December 7, 2024

Dear Friends,

By any measure, the 118^th Congress has been one of the least productive in American history. Thanks to constant Republican obstruction, dysfunction, and shutdown threats, this Congress has placed fewer laws on the books than any Congress in the modern era. Despite the challenges posed by this legislative blockade, however, I’ve still pushed successfully to advance new bipartisan legislation on a wide range of issues — from bolstering federal research into Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to protecting our National Heritage Areas and improving our nation’s preparedness for extreme weather events. This week, I was thrilled to celebrate another victory in my efforts to deliver for the communities I so proudly represent.

On Wednesday, the House and Senate came to a final agreement to authorize $100,000,000 to support water and wastewater infrastructure for the Mohawk River and its tributaries under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This major investment will support stormwater management, surface water resource protection, environmental restoration, and related infrastructure across a wide swath of Upstate New York, including much of our Capital Region.

For years, I’ve worked tirelessly to secure this essential funding for our region’s waterways. Now, with the inclusion of our provisions to support environmental infrastructure, we are delivering vital resources to bolster the health and resiliency of the Mohawk River watershed and address the growing ecological and weather-related challenges posed by climate change. With the WRDA package expected to advance through Congress in the coming weeks, I’m eager to get to work implementing this historic funding to ensure our treasured waterways can be protected and enjoyed for generations to come.

While I’m proud to have played a role in delivering this significant investment for our local communities, I recognize that our mission to support working families nationwide is far from complete. As we have seen throughout this Congress, Republican stalling has left several critical measures unfinished until the last possible moment. These key priorities include:

• Passing a federal budget and avoiding a devastating government shutdown. Multiple times during the 118^th Congress, my Democratic colleagues and I have provided the votes necessary to keep the government open and prevent shutdowns that would have inflicted unnecessary pain on millions of hardworking Americans. Now, with government funding running out in less than two weeks, it’s time for Republicans to come to the table and work with Democrats to forge a bipartisan, commonsense budget agreement that meets the needs of American families.
• Enacting a full, five-year farm bill. Last year, I held a series of listening sessions across the Capital Region to hear directly from farmers and community leaders about their priorities for the upcoming farm bill. Your voices made it clear: we need to invest in the resources that help our communities thrive. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans have refused to budge on their demands to slash vital food assistance programs and limit the USDA’s ability to support farmers during crises. Now more than ever, we need to work together to enact strong legislation that lifts up rural and urban communities alike.
• Providing urgently needed disaster relief for communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last month, President Biden submitted a request to Congress for supplemental funding to help rebuild devastated areas across the Southeastern United States. In October, Speaker Johnson pledged to move quickly to provide this desperately needed assistance. But nearly two months later, House Republicans have yet to act, leaving families and communities in limbo. These delays are unacceptable. Now is the time to put politics aside and come together to provide the relief these communities need to rebuild, recover, and move forward.

As the 118^th Congress comes to a close, I remain proud of the investments and achievements we’ve delivered over the past two years. Despite constant Republican obstruction, my Democratic colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to advance bipartisan solutions to the problems Americans face every day. In the coming weeks, I hope our Republican colleagues will join us in completing the unfinished business of this Congress and providing critical support to those who need it most.

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 and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:  

• With the holiday season well underway, I’m committed to helping you and your loved ones stay safe while ensuring you remain informed about your rights as a consumer.
• That’s why this Thursday, I hosted a virtual informational workshop on federal consumer protection and safety!
• At the workshop, I was joined by representatives from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), who offered tips, resources, and updates on how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe this holiday season and year-round.
• If you weren’t able to join us on Thursday, you can find a recording of the event HERE on my Facebook page.
  • Please note that you do not need a Facebook account to view the recording.
• You can also find more holiday safety tips from the CPSC HERE.