It's Cybersecurity Awareness Month. That's why this week, Andrew joined Punchbowl News and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) for conversations to discuss the future of cybersecurity, public-private partnerships, and workforce development. As the United States continues to face an increasingly complex threat landscape, with cyber threats to critical infrastructure, government, and state and local entities, we must work to reinforce our cybersecurity workforce, harmonize reporting requirements, and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Andrew is committed to strengthening the United States against malign cyber actors.

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The GOP lawmaker spoke at a panel hosted by Punchbowl News, where he discussed the future of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence’s (AI) place in it. Garbarino stressed that the workforce shortage in the cyber sector, which, according to cybersecurity workforce analytics platform Cyber Seek, currently sits at more than 570,000 job openings, creates opportunities for “bad actors” such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea to “attack” companies and the U.S. government. It’s not only the shortage of workers that concerns Garbarino, but the pressure building across sectors to hire highly skilled workers equipped to fight against ransomware and other attacks. Garbarino began sharing these concerns about the ongoing labor crunch in June during a House Homeland Security Committee subpanel hearing. 'We need not only enough people, but the right people with the right skills in the right jobs to meet the growing cyber threat,' Garbarino said.

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This week, St. Joseph's University hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for their beautiful new student center. This two-story, 32,000 square includes a dining area, art gallery, new chapel and office for campus ministry, veterans lounge, spirit gift shop, and many other spaces for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy. Andrew applauds St. Joseph’s on this important development for the over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students who have made St. Joseph’s their second home. 

At the annual Save the Great South Bay meeting, Long Islanders learned about Unified Water Study: LI's South Shore Embayment Research, a new pilot program using an innovative water quality monitoring protocol. The initiative will allow groups across the South Shore to gather data on the environmental health of the bays. The Great South Bay is one of Long Island's greatest environmental and economic resources. Andrew is committed to safeguarding clean water and access to public lands and waters. 

This week, Andrew introduced the bipartisan, bicameral “Down Syndrome Awareness Month Resolution 2023.” Senators Jerry Moran and Bob Casey introduced a companion bill in the Senate. The resolution supports recognizing October as Down Syndrome Awareness Month and celebrates individuals with Down Syndrome, their families and caregivers, and leaders in the advocacy and medical research community for their work to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down Syndrome.

This week Andrew became a cosponsor of H.R. 3331, the Improving Mental Health & Wellness in Schools Act. This bipartisan legislation would add mental health as a category for inclusion in local school wellness policies and allow licensed mental health professionals and registered dietitians to collaborate on the development of local school wellness policy mental health goals. Pandemic school closures caused an alarming rise in mental health issues for young people. Andrew is committed to supporting students and ensuring they have the tools to succeed.