April 21, 2023
Dear Friends,
Approximately every five years, Congress comes together to draft and negotiate a legislative package known as the Farm Bill. This legislation covers a wide array of issues that impact the daily lives of people in the Capital Region and beyond, addressing issues ranging from rural development and agricultural subsidies to SNAP benefits, broadband coverage, and clean energy upgrades for farms.
The first Farm Bill was enacted in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Since then, Congress has passed an additional 17 Farm Bills, including the most recent edition in 2018, with each new package containing updates and adjustments to ensure it continues to meet the most pressing needs of our farmers, our consumers, and our citizens. To learn more about this critical legislation and the policy areas it covers, you can visit my website’s Farm Bill landing page HERE.
With the latest legislation set to expire in September, Congress will soon begin debating and advancing the next Farm Bill. And as that work gets underway, I’m committed to ensuring that the Capital Region’s voice is heard loud and clear. A few weeks ago, I sent out a survey asking for your top priorities and your suggestions on how to improve this package to best meet the needs of our communities. I was thrilled to receive hundreds of responses from constituents across our region on a wide range of issues, from nutritional assistance programs to rural broadband expansion. Now that I’ve taken that feedback into account, I want to hear from you in person!
In order to learn more about what you’d like to see included in the upcoming Farm Bill, I’m hosting two Farm Bill listening sessions this month! These topical discussions will be held on:
- Monday, April 24th, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Lally Mohawk Room at Elston Hall at SUNY Schenectady County Community College, located at 78 Washington Avenue, Schenectady, NY
- Saturday, April 29th, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Milton Community Center, located at 310 Northline Road, Ballston Spa, NY
If you are interested in attending one of these sessions, I encourage you to RSVP and submit your questions and comments HERE.
I’m determined to make certain that the top priorities of Capital Region residents are addressed in the upcoming Farm Bill package, and the input I receive at these sessions will fill my voice as I head back to Washington to begin negotiations. I’m grateful for your feedback and our continued dialogue, and I hope to see you there!
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:
- On Saturday, April 22nd from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is holding a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day!
- In an effort to prevent medication misuse and combat addiction to prescription drugs, including opioids, the DEA is encouraging the public to visit one of hundreds of disposal sites nationwide to remove unneeded medications from their homes.
- Please note that National Take Back Day disposal is for end user medication only, not for practitioner inventory.
- To find a disposal location near you, use the DEA’s locator tool HERE.
- For additional information about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, click HERE.
