Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24)

Note: This analysis uses AI to help identify potential outreach strategies for space science issues. Because it uses AI, it is important to understand the sources and limitations of this analysis. Space-related committee assignments (if present), and additional sources (if present), are from congress.gov and a direct output of a targeted web search. Opportunities, challenges, overall summary, and preparation recommendations are products of AI analyses. The biography uses AI to summarize key aspects of the member's Wikipedia page. All AI-generated claims, assessments, and recommendations should be independently verified. This is an experimental feature, and intended to provide guidance and inspiration for outreach strategies for your meeting. Feedback is welcome: casey.dreier@planetary.org.

NASA-related Committee Assignments or Caucuses

Overall Summary

Representative Tenney's position on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee offers a direct avenue for discussing NASA's science mission, indicating a foundational engagement with space policy. Her district also benefits from NASA science, with a notable planetary science grant for Mars InSight research at SUNY Geneseo and contracts for precision optics, demonstrating local economic and academic ties to space exploration. Her past support for interagency science collaboration and nuanced opposition to NASA legislation, focused on efficiency rather than mission, suggest a potential openness to specific, well-justified science investments.

However, advocates should be prepared for her strong fiscal conservatism and skepticism towards broad federal spending, which could make increasing NASA's overall science budget challenging, especially in light of the proposed 47% cut for FY2026. Her past opposition to climate science initiatives also poses a risk for Earth science funding. To be effective, advocates should emphasize the direct local benefits, national security implications, and non-climate-related aspects of NASA's science portfolio, framing investments as efficient and critical for U.S. competitiveness rather than broad spending.

Preparation Recommendations

About Claudia Tenney

Opportunities

Challenges

Additional Sources

[1] tenney.house.gov

"Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Introduces Bill to Launch Audit of Federal COVID-19 Funding. . Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22), member of the House Small Business Committee, today introduced the Transparency in COVID-19..." https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-claudia-tenney-introduces-bill-launch-audit-federal-covid-19