This week, the final text of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was released and, thanks to Andrew's efforts, it included critical funding for the World Trade Center Health Program. In a statement Andrew said in part, "I am incredibly proud of the work Senator Gillibrand and I did to ensure $676 million in funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) was included in the final version of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This funding will go a long way towards addressing the impending shortfall and ensuring that, in addition to those at Ground Zero, all survivors and first responders who ran towards danger at the Pentagon and in Shanksville receive the care that they deserve." Read more here.

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The annual defense and national security bill released late Wednesday authorizes $676 million for the World Trade Center Health Program to cover rising costs and to extend services to those who responded on 9/11 at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania...The NDAA authorizes $444 million for the health program to address a shortfall in funding in fiscal year 2029 amid rising costs, and $232 million to allow responders at the Pentagon and Pennsylvania crash sites to enroll in the health program for the first time...Both the House and the Senate aim to vote on the defense bill next week. Lawmakers who helped push the bill forward included Schumer and bill sponsors Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), who won the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)....Earlier this year, the Senate voted 94-4 to include the Gillibrand amendment adding the WTC Health Program funding to the defense bill. The House, though, did not include that funding in its version of the bill. But in the conference to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions, the four congressional leaders and top members of the Armed Services committees retained the Senate’s funding for the WTC Program in the final version of the bill. Benjamin Chevat, executive director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, credited Garbarino for securing Johnson's support to keep the funding in the NDAA. 'It's a big win to get this finalized in the NDAA,' Garbarino told Newsday, crediting Johnson. 'His father was a disabled fireman. So, this was personal for him.' 'We spoke quite a bit. We spoke all of Thanksgiving week,' Garbarino said of Johnson. 'We were touching base every day, and his team and my team were speaking several times a day.'

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Read the full article here.

This week, Andrew honored World War II veterans at the Air Force Association’s annual “Dropping of the Roses” Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony. 82 years ago, the Japanese military attacked the U.S. Navy Fleet based at Pearl Harbor. The event served to honor and remember the servicemembers who were killed that day, as well as the WWII heroes who are still with us. Andrew provided Congressional Certificates of Recognition to veterans for their service. NY-02 is proud to be home to one of the largest veteran communities in the United States, and Andrew will continue to be a strong voice fighting for them in Congress.

Andrew recently toured local defense contractor Innoveering based out of Bohemia. He toured the facilities and heard about their work in the aerospace and energy markets. Long Island is proudly home to many innovative technology and manufacturing companies. Andrew will continue to work to ensure they have the ability to thrive in our community and bolster our local economy.

A constituent who had been offered a position in the Air Force contacted Andrew's office after he received notice that he was disqualified from service due to a prior knee injury. The constituent had aggressively rehabbed from his prior injury, was in good health, and had even completed a half marathon. Andrew's casework team contacted the Air Force to assist with a medical waiver application which was granted. The constituent will now be able to move forward with his service.

Andrew knows how frustrating dealing with bureaucracy can be. That is why he has an entire team dedicated to helping constituents get what they need from the federal government. If you need help dealing with a federal agency, contact our office and our team will get to work on your case. 

Andrew questioned New Yorkers Andrew Ansbro, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing as the migrant crisis in New York continues to spiral out of control. Cuts to public funding as a result of this crisis are putting NYC residents and Long Island commuters at risk, crime from the city is spilling onto Long Island, and bad policies out of the Biden Administration and New York City and State progressives are to blame. It's long past time to reverse these failed policies and secure our border. Watch his line of questioning here.

This week, Andrew welcomed America’s VetDogs CEO John Miller and the Mets Foundation vet dog Seaver to his Washington, D.C. office. The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance. America’s VetDogs specializes in placing highly skilled service and guide dogs for individuals with physical injuries, PTSD, hearing and vision loss, and seizures.