Eric Massa

01/28/10 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following President Obama's 2010 State of the Union Address, Rep. Eric Massa issued the following statement:    » read more »

Massa votes against one-size-fits-all Financial Services legislation

12/11/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Eric Massa voted against H.R. 4173 on the grounds that it takes a one-size-fits-all approach to reforming the American financial system.

Over the last several weeks, Rep. Massa's office has received dozens of calls from our area's small businesses, community banks and local credit unions with concerns about how this bill, which is supposed to address corruption on Wall Street, will affect their business on Main Street.

Many rural communities, like New York's 29th Congressional District, rely on small community banks and credit unions to keep their small businesses growing and their workforces employed. The bill passed by a vote of 223-202.    » read more »

Rep. Massa: "I am cautiously optimistic, but I think we are headed in the right direction"

12/04/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Rep. Eric Massa highlighted Friday's Department of Labor announcement that the unemployment rate dropped from 10.2% in October to 10% in November. This announcement also showed that during November, 11,000 jobs were lost nationwide which is the fewest jobs lost in a month since the beginning of the recession.

"I am cautiously optimistic, but I think we are headed in the right direction," said Congressman Eric Massa. "The 111th Congress has worked very hard to create jobs and improve our economy which was in freefall when we took office.    » read more »

Helps pass bill to exempt 99.75% of all Americans from paying any estate tax at all; Legislation will benefit small businesses, farmers and families

12/03/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Rep. Eric Massa voted to pass H.R. 4154, the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers and Small Businesses Act of 2009. The Permanent Estate Tax Relief Act maintains the current estate tax exemption for inheritances of less than $3.5 million per individual ($7 million for married couples). The Estate Tax was originally introduced over 100 years ago by Republican President Teddy Roosevelt. The bill passed by a vote of 225-200.    » read more »

11/09/09 -- CORNING, N.Y. - Today Congressman Eric Massa outlined his reasons for voting against H.R. 3962 on Saturday night. To summarize the specific votes: Rep. Massa voted for the rule of debate, against the Stupak Amendment and against final passage of the bill.

When H.R. 3962 was first introduced on Thursday, October 29th, Rep. Massa canceled his weekend schedule to read and review the legislation. Following seven days of studying the bill, consulting with experts and speaking with constituents, Rep. Massa announced his intention to vote against the bill.    » read more »

Additional $250 for seniors would amount to approximately 2% increase for the average Social Security recipient

10/19/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Rep. Eric Massa voiced his support for President Obama's plan to fund additional $250 payments for seniors, veterans, retired railroad workers and people with disabilities. The payment proposal comes on the heels of a recent government announcement that there will be no Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2010 due to falling consumer prices.    » read more »

Overwhelmingly bipartisan bill divests from Iran's Energy Sector

10/14/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Rep. Eric Massa voted to help pass the overwhelmingly bipartisan Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009. This bill, which passed by a vote of 414-6, is designed to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector. This is just one step in the overall effort to hold those that enable Iran accountable.    » read more »

17 other members of Congress sign onto the Massa letter

10/14/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night Rep. Eric Massa, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, sent a letter which he wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging immediate MILC assistance for dairy farmers. The letter, which was signed by a bipartisan group of 17 other members of Congress, called for a November 15th release of $290 million in dairy farmer assistance payments recently approved in the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

America has never seen such a crisis in the dairy industry and without the immediate delivery of these critical funds, many dairy farmers will see their livelihood lost.    » read more »

10/09/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - This past Wednesday, Rep. Eric Massa joined with 246 members of Congress including six Republicans (including one from New York) and voted to refer complaints of impropriety against Rep. Charles Rangel to the bi-partisan House Ethics Committee for review. Since that time, articles have appeared pointing out that the ethics investigation into Chairman Rangel has expanded.    » read more »