Rep Claudia Tenney (R-New York, 22nd District) gave a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives honoring Feed Our Vets Founder & Executive Director Rich Synek.

Feed Our Vets was founded by Vernon Center, NY Postmaster and Navy Veteran Rich Synek. One day, a World War II Veteran came into Rich’s Post Office and bought a single stamp. When Rich asked him why he didn’t buy a book of stamps, the man broke down and confessed that he and his wife only had enough money to eat properly for two weeks out of each month, and that the last few days of the month, the couple had nothing to eat at all. That night, Rich and his wife, Michele, went out and bought groceries for the Veteran and his wife, and brought the food to their home.

When they realized how widespread the problem of Veteran hunger is, they established the first Feed Our Vets Food Pantry.

They have been feeding Veterans ever since.

Rich is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Marine Corps League, AVERS (American Veterans for Equal Rights), National League of Postmasters (NLPM), National Association of Postmasters of The United States (NAPUS), and is a Master Mason.

Claudia Tenney was elected to serve as a member of the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 2016, after winning one of the most expensive races in the nation. As a freshman member of the 115th Congress, she was selected to serve on the House Financial Services Committee.

Previously, Claudia served as a member of the New York State Assembly. Claudia was first elected to the Assembly on November 2, 2010.

Claudia is an accomplished attorney and longtime small business owner. Claudia was the co-owner and legal counsel to Mid-York Press, Inc., a commercial printing and manufacturing firm started by her grandfather in 1946. Mid-York Press currently employs nearly 70 people in the Chenango County community of Sherburne. Claudia also maintained a private law practice in Clinton, New York.