Tucked into a series of U.S. government funding bills passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday is a $1 million funding line for continuation of the Erie Canal Flight of Five Locks rehabilitation project.
U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney announced $5 million of funding for four community projects in the 24th Congressional District was approved as four appropriations bills were taken up to fund the departments of defense, homeland security, transportation, housing and urban development, labor, health and human services, and education.
“This package delivers major investments for national security, public safety, infrastructure, and critical priorities across NY-24,” Tenney stated in a news release.
For the district, in addition to $5 million of “Community Project Funding”— also known as earmarks — Tenney said she secured $200 million to recapitalize the New York National Guard’s LC-130 fleet and “robust funding for key programs like Job Corps, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Impact Aid, AFG and SAFER grants, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. This funding helps protect our country, strengthen our economy, and support the communities we represent.”
For Lockport, Tenney sought $1 million to put toward “Phase III” of Flight of Five Locks rehabilitation, which would see the rehab of three pedestrian bridges, installation of light fixtures, removal of remaining debris in rehabbed Lock 68 and repair or replacement of railings. The most recent cost estimate for Phase III work is $2.3 million, and in early 2025 New York State, through the WNY Regional Economic Development Council, awarded three grants totaling $1.2 million for the work.
Other 24th Congressional District-based community projects receiving funding in the House-approved appropriations package are: installation of approach lights on a runway at Watertown International Airport (Jefferson County), $1 million; the Silver Lake Dredging Project (Wyoming County), $1 million; and improvements to the Town of Lyons’ Canal Street District (Wayne County), $2 million.
Tenney pointed out that a locally relevant piece of legislation not included in the appropriations package is the Susan Muffley Act, which directs the restoration of salaried Delphi retirees’ pensions and benefits. The Delphi Salary Pension Plan was terminated in 2009, in the aftermath of Delphi bankruptcy proceedings and a takeover by General Motors, and approximately 21,000 covered, salaried Delphi employees — including more than 2,300 in New York — saw their pension benefits reduced by up to 70%.
“I was disappointed that my amendment to add this provision was not ruled in order,” Tenney stated. “I will continue working to get this legislation signed into law to right the egregious injustice the Delphi retirees are still suffering from.”
The bills passed in the House were this year’s final batch, as lawmakers worked to avoid another funding lapse for a broad swath of the federal government.
The four bills total about $1.2 trillion in spending and now move to the Senate, with final passage needed next week before a Jan. 30 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
All but the bill funding the Department of Homeland Security had broad, bipartisan support. That last bill was hotly disputed as Democrats voiced concerns that it failed to restrain President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
Republicans were able to overcome the Democratic objections and muscle the Homeland Security bill to passage in a 220-207 vote.
The broader package, which funds a 3.8% pay raise for the military, passed in a 341-88 vote.