January 29, 2022

Dear Friends,

During this past week in the district, I had the pleasure of meeting with seniors throughout our Capital Region to speak to the challenges they are facing and highlight the work my colleagues and I are doing in Congress to support them through this pandemic and beyond.

I took part in several roundtable discussions, meetings, and other events with local stakeholders to discuss the needs of our region’s seniors and to solicit their input on how I can best serve their interests in Washington.

These events included:

• A Coffee with Congress event in Latham with the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, where I met with the Association’s dedicated advocates to discuss how this pandemic has impacted the Alzheimer’s community—both those living with this disease and their caregivers—and hear how policymakers like me can support their important mission to assist those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and their families. I am lucky to consider myself an advocate of this community and will continue pushing for legislation including my Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act to combat this devastating disease.
• A virtual meeting with the New York StateWide Senior Action Council’s Capital District chapters, where I heard from senior advocates about the concerns of folks here in the region. I was happy to be able to provide an update on legislation such as the Build Back Better Act to improve Medicare and Social Security, address the home care crisis, and provide needed action on climate change and safe drinking water.
• The grand opening of the Albany Area Disabled American Veterans Office in Menands, where I had the honor of recognizing our local DAV chapter for their incredible 75 years of service to our community. These local, accessible offices are essential for our veterans, and I’ll continue my work in Washington to ensure our heroes get the care and support they deserve throughout their lives.
• A virtual conversation with the New York State Alliance of Retired Americans, where I updated members on key legislation I’m fighting to pass that would strengthen critical services like Medicare and Social Security. I was also able to share information on key legislative action including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, COVID response and other issues benefiting New York seniors.
• A meeting with leadership from senior service centers across NY-20, where I answered questions and received inciteful feedback on the status of senior services in our region and input on how Congress can support their efforts. I find it so insightful to connect with our community members and hear firsthand how I can build out my efforts in Congress to meet their needs!

Of the many issues and federal actions I discussed this week, few would be as impactful to our senior community as the Build Back Better Act. This legislation makes the health care investments the American people deserve, significantly cutting costs of home-based care, expanding Medicare to cover hearing benefits and so much more.

Critically, the Build Back Better Act takes urgently-need steps to address the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, an issue that impacts millions of seniors and Americans across our nation. The bill empowers Medicare to negotiate prices for high-cost medications and imposes a tax penalty on drug companies that increase prices above the rate of inflation. What’s more, it guarantees that no person pays more than $35 per month out of pocket for their insulin.

These are essential measures, and I won’t stop fighting to make sure they become law.

As I return to Washington next week, my recent visits and conversations fill me with resolve to keep fighting for our Capital Region seniors. We owe it to them to continue to provide the support they need, and to work to maintain the social safety net benefits they’ve earned. 

As always, thank you for reading.

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 the IRS that may be of interest to you:

• The IRS has announced the dates for this year’s tax filing season.  The IRS began accepting returns on Monday, January 24, and the deadline to submit your 2021 tax returns or an extension to file is Monday, April 18.
• Even if your 2020 tax return has not been fully processed, you may file your 2021 tax return at any time.
• If you need help filing your 2021 tax return, assistance and answers to frequently asked questions are available at IRS.gov.
  • In addition to IRS.gov, the IRS has a variety of other free options available to help taxpayers, ranging from free assistance at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) locations nationwide.
    • You can use the VITA/TCE Locator Tool to find the location closest to you.
  • The IRS is also offering the IRS Free File program, a safe, easy, and free portal to submit your returns.
• In order to receive your tax refund as soon as possible, the IRS encourages you to file electronically if possible, and to choose direct deposit to receive your funds.
• The IRS Interactive Tax Assistant can provide answers to several tax law questions specific to your individual circumstances.