Weekly Newsletter from the Office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ An update from the office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino SPOTLIGHT Andrew Wishes NY-02 A Happy Easter He is Risen! Wishing you and your family a blessed and holy Easter this Sunday. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." ~ Peter 1:3 ANDREW IN THE NEWS Congress must pass our bill to continue care for 9/11 victims, first responders By Rep. Andrew Garbarino & Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand " If you’d asked Mariama, Nate, and Jamie what they might have had in common in early 2001, they probably wouldn’t have imagined much. But after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, Mariama — a pregnant mother of two — came home to find her Manhattan apartment covered in a thick coat of ash. Nate, a 20-year-old service member, worked to recover and bury those killed at the Pentagon. Jamie, a 19-year-old volunteer with Sayville Ambulance, spent weeks cleaning up at Ground Zero. Now, all three are suffering from 9/11-related health conditions. We welcomed Mariama, Nate, and Jamie to Washington in February for a news conference announcing our bipartisan legislation to address the impending World Trade Center Health Program funding shortfall...In 2015, the health program was reauthorized until 2090. Unfortunately, the formula used to calculate how much money would be needed to care for all exposed will not keep pace with rising costs. From 2019 to 2022, for example, health care providers’ costs for everything from labor and pharmaceuticals to supplies and services grew 16% to 25%...By eliminating the funding shortfall and expanding eligibility to the excluded Pentagon and Shanksville first responders, we can honor our commitment to our fellow Americans. And in so doing, we can prove that “never forget” is not just a slogan. It is a promise — to care for these 9/11 responders and survivors for as long as they may be suffering. " Read the full op-ed here. WHAT'S NEW IN NY-02 Andrew Announces 2023 Congressional Art Competition The 2023 Congressional Art Competition is now open for submissions. Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent across NY-02. The winning artwork of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. Click here to learn more about the competition and how to submit art for consideration. CASEWORK HIGHLIGHT: Securing Long Overdue Tax Return For Retired Law Enforcement Officer A Center Moriches resident and retired law enforcement officer contacted Andrew's office for help regarding an amended 2018 Tax return he had related to his disability pension which he earned after 30 years of service. The IRS has owed him a tax return amounting to thousands of dollars which he has been fighting to receive for over four years. Andrew's caseworkers were able to work with the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate and ensured that the tax return was process this week. Andrew knows how frustrating dealing with bureaucracy can be. That is why he has an entire team dedicated to helping constituents get what they need for the federal government. If you need help dealing with a federal agency, contact our office and our team will get to work on your case. KEEPING UP WITH CONGRESS Andrew Joins Bipartisan Overseas Delegation Andrew recently participated in a bipartisan Congressional delegation overseas to discuss matters of homeland security, cybersecurity, and defense and conduct bilateral meetings with foreign leaders including members of British parliament and the Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson to emphasize the United States' support for Sweden’s NATO application. In light of increased Russian provocations under Putin's regime, strengthening the NATO Alliance with additional member countries is essential to counter Russian aggression and protect American national security interests. Andrew Conducts Oversight On Threats Posed by Chinese-Manufactured Cranes at U.S. Maritime Ports You may be surprised to learn that 80% of cranes used at U.S. ports are manufactured in China and contain Chinese software that pose a potential threat to our maritime port security and cybersecurity. That's why, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Andrew joined with his Homeland Security Committee colleagues to send a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling for answers about DHS's maritime port security efforts so Congress can better address potential risks and vulnerabilities. Read the full letter here. Thanks for reading! Do you know someone who might like to receive these updates? Forward this email to your friends and families and tell them to click below to subscribe! Click Here To Subscribe Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino Congressman representing New York's 2nd Congressional District ‌ ‌ ‌ Washington, D.C. 2344 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7896 Patchogue 31 Oak Street Suite 20 Patchogue, NY 11772 Phone: (631) 541-4225 Rep. 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