July 8, 2023

Dear Friends,

Ever since I first set foot in Congress, I’ve aimed to deliver meaningful, lasting legislation that benefits all Americans. In that effort, I’ve been grateful to have strong partners in the Biden Administration and worked hand in hand with these leaders to implement strong policies that make our region and nation a better place.

Just last week, I welcomed U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona to the district to highlight the investments we worked to advance through manufacturing, CHIP technology, and research investments that are now driving innovation and job creation for our Capital Region students and future workforce.

This Thursday, I had the pleasure of hosting my friend and former House colleague, U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland for a multi-stop tour of the district. During this tour, we met with local leaders, advocates, and industry representatives, visited a few of our significant sites for heritage tourism, and saw firsthand the significant strides we are making in offshore wind development thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

These events included:

• A tour and briefing at the Port of Albany with port staff, state and industry stakeholders to learn more about their ongoing Offshore Wind project.
• A roundtable discussion at UAlbany’s ETEC building with state, local, nonprofit and industry stakeholders to discuss the significant impact of this developing industry on our regional and statewide economy, as well as the challenges that these entities face, and how all parties are working together to make this project a reality.
• A press conference at UAlbany to highlight the importance of the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda in driving job creation and clean energy investments throughout our region and nation
• A tour of the Saratoga National Historic Park and a site visit of the Schuyler House and Old Champlain Canal Trail within the Village of Schuylerville

I’ve long seen offshore wind as an opportunity to get it right from the start; to generate affordable and clean electricity that supports economic growth and high-quality jobs.

That’s why I’ve pushed for bold investments in this industry through legislation including my Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act, which was signed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act – and with my Offshore Energy Modernization Act, legislation that provides a comprehensive blueprint to ensure the long-term viability of U.S. offshore wind development and ensure our success in meeting the Administration’s national goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.

Thankfully, under Secretary Haaland’s leadership, the Department of Interior is making record progress to meet that goal and drive investment in this industry. It will require a multi-pronged, collaborative approach to fully realize a clean energy future. But – as we saw during our visits this week – federal investment paired with industry expertise and local initiative is a recipe for success. From exciting new projects at the Port of Albany and Port of Coeymans, to workforce development programs at the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College, our Capital Region is playing a critical role to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in this growing industry and build out our clean energy economy.

After the conversations with leaders and experts in this industry, I am more inspired and confident than ever that we will meet our clean energy goals. But we can’t ease up on progress now. Secretary Haaland and I are eager to return to Washington filled with the insights of our community. Guided by those voices and united in our mission, we can and will make the investments that pave a path toward a cleaner, more resilient, more competitive Capital Region and nation.

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 and organizations. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:

• This Independence Day, on July 4, the non-partisan U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (also known as America250) announced the countdown to 2026 with the launch of their initiative: America’s Invitation
  • Established by Congress in 2016, America250 is a comprehensive multi-year effort to design a nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States
• America’s Invitation is a call-to-action inviting the public to share their own American stories to help create a full portrait of America 250 years after its founding. These snapshots of American life can be:
  • A short video talking about your hopes and dreams for our country or showing local or cultural traditions, activities, places, foods, and more
  • Old photos or videos of sentimental moments
  • Artwork, a poem, a song, or an essay
  • Images from a special place in your community, a family treasure, a recipe, or a milestone
  • And much more!
• Learn more about America250 and how to submit your own story by visiting: Stories.America250.org