July 26, 2025
Dear Friends,
This week, I returned to Washington ready to get back to work for our Capital Region communities and all who call them home. After Republicans pushed through Donald Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” — enacting the largest cuts to health care and food assistance in American history — working families need Congressional support now more than ever. But less than two days into the work week, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly sent the House home early to avoid a vote on releasing a stockpile of documents related to the activities and associates of child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: Republicans are shutting down the House for more than a month in order to shield Donald Trump from the potentially explosive revelations in the Epstein files. GOP leaders were so desperate to block the release of the files that they brought all House business to a screeching halt — sidelining critical work on legislation to combat human trafficking, expand mental and behavioral health care, and much more. The American people deserve the truth — and they deserve representatives who serve them, not run cover for Donald Trump.
Even as Republicans have abdicated their responsibilities to their constituents and to the American people, I’m still working to fulfill my duty as a legislator and advance policies that meet the needs of our communities. That means working toward legislation that can make a difference — and this week, I did just that with the introduction of three bipartisan bills that address mental health, bolster Medicaid, and support communities impacted by natural disasters.
Since my time in the New York State Assembly, I’ve worked hard to establish mental health parity, requiring insurers to provide coverage for mental health care at the same level as for physical care. This week, I continued that effort with the introduction of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act — a bipartisan bill that would improve care for millions of seniors by permanently repealing Medicare’s 190-day lifetime limit for inpatient psychiatric care. Mental illness should be treated like any other illness, but policies like this arbitrary cap continue to limit equal, quality care — too often with dire consequences. With this legislation, we can ensure that America’s seniors are supported with the quality care they deserve.
Medicaid also forms an essential part of our nation’s behavioral health care system, serving as the largest payer for mental health and substance use treatment nationwide. That’s why I reintroduced the Medicaid Bump Act — another bipartisan bill that would increase the federal reimbursement rate for mental and behavioral health care services under Medicaid. As Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” slashes Medicaid to the bone and leaves countless Americans without access to lifesaving, affordable care, we must do all we can to stem the harm caused by this cruel legislation and ensure the continued delivery of meaningful federal resources for mental health services. I urge my colleagues to join me in helping to remove these barriers to behavioral health treatment and ensuring our communities receive the comprehensive, affordable care they need.
I’m also working to tackle our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the extensive community trauma caused by natural disasters. These extreme weather events don’t just wreak havoc on our homes, our economies, and our infrastructure — they inflict lasting mental harm both for those directly impacted and for people far beyond the affected area. My bipartisan Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act, which I reintroduced this week, advances an innovative approach to these challenges by empowering communities through a new federal grant program to craft their own locally specific responses to the mental health problems caused by disasters and toxic stresses. As climate change makes natural disasters like the devastating recent flooding in Texas more and more common, I’ll continue working to equip our communities with the resources they need to meet and overcome these traumas.
This week has shown us once again that Republican leadership is more interested in protecting and appeasing Donald Trump than in serving their own constituents. Yet even in the face of this dereliction of duty, my resolve to support working people here in our Capital Region and beyond has only been strengthened. Together, we can still make real improvements in the lives of families across our nation — and I’ll never give up that fight.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools, and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land.
- Since 1987, the program has helped more than 25,000 landowners to complete more than 40,000 projects, restoring more than six million acres of forest, prairie, wetland, and stream habitat for wildlife.
- The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program employs 220 biologists in all 50 states and territories, who consult with landowners to help them conserve and improve wildlife habitat.
- Projects are voluntary and customized to meet landowners’ needs. Participating landowners continue to own and manage their land while they improve conditions for wildlife.
- If you’re interested in participating in this program, a phone call or email is all it takes to get started!
- Click HERE to contact your state coordinator to schedule and initial site visit and learn how Partners for Fish and Wildlife can help you.
