While Democrats Fight for Working Americans, Republicans Are Plotting an Extreme Agenda July 13, 2024 Dear Friends,Throughout this Congress, my Democratic colleagues and I have been laser-focused on addressing the issues that really matter to the American people. Following the passage of groundbreaking legislation during the 117th Congress — including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act — we’ve sought to build on our progress with new efforts to create good-paying jobs and lower costs for American families. At the same time, Democrats are fighting to safeguard reproductive freedom and protect the rights we hold dear — including the right to vote. At every turn, we’ve put people over politics and worked tirelessly to deliver results that better the lives of everyday Americans. Now, even as Republicans block action on many of these key priorities, our efforts are bearing fruit. After months of slowing inflation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report this week showing the first month-on-month decline in consumer prices since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As our efforts to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic manufacturing take hold, falling prices for gas, automobiles, and other key commodities are easing the strain on Americans’ pocketbooks. Meanwhile, Americans continue to reap the benefits of our Inflation Reduction Act, as states including New York roll out new rebates to help families save on home energy costs by improving the sustainability of their homes. And just this week, the IRS announced that it has recovered more than $1 billion from wealthy tax cheats thanks to provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act. These are just some of the ways in which Democratic policies are bolstering our communities, promoting equity, and helping families make ends meet. But instead of working with Democrats to build on these successes, Republicans have repeatedly chosen to waste the American people’s time with pointless political stunts that do nothing to address the priorities of the American people. Months ago, the GOP continued its years-long obsession with home appliance regulations by passing the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act, or HOOHA — a bill that would block a wide range of efficiency standards that help Americans save money on their energy bills. This week, Republicans continued their bizarre crusade by advancing more bills to promote “freedom for refrigerators” and “dignity for dishwashers.” If this sounds like a joke to you, you’re not alone. Republicans know these bills will never pass through the Senate and become law. But these unserious proposals — with legislation like the “Liberty in Laundry Act” still on deck — represent the sum total of the GOP’s plan to improve the lives of working Americans. This absurd effort would be disheartening enough if it were all that Republicans had in store for the American people. But behind closed doors, GOP lawmakers are working hand-in-hand with Donald Trump and his most radical advisers to craft much more dangerous plans for our nation. Recently, Trump’s far-right allies at the Heritage Foundation unveiled a detailed list of the extreme policies they hope to enact next year. These proposals — collectively titled “Project 2025” — would dramatically expand the power of the executive branch and completely remake the federal government in Trump’s extremist image. Among countless other abhorrent proposals, Project 2025 would:Eviscerate reproductive freedom by outlawing abortion medications like mifepristone and heavily restricting access to contraceptive care;Reverse our hard-won progress on combating the climate crisis by dismantling the Inflation Reduction Act, gutting the Environmental Protection Agency, and encouraging fossil fuel extraction on public lands;Initiate mass arrests and deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants while severely restricting asylum claims for victims of crime and human trafficking; andConsolidate unprecedented power in the hands of the presidency by transforming the Department of Justice into a vehicle for political retribution and completely abolishing the Departments of Education and Homeland Security. We know that despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself from these radical proposals, he and his team — including six of his former cabinet secretaries and more than a hundred other members of his administration — have been intimately involved in drafting this so-called “playbook.” And we also know that time and again, Republicans in Congress have been more than eager to do the former President’s bidding. If given the opportunity, there can be no doubt that Republicans will do everything in their power to implement this extreme agenda. With that sobering possibility in mind, my Democratic colleagues and I are more committed than ever to safeguarding the foundations of democracy and ensuring freedom and prosperity for all Americans. 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, announcements, and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you: On Friday, July 19th, my office will join with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) in Clifton Park to host a Mobile Office Hours event to assist you with questions about your taxes.When: Friday, July 19th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PMWhere: Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, located at 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065.I welcome you to stop by and speak with my constituent services staff and representatives from TAS if you are in the area and have questions about your taxes or need assistance with a tax issue.If you have any question, please don’t hesitate to call my office at (518) 465-0700.To RSVP or learn more about this event, visit my Facebook page HERE.