October 30, 2021
Dear Friends,
While negotiations continue on a monumental plan to build back better, I want to share a few highlights during another busy week in Washington.
Supporting weatherization investments that protect our communities
Thursday marked 45 years of success with the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program. I worked to strengthen this program with my bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act that was passed into law last Congress.
These decades have shown that investments in the home energy efficiency of our most vulnerable neighbors have significant benefits:
- The Weatherization Assistance Program has cut energy bills for more than 7.4 million homes
- Each dollar invested into the program returns $4.10 for low-income families
At a time when climate change makes our temperatures more extreme and fossil fuel prices are at record highs, weatherization saves energy and lowers utility costs. I’ll continue pushing for weatherization investments that strengthen communities, correct historical injustices, reduce pollution, and make sure all Americans can afford to be safe in their homes.
Protecting Americans from toxic substances
This week I led a hearing in the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee that I chair to examine the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act that made reforms to TSCA.
I had serious concerns about the effectiveness of this legislation. Sadly those fears proved justified, as we have seen numerous examples over the past five years of the program being tilted, by political appointees, strongly in favor of industry at the expense of science-based protections for public health.
TSCA has a vital job. Tackling PFAS, asbestos, methylene chloride and other dangerous chemicals that have become household names must be a top environmental and public health priority.
Thankfully there are promising signs of meaningful change, and I believe under the direction of the Biden Administration’s EPA, we can get this program back on track to improve chemical safety and protect public health.
Honoring Survivors this Domestic Violence Awareness Month
In the final days of October, we recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month with legislation that will improve services for survivors of intimate partner violence while investing more to prevent intimate partner violence in the first place.
Each year, more than 10 million people experience domestic violence in the United States. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
This week, I stood with my colleagues to help put an end to these staggering statistics by voting in the House to pass the bipartisan Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act, comprehensive legislation that prevents violence and protects survivors. This bill must be signed into law at once.
On the legislative front, Congress has much more work ahead to deliver the services and support the American people need.
As always, thank you for reading.
And Happy Halloween! Be sure to check out this week’s ‘Did You Know’ segment below to help ensure you and your family have a safe and fun Halloween!
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind here is some information from that may be of interest to you:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that outdoor trick-or-treating is safe this Halloween. New York State’s Division of Consumer Protection and the New York State Department of Health has offered tips to keep people safe from COVID-19 during the festivities.
- People should wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer during any Halloween activities. Any Halloween gatherings should be small and kept outdoors. Individual goodie bags should be considered over having trick-or-treaters reach into a shared candy bowl.
- Any treats, toys or small items should be closely examined by an adult. Suspicious items should be thrown out.
- Several cities and towns have announced designated door-to-door trick-or-treating hours:
- Amsterdam trick-or-treating from 6-8 p.m.
- Rotterdam trick-or-treating from 3-7 p.m.
- Schenectady trick-or-treating from 2-8 p.m.
- Some businesses in these areas also have set hours for trick-or-treating.
- Click HERE for more Halloween health and safety tips.
- If you do not know your city/town’s designated trick-or-treating times, you can find their phone number in the 2021 New York Municipal Guide and ask.