Paul Tonko
Democrat Representative of New York's 20th district
Representative
New York, district 21
January 6, 2009 - January 3, 2011
Representative
New York, district 21
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2013
Representative
New York, district 20
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Representative
New York, district 20
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
New York, district 20
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Representative
New York, district 20
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Representative
New York, district 20
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
Representative
New York, district 20
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025
8
Congresses Served
8
House Terms
June 18, 1949 (75 years old)
Birthday
- Serving as U.S. representative for New York’s 20th congressional district since 2013, previously represented the 21st district from 2009 to 2013.
- Described as a staunch progressive.
- Served in the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 2007, representing the 105th district.
- Was president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority from 2007 to 2008.
- Ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials in the 118th Congress.
- Lifelong resident of Amsterdam, New York, with Polish descent.
- Holds a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering from Clarkson University.
- Became active in local politics in the early 1970s, serving on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors from 1976 to 1983.
- Sponsored significant legislation including Timothy’s Law for mental health treatment coverage and the Northeast Dairy Compact.
- Has focused on energy policy in Congress, sponsoring bills related to wind energy research and efficiency of gas turbines.
- Praised the 2011 State of the Union address for focusing on growing the economy and jobs.
- Opposed the Trans Pacific Partnership citing trade deficits and the use of child labor.
- Criticized for supporting Planned Parenthood by Bishop Edward Bernard Scharfenberger of Albany in 2017.
- Co-signed a letter in 2020 condemning Azerbaijan’s offensive operations against Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Instrumental in passing provisions in the CHIPS and Science Act into law in 2022.
- Voted in favor of directing President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days in 2023.
- Member of over 65 House caucuses, including the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus.