September 9, 2023
Dear Friends,
It’s always a delight to celebrate Labor Day with the dedicated men and women who keep our Capital Region moving forward every day. This year, in addition to the many events celebrating our nation’s labor movement, I spent the last several days visiting our farmers and seeing the tremendous work they are doing to help our region grow and thrive.
My grandparents were dairy farmers in the Town of Florida in Montgomery County. I have many fond memories of growing up baling and stacking hay and doing other work to help around the farm—and I’m pushing hard in Congress to support our farmers and ensure they have the resources they need to conserve their land and produce the healthy, local food our communities rely on.
- My visits took me first to Boulder Brook Farm in Malta, where I toured their Christmas tree plots and saw the steps they were taking to increase their output and conserve their land by improving soil health, reducing herbicide use, and controlling invasive species.
- I also had the pleasure of visiting Pitney Meadows Community Farm, a cherished “farm in the city” that serves as a source of agricultural education, recreation, and healthy food right in the core of Saratoga Springs.
It’s always a joy to speak with passionate people who are hard at work bettering our community. The individuals I met this week epitomize that community-focused drive, and I’m doing everything in my power to bolster their great work and ensure they have the tools they need to continue to serve our region. A key facet of that support will be delivered through the upcoming Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill covers an immense range of issues that impact the American people, from agriculture and nutrition to broadband and energy investments. Congress must advance this package every five years, and the previous Farm Bill, passed in 2018, is set to expire at the end of the Fiscal Year this month.
In anticipation of this crucial legislation, I held two Farm Bill listening sessions earlier this year in Schenectady and Milton and conducted a survey to learn more about the top priorities Capital Region residents would like to see addressed in this year’s bill. Of the hundreds of survey responses and in-person feedback I received, the priority individuals were most interested in was protecting the environment and conserving land.
Both Boulder Brook and Pitney Meadows partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which provides vital technical assistance to farmers and has delivered 100 contracts totaling millions of dollars to our district over the past two years. I’m proud to support these partnerships with federal funding, including through the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers billions in additional funding for these conservation programs and partnerships that yield climate change mitigation benefits.
While the Inflation Reduction Act is delivering key support to countless Americans, passing a robust Farm Bill will be essential in ensuring no community is left behind.
Armed with the insights and recommendations from my listening sessions and from conversations with constituents throughout the district, I submitted priorities for the Farm Bill in Congress. Among those priorities are preserving the nearly $20 billion in new funding to conservation programs at USDA and boosting financial and technical assistance to farmers with the express purpose of prioritizing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As I return to Washington next week, I’m more determined than ever to make certain that these top priorities for Capital Region residents are addressed in the upcoming Farm Bill package.
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:
- In order to provide information to you about federal grants (including how and where to find grants, guidance on how to register to apply, and resources available to applicants) I will be hosting a virtual “Grants 101” webinar next week!
- This webinar will be held on Wednesday, September 13th from 1:00PM to 2:00PM.
- At the webinar, we’ll be joined by a representative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who will present information on the registration, search, and application processes for federal funding opportunities.
- By the end of the workshop, attendees will know how to navigate Grants.gov and how to apply for a federal grant.
- All are invited to attend, and you can register using the link HERE. Once you register, you will receive an email containing the Zoom link to join the virtual workshop. You must register in order to attend.
- I’m looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday!
