Weekly Newsletter from the Office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino NOTICE: The New York Passport Agency is experiencing severe delays. Be sure to renew your passports before booking travel. If you have already booked your travel and are concerned that your passport will not arrive on time, contact our Patchogue office at 631-541-4225 for assistance. If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe An update from the office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino ANDREW IN THE NEWS Andrew Introduces Legislation In Support Of Volunteer First Responders This week, Andrew introduced the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, legislation to expand eligibility for qualified volunteer emergency responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs. In a statement announcing the bill he said, “Long Island relies almost entirely on volunteer firefighters to prevent, combat, and extinguish fires while also providing other emergency services and, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s 2017 U.S. Fire Department Profile, 65 percent of firefighters nationwide are volunteers. Recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters is critical for thousands of communities, yet local volunteer fire departments continue to find it difficult to meet staffing needs. With a high cost of living making it more difficult than ever to buy a home, the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would provide a helping hand to those who give their time, at great personal risk, to safeguarding our communities." Learn more here. ANDREW IN THE NEWS Garbarino, N.Y. colleagues request responses from State Dept. about agency passport backlogs " U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) led five of his New York Republican colleagues in denouncing backlogs in passport services at the New York Passport Agency and requested information from the federal level about what’s being done to fix the problem. 'After almost two years of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, our constituents are excited to make up for lost time and enjoy the experiences offered by foreign travel,' wrote Rep. Garbarino and the members in a July 13 letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter. 'These completely unacceptable delays have caused our constituents to lose out on the cost of airline fees and vacations, even after some constituents paid an extra fee to expedite their application,' the congressmen wrote. The lawmakers pointed out that their offices have worked to bridge communication between their constituents and the New York Passport Agency regarding the processing and approval of the passport applications, noting that they had traditionally been able to effectively liaison with the agency and obtain passports within the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ posted time period...They requested that the State Department provide them with details about how many employees the New York Passport Agency has dedicated to handling passport requests; how the department plans to address the reported staffing shortages experienced by the New York Passport Agency; and what steps, if any, have been taken by the department to address the backlog in requests at the agency. " Read the full article here. WHAT'S NEW IN NY-02 Andrew Meets With Local Non-Profit On Friday, Andrew met with Concern for Independent Living in his District Office in Patchogue regarding an affordable housing project in NY-02. Andrew was proud to submit a Community Project Funding Request to secure federal funding to cover the construction costs to rehabilitate and preserve the site of the project. Andrew is committed to making sure federal dollars are working for his constituents. Bellport Library To Host Back To School Event Mark your calendars! Next month, the South Country Public Library is hosting a back-to-school event with backpack and school supplies giveaways, community resources, and a child ID card station. Child IDs serve as an identification document for your child before they are able to obtain a driver's license and also serve as a valuable tool for locating missing children and identifying found children. Andrew is proud to support this and other events that provide NY-02 residents with community resources. KEEPING UP WITH CONGRESS Andrew Questions Witnesses During Hearing On The Border Crisis This week, the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing entitled, “Biden and Mayorkas’ Open Border: Advancing Cartel Crime in America.” Andrew questioned witnesses about the rise in human trafficking, smuggling, and debt bondage at the southern border under the Biden Administration's policies and the record profits and power commanded by cartels due to this crisis. Watch here. Andrew Talks Cybersecurity and Homeland Security With Tech Leaders Andrew was pleased to join the Homeland Security & Defense Forum in Washington, D.C. this week for a discussion on his priorities as Chairman of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee and the importance of strengthening public/private sector partnerships to prevent and effectively respond to cyberattacks. Andrew Stands With Israel This week, Israel President Isaac Herzog visited the Capitol to address a joint session of Congress and Andrew was honored to serve on the escort committee welcoming him to Congress. The bond between our two nations makes America more secure and promotes democracy, peace, and stability in the Middle East. That's why, on the eve of President Herzog's visit, the House passed a resolution rejecting antisemitism in all its forms and reaffirming support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. Andrew will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel. 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. Garbarino | 2344 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]