Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-05-21

Tonko Cheers Advance of Key Health Priorities Out of House Committee

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This press release from Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) was published on 2026-05-21 and titled "Tonko Cheers Advance of Key Health Priorities Out of House Committee".

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Tonko Cheers Advance of Key Health Priorities Out of House Committee

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) today celebrated the advance of several priorities he champions impacting the health and wellbeing of American families out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee today. Among the bills advanced include: H.R. 8209 the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act This legislation would reauthorize the SBHC grant program . SBHCs help to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to millions of children across the country, including in NY-20 where Tonko represents. H.R. 3747 , the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act This legislation would equip primary care providers with additional tools and training necessary to detect, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias H.R. 4348 , to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act This legislation would reauthorize key programs at the CDC that fund both research and support for local public health agencies to address tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease. “Over my years in Congress, I have remained laser focused on advancing commonsense, meaningful legislation that bolsters the health and wellbeing of the American people,” Congressman Tonko said. “The movement of several of my health priorities through committee is a powerful step in that effort. I’m grateful to my committee colleagues who helped lead these bipartisan efforts with me, and I’ll continue working to move the needle on these bills and get them signed into law.” Tonko spoke in support of this legislation during today’s Energy and Commerce Committee markup. He authored and introduced H.R. 8209 and is a lead Democrat co-sponsoring H.R. 3747 and H.R. 4348 . His remarks on his School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8209) can be read below: I rise in strong support of the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act, legislation I was proud to author, along with my colleague, Representative Troy Balderson. School-Based Health Centers help to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to millions of children across the country. By locating directly ins or near schools, SBHCs are able to provide high-quality care in a convenient setting. Today, there are more than 2,500 school-based health centers nationwide, serving more than 6.3 million K-12 students. In my district I am especially proud of the work of health centers including Whitney Young Health and Hometown Health which operate multiple school-based health centers in the Capital Region of New York including in Albany, Watervliet and Schenectady. The services provided by School-Based Health Centers can be a lifeline for children who may not have convenient ways to access care in other settings – especially for services like behavioral health, where there can still be stigma associated with seeking care. Through the School Based Health Center program, funding can be used to establish new school-based sites or to upgrade current facilities to serve additional children. I’ve been proud to be a long-time supporter of this program, and I’m grateful for the bipartisan support in reauthorizing this program today. However, as we think about the role of school-based health centers moving forward, I would encourage this committee to think bigger and bolder, because every child, family and community can benefit from SBHCs. We can do this not only by expanding this grant funding stream to bring hundreds of new and expanded sites on board, but also by securing and strengthening programs like Medicaid and CHIP that help make the SBHC model sustainable. Our children deserve nothing less.

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Tonko Cheers Advance of Key Health Priorities Out of House Committee WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) today celebrated the advance of several priorities he champions impacting the health and wellbeing of American families out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee today. Among the bills advanced include: H.R. 8209 the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act This legislation would reauthorize the SBHC grant program . SBHCs help to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to millions of children across the country, including in NY-20 where Tonko represents. H.R. 3747 , the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act This legislation would equip primary care providers with additional tools and training necessary to detect, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias H.R. 4348 , to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act This legislation would reauthorize key programs at the CDC that fund both research and support for local public health agencies to address tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease. “Over my years in Congress, I have remained laser focused on advancing commonsense, meaningful legislation that bolsters the health and wellbeing of the American people,” Congressman Tonko said. “The movement of several of my health priorities through committee is a powerful step in that effort. I’m grateful to my committee colleagues who helped lead these bipartisan efforts with me, and I’ll continue working to move the needle on these bills and get them signed into law.” Tonko spoke in support of this legislation during today’s Energy and Commerce Committee markup. He authored and introduced H.R. 8209 and is a lead Democrat co-sponsoring H.R. 3747 and H.R. 4348 . His remarks on his School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8209) can be read below: I rise in strong support of the School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act, legislation I was proud to author, along with my colleague, Representative Troy Balderson. School-Based Health Centers help to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to millions of children across the country. By locating directly ins or near schools, SBHCs are able to provide high-quality care in a convenient setting. Today, there are more than 2,500 school-based health centers nationwide, serving more than 6.3 million K-12 students. In my district I am especially proud of the work of health centers including Whitney Young Health and Hometown Health which operate multiple school-based health centers in the Capital Region of New York including in Albany, Watervliet and Schenectady. The services provided by School-Based Health Centers can be a lifeline for children who may not have convenient ways to access care in other settings – especially for services like behavioral health, where there can still be stigma associated with seeking care. Through the School Based Health Center program, funding can be used to establish new school-based sites or to upgrade current facilities to serve additional children. I’ve been proud to be a long-time supporter of this program, and I’m grateful for the bipartisan support in reauthorizing this program today. However, as we think about the role of school-based health centers moving forward, I would encourage this committee to think bigger and bolder, because every child, family and community can benefit from SBHCs. We can do this not only by expanding this grant funding stream to bring hundreds of new and expanded sites on board, but also by securing and strengthening programs like Medicaid and CHIP that help make the SBHC model sustainable. Our children deserve nothing less.