Weekly Newsletter from the Office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe An update from the office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino SPOTLIGHT Andrew Raises Alarm On Chinese Infiltration of US Critical Infrastructure This week, a joint advisory was issued regarding Chinese state-sponsored actors maintaining persistent access to U.S. critical infrastructure for disruptive or destructive cyberattacks in the event of a major conflict with the United States. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Andrew issued a statement in response saying, “The warnings we’ve heard from the intelligence community for years have now become reality—actors from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have successfully infiltrated the networks of U.S. critical infrastructure. This is not just a warning light—the adversarial cyber threat is here now. In May 2023, a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory attributed malicious activity called Living off the Land to Volt Typhoon, a PRC state-sponsored cyber actor. At the time, I called on critical infrastructure owners and operators to implement the recommended mitigations and I also called on Congress to continue to equip CISA to support these owners and operators to defend their networks. With yesterday’s advisory, we now know that this activity is part of a vast campaign in which Volt Typhoon actors have successfully infiltrated the networks of the communications, energy, transportation systems, and water and wastewater systems sectors. We also know that Volt Typhoon actors are accessing information technology (IT) networks with the intent of disrupting operational technology (OT). Read that again—the PRC is accessing IT systems like the personal emails of key staff with the intention of moving laterally to OT assets to disrupt the physical functions of industrial control systems like critical energy and water controls." Read his full statement here. WHAT'S NEW IN NY-02 Andrew Visits Central Islip Elementary School As Guest Reader Andrew was glad to join Mr. Reynolds’ 3rd grade class at Andrew T. Morrow Elementary this week as their PARP guest reader. He read “House Mouse, Senate Mouse,” - a wonderful book about democracy in action - answered the students’ questions, and talked with them about Washington. Sayville Holds Civics Meeting This week, Sayville held a Civics Meeting to discuss matters of community importance. A major topic of concern was Governor Hochul's proposed budget which would cut funding for school districts in favor of paying for illegal immigrants who have flooded into our state. Andrew has urged the Governor to rescind her budget proposal and to put our children's education first. He will continue to fight to ensure Long Islanders are prioritized. West Islip Students Learn About Workforce Development CPI Aero held a workforce development event with the West Islip High School students, Suffolk County Community College-Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, and Stony Brook University-MTRC, Institute for Workforce Advancement. Dorith Hakim, CPI Aero President, stressed the importance of promoting manufacturing to not only recruit for employment but to keep our students here on Long Island for work opportunities. As co-Chair of the Future of Work Caucus, Andrew is committed to upskilling our workforce and ensuring our young people have access to jobs training. KEEPING UP WITH CONGRESS Andrew Chairs Hearing On Securing Operational Technology This week, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection held a hearing entitled “Securing Operational Technology: A Deep Dive into the Water Sector.” As Chairman of the Subcommittee, Andrew questioned witnesses about the importance of cross-sector partnerships and ways our nation’s risk advisor can enhance collaboration with Sector Risk Management Agencies and external stakeholders amid increasing threats. Watch his opening statement here. Andrew Meets With Long Islanders About Cancer Research This week, Andrew met with Long Islanders from Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer to discuss the importance of stomach cancer research in his Washington, DC office. Andrew is proud to have supported appropriations for stomach cancer research through the Department of Defense (DoD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and will continue to stand with those fighting this terrible disease, as well as other cancers. Andrew Votes To Protect Health Care for All Patients Andrew voted in favor of the "Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act" which passed the House this week. This legislation would prohibit all federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and federally funded state health care programs from using prices that are based on quality-adjusted life years, measures that discount the value of a life based on disability, age, or terminal illness, to determine relevant thresholds for coverage, reimbursements, or incentive programs. Andrew will always fight to ensure Long Islanders are given fair access to health care coverage. 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]