, at 36.9% of receipts, were primarily from itemized donations of $200 or more.
Total raised · 2026
$697K
Cash on hand
$350K
Spent
$947K
By source
- Individuals$257K · 36.9%
- PACs$438K · 62.8%
- Other$2K · 0.3%
Individual donor mix
Small-donor share (under $200)33.7%
Top PAC contributors
- AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEALTH SYSTEM PHARMACIST - PACFEC ↗$10K
- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PEOPLEFEC ↗$10K
- INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE VOLUNTARY FUNDFEC ↗$8K
- ASTRO-PACFEC ↗$8K
- WATERPAC - NATIONAL RURAL WATER ASSOCIATIONFEC ↗$5K
- NATIONAL GRID USA PACFEC ↗$5K
- CARPENTERS' LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEEFEC ↗$5K
- PSYCHOLOGY PAC OF AMERICAN PSYCH. ASSOC. SERVICES INC.FEC ↗$5K
- NATSO INC. NATSO PACFEC ↗$5K
- MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN PL OF THE IAMAWFEC ↗$5K
Every claim on this page links to a public source. We don’t tell you whether Paul Tonko is a good or bad official— that’s your call. We just make the facts easy to find.