The Fighting 29th

All about New York's 29th Congressional District

Eric Massa had his first press conference since he was elected to Congress. He spoke about his swearing-in, recent votes, legislation he's co-sponsoring, and what's coming up in Congress. Read on to learn more.

Massa began by saying that his swearing-in open house attracted 250 people, most of them from the 29th district. His 82-year-old Republican father was "charmed" by Nancy Pelosi.

After the swearing-in, Massa's first votes on substantial legislation were for legislation that ensures equal pay for men and women. Massa was "very proud" of those votes.

Massa also co-sponosored a number of pieces of legislation, including bills to end automatic pay raises for Congress, the Health Equality Act, which Massa described as the first move towards a viable single-payer health bill, and the Employee Free Choice Act.

Massa also wrote a couple of letters, including one to Governor Patterson where he pledged to find funding for the Finger Lakes Wine Institute. Massa also joined with the rural caucus to write the Speaker to urge that the stimulus bill target a fair share towards rural communities.

Regarding his appointment to the House Armed Services Committee, Massa said he was requesting to be named to the Air and Land Subcommittee, since it oversees helicopter aviation. His goal in that group is to help the new helicopter remanufacturing facility in Chemung County to become a "true leader in Army aerospace engineering."

Massa is co-ordinating the subcommitee assignments for his other committee, Agriculture, with Kirsten Gillibrand [NY-20]. He thinks they'll be able to serve on 4 different subcommittees most relevant to the needs of New York.

The first order of business for Ag will be the "collapse" in the milk market. Massa wants to increase the export of milk protein, and ban the import of non-FDA certified milk products. He used the example of tainted Chinese baby formula as a justification for limiting those imports.

One more committee assignment may also be coming Massa's way, though it won't be Transportation, which is full. He should know about that assignment sometime next week. He's also participating in Louise Slaughter's upstate caucus.

Massa took a number of questions on the economy. He said he's spoken personally with Larry Summers, Obama's chief economic advisor, to put forward the needs of the 29th distict. Massa has been meeting with city and county officials across the district to find "valid civil engineering projects" ("no pork") for inclusion in the stimulus plan.

When asked about the second portion of TARP funding, Massa said that he opposed the first TARP bailout, because it lacked trasparency and accountability, and didn't ensure that banks would lend the money they received. He also noted that even banks that didn't need funding, such as M&T, were forced to take out a 5 year, 5% loan from TARP funds.

If changes to address those issues are added to the new bill, Massa believes he could "move cautiously forward" on the second round of TARP funding. He's been in contact with Barney Frank [MA-04], chair of the House Financial Services Committee, to discuss changes needed in the program, and he "expects our concerns to be met".

Looking forward, Massa is anticipating "with great hope and pride" to vote for S-CHIP. The bill being introduced this session is almost identical to the one Randy Kuhl voted against, and President Bush vetoed. Massa said it will be "budget-neutral" since it is funded mainly by a cigarette tax.

Massa closed the conference by saying he'll be announcing the grand opening dates of his offices in Corning, Pittsford and Olean in the near future. He said that the "big difference" in the way that he and his staff approach the job is that he believes that his office "belongs to the people of the 29th Congressional district, and my staff works for them."

There were about a dozen area print and radio reporters on the call.

WETM reports that a drop in milk prices has hit local dairy farmers hard. Eric Massa is quoted in the report saying that the House Agriculture Committee will meet in an emergency session to discuss ways to prop up milk prices.

Reader Elmer sends the Star-Gazette story on Massa's Agriculture Committee appointment. This committee appointment was Massa's first choice.

Exile at The Albany Project has the news that Louise Slaughter [NY-28] has started a new bipartisan upstate caucus. Eric Massa will be part of the group.

Eric Massa's office sent this shot of his ceremonial swearing-in. Massa's 80-year-old father, Capt. (Ret.) Emiddio Massa, stands to Nancy Pelosi's right, his mother, Mae, is in the center, and his wife, Beverly, is to Massa's left.

Rochester City Newspaper and the The Hornell Evening Tribune have their swearing-in stories posted.

The New York Times has a Wheels Blog post on Massa's ride to DC. As the Corning Leader reported yesterday, it turns out that two vehicles were required because there aren't enough hydrogen stations between Corning and DC. GM ended up towing one of them for part of the trip.

Update: Thanks to Elmer for pointing out that the Leader scooped the Grey Lady by a solid day.