May 17, 2024

Dear JOHN,

It was another productive week in Washington, where I focused on showcasing Rochester’s esteemed optics and photonics community, enhancing consumer protections for air travelers, and safeguarding the integrity of our elections. Read more below.

 Protecting American Air Travel 

Air travel can come with stress—especially when plans change unexpectedly. Everyone deserves the peace of mind to know they can fly safely and receive support when they need it. This week, I voted to pass the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which includes important provisions to help do just that.

This reauthorization will require air carriers to provide 24/7 access to live customer service agents and refund passengers when flights are significantly changed or canceled, easing the burden on travelers. It also strengthens safety standards, invests in sustainable infrastructure, and fosters innovation to modernize aerospace technology.

These are important steps forward to make air travel more accessible for passengers, and I look forward to seeing this legislation swiftly signed into law. 

 Shedding Light on an Important Celebration 

This Thursday marked our celebration of the National Day of Light, an opportunity to highlight the exciting work being done in the fields of optics and photonics—particularly here in Rochester.

Light-based technologies are already driving scientific advancement, improving medical treatments, and more. It’s critical we continue to harness their potential through federal investments and cement our place as a global leader in innovation.

I founded the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Optics and Photonics Caucus almost four years ago because I know these industries hold unlimited opportunity. As we mark May 16th as National Day of Light, we recommit to advancing investment in this important field.

Watch my full address on the House floor recognizing the National Day of Light here.

 Safeguarding Our Elections 

Former President Trump and his allies—including the Speaker of the House and several Republican members of Congress—are already laying the foundation to claim the 2024 election was stolen by spinning a false narrative about noncitizen voting.

Let’s be clear: it is already a federal crime for non-citizens to vote in federal elections. Many states across the country have existing systems in place to deter noncitizen voting with clear punishments for individuals who violate these laws. As the Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, I’m committed to fighting back against these false narratives and ensuring the American people understand the fundamental truth that our elections are secure.

We've been here before. We cannot ignore the potential for another January 6.

Read my Op Ed in the Hill about how we must come together to combat disinformation and protect the sanctity of our elections.

 Working for You in Washington 

Securing workforce development funding for our community is critical to growing opportunities in our engineering workforce and giving more people access to good-paying careers. The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York is a dedicated partner in this effort.

Together, we’re working to bring Rochester’s workforce into a new era, and I’m excited for everything that’s in store for our community.