April 25, 2026
Dear Friends,
Fifteen months into Donald Trump’s second term, his administration’s record is one of abject disaster and unbridled cruelty. From Day One, Trump and his Republican allies have refused to address the needs of the people they claim to serve — instead unleashing a wave of bigotry, brutality, and violence that has destabilized the entire globe and left our nation sicker, poorer, and less safe. From drastic cuts to healthcare and other essential services to a senseless war in Iran that has sent energy prices skyrocketing, this administration’s actions have not only hurt American families in the here and now — they’ve also left our country in a worse position to address the challenges of tomorrow.
From my position on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how Trump’s anti-science appointees have hollowed out our public health infrastructure and stalled the development of clean energy initiatives. The American people deserve better than this backward approach, which is why I spent this week fighting to safeguard public health, accelerate our clean energy transition, and build a brighter future for generations to come.
This past Wednesday we celebrated Earth Day, a reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet we all call home. Preserving our environment brings benefits to all of us, and the best way we can realize those benefits is by advancing innovative clean energy programs that save families money and reduce dangerous pollution. Unfortunately, President Trump has chosen to slash those very programs in order to benefit his donors in the fossil fuel industry — and Americans are paying the price. The average American family’s energy bills rose by 13% last year, and costs are now climbing even higher thanks to Trump’s war in Iran.
With energy demand and prices rising and millions of Americans struggling to keep the lights on, we cannot afford to ignore clean energy as an abundant, cheap, and reliable source of power. That’s why I’m fighting to advance policies like the Energy Bills Relief Act. This legislation would boost access to affordable, home-grown energy, modernize our power grid, and bring relief for families straining under the weight of rising costs. While Trump and his allies pursue their polluter-first, consumer-last agenda, my Democratic colleagues and I are fighting for policies that bolster our economy, safeguard our health, and deliver clean, affordable solutions that keep your energy bills under control.
Increasing corporate pollution isn’t the only way this administration is undermining Americans’ health. President Trump and his Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have spearheaded a relentless campaign of dangerous misinformation that has drastically reduced trust in proven public health interventions like vaccines. We are already seeing the disastrous results of Secretary Kennedy’s anti-vaccine lies in the form of a steady rise in opt-out rates for childhood vaccinations and new outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases across the nation.
This is an unacceptable outcome, which is why I joined a Health subcommittee hearing this week to demand answers from Secretary Kennedy on his rejection of decades of science in favor of spreading lies and misinformation. The least we can expect of the person leading our nation’s public health response is a basic respect for science and a focus on Americans’ well-being. Through his insidious anti-vaccine messaging and his efforts to re-stigmatize mental health and substance use treatment, Secretary Kennedy has made it clear that he has neither. As Trump and his allies chip away at public health and access to care, I’ll keep pushing for evidence-based policies that protect families and strengthen our communities.
The fight to contain infectious diseases and the transition to clean energy each present complex challenges for policymakers and everyday Americans alike. These challenges will not be solved overnight, and each demands careful consideration and a collaborative, science-based approach that puts the interests of the American people first. While this administration continues to move in the opposite direction, I will never stop fighting for common-sense solutions that lower costs, protect our communities, and build a stronger future for working families.
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 governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- New York State’s 2025-2026 HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit opened for applications on April 15, 2026.
- If you are eligible, you may receive one HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit per applicant household for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help your home stay cool in the warmer months.
- You can lean more about eligibility requirements HERE.
- Applications will continue to be accepted until funding runs out. Cooling assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
- You can apply for a HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit either:
