July 31, 2021
Dear Friends,
I just got back from Washington for the August District Work Period after a busy week in Congress, and I couldn’t be happier to be home in our beautiful Capital Region of New York.
And it’s even more fun coming home with good news to share. This week my colleagues and I advanced an extensive collection of budget bills that make critical investments in American jobs, in our families and that will help propel our strongest economic recovery.
Those bills make up the bulk of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. And I am proud to report that I was able to get many of my top priorities for our region and nation added to this funding package, including:
Community Projects: All 10 of our local projects that would deliver a combined $14,447,500 in federal funding to the region cover investments in water infrastructure, clean energy innovation, public health and more.
Economic Support: These vital resources include nearly $4 billion for low-income energy assistance, more than $900 million to increase broadband internet access, support for small businesses and more.
Mental Health & Addiction Treatment: Lifesaving investments will be delivered for research related to the impact of COVID-19 on our kids’ mental health, funding for opioid prevention and treatment and recovery and other substance use prevention grants.
Clean Drinking Water: funds include $3.23 billion to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to repair America’s broken drinking water systems, address lead and PFAS contamination to eliminate harmful exposure and support communities already impacted by pollution.
Roads, Rail & Other Critical Infrastructure: Strong investments to modernize and rebuild America’s transportation infrastructure, with critical support for roads, rail, ports and more.
Heritage & Community: Federal support for America’s Heritage Areas—including the Capital Region’s Erie Canalway and Hudson River Valley—as well as a stronger federal lifeline for recovering museums and libraries under the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Science and Innovation: Provisions that raise the bar of U.S. energy efficiency, strengthen our national electric vehicle infrastructure and drive pioneering scientific research and innovation.
With the advance of these provisions, the House of Representatives is investing in more than crisis recovery, we are laying a strong foundation for our future as a nation. This 2022 federal budget will create good-paying jobs, grow opportunities, deliver a lifeline to countless working families and small businesses and provide a powerful boost to our economy. In short, we’re doing what the American people elected us to do: govern.
Thank you for doing your part to help lift up our Capital Region and carry this nation forward. Your stories and your strength fill my voice in Washington. I will continue do all I can in Congress to help ignite our economic recovery and achieve our full potential as a region and nation.
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 on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind here is some information about New York State Rental Relief programs that may be of interest to you:
- In response to the need for rental assistance felt throughout New York State, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has streamlined application requirements for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and increased the staff working to verify requests in order to make the process more accessible and immediate.
- The New York State Rental Assistance program has made $2.7 billion dollars available for those challenged with completing payments during the pandemic, but as of this week only $117,000 of that sum has been processed and sent to applicants.
- The OTDA plans of making these adjustments with the goal of being current on all applications submitted and under review by August 31, 2021.
- The program includes assistance with up to twelve months of rent as well as other levels of assistance depending on the individuals needs and financial hardship.
- In addition to these application alterations, protections for both tenants and landlords will expand.
- Renters and landlords can apply online at nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov, or by calling 1-844-NY1-RENT (1-844-691-7368) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
