Press Releases & Statements

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement after the House voted to pass the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act late last night, legislation which would provide a $15 billion emergency loan to aid the U.S. auto industry.

On Tuesday, November 11, Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas will join veterans in Dracut Lowell, Chelmsford, and Methuen in honor of Veterans Day.

Today at Lowell City Hall, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and Representatives from the U.S Economic Development Administration delivered $50,000 in federal funds to the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), which represents the communities of Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough and Westford. With the benefit of the federal funding, NMCOG will create a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the city and towns which make up the greater Lowell area.

This morning, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas flew back from Massachusetts to participate in a Budget Committee hearing with Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss measures to grow the economy and create jobs both in the near and long term.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that the Department of Transportation will carry out an environmental assessment of the proposed construction of a new automotive unloading facility at Ayer, MA. The unloading facility has been proposed as part of the Patriot Corridor Joint Venture transaction between Norfolk Southern and Pan Am Railways. The Patriot Corridor Joint Venture is a 155-mile high-speed freight-rail route running from Mechanicville, New York to Ayer, MA.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, State Senator Sue Tucker, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development today hosted a special summit in Lawrence to inform cities and towns in the Fifth Congressional District about the resources available to them as a result of landmark housing legislation that Congress passed and the President recently signed into law.

Over the course of the past week, intense debate has centered on the financial rescue package which failed last Monday in the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, the Senate passed a similar package which was sent back to the House of Representatives for approval. Today the House passed the Senate's version by a vote of 263 to 171. My office has received more than 1,500 phone calls, emails and letters on the subject with people passionately expressing their views on both sides of the issue.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today released the following statement regarding her vote for the financial rescue package, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today applauded the House of Representatives' approval of $5.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which will help low-income families pay their heating bills this winter. The funding was approved as part of a larger spending measure which will fund government operations through March 6, 2009.

A member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement today following passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes spending limits for the Department of Defense for the coming fiscal year. Included in the bill is bipartisan legislation, H.R. 6018, introduced by Tsongas to help aid the recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare professionals in the National Guard and Reserves. The bill is expected to be approved in the Senate and signed into law by the President in the coming days.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a federal grant in the amount of $93,397 to ONE Lowell, a non-profit organization which works to decrease truancy among ethnically diverse middle and high school students in Lowell.

In less than 6 months, our country will be making the transition to digital television broadcasting. You may have already read about or seen public service announcements regarding the impending change from traditional analog television broadcasting to digital television broadcasting, scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009 at midnight.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and representatives from the Department of Education today presented more than $6.7 million in federal funds to Lowell's Community Teamwork Incorporated (CTI) and the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC). The funding will be used by each nonprofit organization to improve the school readiness of Merrimack Valley children, particularly those from low-income families, through the promotion of early childhood reading.

Facing foreclosure is a difficult and often painful experience, and far too many families in our community have become a victim of the mortgage crisis. Congress has taken a critical step towards addressing this dilemma. The new housing bill provides resources to families in danger of losing their homes, including refinancing into lower-cost government-insured mortgages and $180 million for foreclosure prevention counseling.

Yesterday, Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas visited three leading clean energy companies in the Merrimack Valley to discuss the importance of alternative fuel sources to America's long-term energy future, as well as the economic and job creation benefits that green collar employers bring to the region. Tsongas toured the facilities and met with employees and executives of Konarka in Lowell, Solectrica Renewables in Lawrence, and PowerHouse also located in Lawrence. Each of these companies are members of the New England Clean Energy Council, who's mission is to accelerate New England's clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement regarding the Department of Labor's announcement of a $758,714 grant to assist the approximately 170 workers affected by ongoing layoffs at the Alcatel-Lucent plant in North Andover.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement after the House voted late last night to approve The Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338). The bill, authored by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), is a comprehensive measure that builds on the protections in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to help put an end to the discriminatory practice of paying a woman less than a man for performing the same job.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-05) today introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to address and improve the quality and continuum of mental health care available to veterans. Recognizing the sharp increase in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health wounds among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Tsongas' legislation would help to improve diagnosis of these conditions by training counselors on college campuses to recognize their initial signs. Accompanying legislation also introduced by Tsongas today would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver quarterly reports to Congress on the number of mental health provider vacancies within the VA system in an effort to ensure that appropriate numbers of providers are available to veterans. Tsongas released the following statement regarding the legislation.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement regarding the Navy's plan to limit the purchase of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer.

Earlier this week, the House Natural Resources Committee gave a favorable recommendation to legislation introduced by Congresswoman Niki Tsongas which would protect historic Barrett's Farm in Concord, MA. The Committee's approval is an essential step for the bill to become law and will allow Tsongas' legislation to be considered by the House of Representatives later this year. Tsongas also testified before a Natural Resources subcommittee the previous week in support of the legislation.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement after the House voted to approve landmark housing legislation which will help families facing foreclosure keep their homes, help other families avoid foreclosures in the future, and help communities rehabilitate abandoned properties. The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act also makes critical reforms to the Federal Housing Administration, increases regulation of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and restores confidence in the housing market.

This afternoon, the House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Military Personnel held the first Congressional hearing on the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy since 1993. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas participated in the hearing and submitted the following statement for the record.

Earlier today, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas testified before the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands subcommittee in support of legislation she introduced earlier this year to permanently protect historic Barrett's Farm in Concord, MA. During her testimony, Tsongas explained the benefits and non-controversial nature of the legislation to the subcommittee members whose approval the bill must garner. A favorable recommendation by the subcommittee would clear the way for the bill to be considered by the full Natural Resources Committee, and later the full House of Representatives, and is an essential step in the legislation becoming law.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement after the House voted to override the Presidents veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. The override, which was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 383 to 41, would prevent a scheduled 10.6% reimbursement cut for Medicare physicians from going into effect.

Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, along with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today announced that Middlesex Community College will receive $399,858 as part of the Department of Education's Strengthening Institutions Program.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas visited the Concord Fire Department today to meet new firefighters who were recently hired and trained with the aid of federal grant funding. In addition to meeting the new firefighters, Tsongas viewed new equipment purchased with federal funds she announced earlier this year, and also expressed her strong support for federal programs that benefit local fire departments.

Doctors and medical staff at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Chelmsford are sending their youngest patients home with free books and important advice for their parents – "Read to your children every day." Today, U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-05) visited the multi-specialty medical practice and read to a group of young children, emphasizing the importance of reading aloud.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today welcomed Lawrence resident Sarah Le to Washington, DC, where she was honored as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition from the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts. As the winner of the competition, Le will have her artwork displayed at the U.S. Capitol building for one year and will receive a $5,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement after the House passed bipartisan legislation to extend unemployment benefits for up 3.8 million unemployed workers across the country.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas participated in a press conference today to announce the launch of the new Congressional Equity Caucus for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans. The 52 member caucus will be chaired by Congressman Barney Frank and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and will advocate for the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Below is a statement from Congresswoman Tsongas.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement regarding House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets spending limits for the Department of Defense for the coming fiscal year. Included in the bill, is bipartisan legislation introduced by Tsongas to help aid the recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare professionals in the National Guard and Reserves.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas is inviting residents to view artwork created by high school students from throughout the Fifth Congressional District who are participating in the National Congressional Art Competition. Students from across the country participate in the annual competition and one winner from each Congressional district will have their artwork displayed in U.S. Capitol for one year. There will also be four runner-up winners, whose artwork will be exhibited in Congresswoman Tsongas' office in Washington DC and in each of her district offices in Lowell, Lawrence and Acton.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that she will be hosting her Congress on Your Corner program in Lowell this Saturday, May 24 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m at Pailin City Restaurant located at 6 Branch Street. The program is part of the Congresswoman's constituent outreach service and offers the opportunity for Lowell residents to share their thoughts with Congresswoman Tsongas regarding legislation in Congress and happenings in their community, as well as to seek assistance with any problem they may be having with a federal agency.

"Like so many across the country and across Massachusetts, my thoughts and prayers are with Ted, Vicki, my colleague Patrick, and the Kennedy family. Ted's tireless and legendary devotion to the causes of equal opportunity and health care for all Americans has benefited countless lives. His decades long commitment to this institution and to this country has earned him the respect, admiration, and affection among his colleagues on both sides of the aisle and among the people of Massachusetts for generations, and I look forward to seeing him back in the Congress very soon."

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement on the Iraq and Afghanistan war supplemental appropriations bill that was considered by the House of Representatives this afternoon.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council will host an economic development conference entitled "Green, Clean and Sustainable: Economic Development for the 21st Century," on Monday May 19th, which will bring together major local employers, community leaders, and economic development experts to discuss ways to grow green collar jobs in the Fifth District. The green technology industry, which produces a wide variety of environmentally-friendly products from hydrogen fuel cells to recycled plastics, has grown expediently in recent years in both the research and manufacturing sectors.

Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded an $18.7 million contract to Adams and Associates for operations of the Shriver Job Corps Center in Devens, Massachusetts.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-05) and Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-08) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help aid the recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare professionals in the National Guard and Reserves. The legislation would update the current student loan repayment limits available to doctors, dentists, and other health care professionals in the reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, so that they are consistent with those enjoyed by active duty personnel and more accurately reflect current medical and dental school tuition costs.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement regarding Earth Day 2008.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today officially opened a new Congressional district office in Acton which will primarily serve Fifth District residents in the towns of Acton, Boxborough, Concord, Carlisle, Sudbury, Maynard, Wayland, Stow, Hudson, Berlin, Bolton, Littleton, Lancaster, Harvard, Shirley, and Ayer.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today introduced legislation to protect the historic Colonel James Barrett's farm located in Concord, Massachusetts. Tsongas's bill would bring the Barrett's farm within the boundaries of Minute Man National Park, thereby preserving this historic site which played a prominent role in the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and the members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, as well as U.S. Representatives Paul Hodes (NH-01) and Carol Shea-Porter (NH-02), today called on the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner to postpone projected layoffs at the Andover tax processing center in Andover, Massachusetts. The letter, lead by Tsongas, noted that the September 2009 target date for workforce reductions at the Andover facility was based on a projection made a decade earlier that 80% of tax payer filing would be done online by 2007. This transition has not occurred as quickly as projected, as only 54% of taxpayers filed their taxes online last year.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today released a list of 75 projects in the Fifth Congressional District in need of public support that she submitted to the Appropriations Committee. The federal funding requested by Congresswoman Tsongas would help retain and create jobs, support the construction of products and equipment to best equip and protect our servicemen and women, expand access to health care for Fifth District families, provide first responders with the most up-to-date technology, preserve our environment, and promote economic development.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas will participate in a House Armed Services Committee hearing this morning in which General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will offer an update on the political and security situation in Iraq. Noting the lack of political progress among Iraqi leaders despite the recent troop surge, Tsongas will ask General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker what steps the U.S. must take in order to encourage the Iraqi government to make fundamental movements towards political reconciliation. Below is a transcript of Tsongas prepared remarks before the Committee.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that she will be hosting her Congress on Your Corner program at Thirty-One Main Street coffee shop and bakery on Saturday, April 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The program is part of the Congresswoman's constituent outreach service and offers the opportunity for Ayer residents to share their thoughts with Congresswoman Tsongas regarding legislation in Congress and happenings in their community, as well as to seek assistance with any problem they may be having with a federal agency.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that she will holding a foreclosure prevention workshop for families in the Fifth Congressional District who are worried about the possibility of losing their homes as a result of the recent housing crisis. The workshop will take place on Saturday, March 29th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Lowell High School.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas gave the following speech on the House Floor today in support of H.Res. 228.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and State Senator Steve Panagiotakos joined today with residents of the Lowell Housing Authority's Archambault Towers and Executive Director of the Lowell Housing Authority Gary Wallace to discuss and answer questions that seniors had about the recently enacted economic stimulus package. Tsongas and Panagiotakos helped approximately sixty seniors file their 2007 income tax returns this morning, which is a step all seniors must take in order to receive tax rebates of between $300-600 as part of the economic stimulus package passed in Congress and signed by the President last month, and they are encouraging all seniors to do the same.

Yesterday, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas joined with 2nd grade students at Sanborn Elementary School in Andover as part of 'Read Across America Day,' which is sponsored annually by the National Education Association and coincides with the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. Now in its 11th year, Read Across America Day focuses the country's attention on the importance of motivating children to read in addition to helping them master basic skills.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement today after voting to support legislation that will make significant new investments in renewable energy sources, spur the growth of new green collar jobs, help end our dependence on foreign oil, and slash taxpayer funded subsidies to oil companies. Congresswoman Tsongas was an original cosponsor of this bill and joined thirty-two members in introducing it earlier this year.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today introduced legislation which would set a timetable for the quick and safe redeployment of U.S. forces serving in Iraq, and would help bring about a political solution that will bring lasting stability to the country. Under Tsongas' bill, redeployment would begin within 90 days of the date of enactment, and all troops would be completely redeployed within 180 days from the start of the redeployment. The bill would also create a regional security and economic organization with broad international involvement in order to cultivate regional security and to promote economic development and cooperation in the Middle East region. Congresswoman Tsongas released the following statement after introducing her first bill:

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today presented a check in the amount of $392,000 to the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority which will help purchase fourteen new buses to serve residents of Lawrence, Andover, Haverhill and Methuen. Tsongas secured the funding as part of the recently enacted federal Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, a member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement today regarding the release of the President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget proposal.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement today regarding the passage of the bipartisan economic stimulus package.

Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement on the President's State of the Union Address this evening.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Senator John F. Kerry and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced today that the Methuen Fire Department will receive a grant of $16,686 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part of a program to strengthen the nation's fire response system. The funds will be used to purchase turnout gear.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas today joined Dorcas Grigg-Saito, Lowell Community Health Center's chief executive officer, as well as LCHC health care professionals and staff to announce the award of $229,912 for the Lowell Community Health Center that she secured in the federal Omnibus Appropriations Act passed by the Congress and signed by the President this week.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas released the following statement today after voting to support a historic bill to put the country on a path toward energy independence. Rep. Tsongas has heard from residents across the district who are concerned with the Bush administration's failure to address the need for energy independence and the growing threat of global warming.

Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy today, along with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, announced that the FY 2008 Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report includes $8.6 million for the purchase of protective military clothing which is made at Polartec in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Fifth District Representative Niki Tsongas today supported a revised version of the bill to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program that will secure health care coverage for 10 million children, including coverage for more than 200,000 children in Massachusetts.