This week, Andrew introduced H.R. 9101, the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024. This legislation provides permanent and mandatory funding for the World Trade Center Health Program and updates an outdated funding formula to prevent a future funding shortfall and ensure that 9/11 survivors and first responders don’t lose access to care. On Thursday, Andrew and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, sponsor of the Senate companion bill, held a press conference in Washington, D.C. to announce the bill. They were joined by co-leads Congressman Anthony D'Esposito, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Congressman Dan Goldman along with NY-02 resident and 9/11 advocate Phil Alvarez, 9/11 advocate John Feal, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York Andrew Ansbro, and President of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong. Over the last several years, they have chipped away at the program’s funding shortfall – first securing $1 billion, and then an additional $676 million to keep the program afloat. With the introduction of this bill, Andrew hopes to move past the piecemeal funding solutions and fully fund 9/11 health care for all those who need it. Click here to learn more.

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A bipartisan group of lawmakers that include two Long Island lawmakers and advocates announced legislation on Thursday that urges Congress to fully fund the World Trade Health Center Program so it can avoid a nearly $3 billion shortfall. The bill, introduced in the House and Senate, would fix an outdated funding formula and inject a final investment into the program to prevent a projected shortage of money beginning in 2028 and ensure survivors and first responders do not lose access to care, the lawmakers said...Congress created the World Trade Center Health Program in 2010, reauthorized it in 2015 and 2019, and it now provides medical treatment and monitoring for more than 132,000 responders and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and aftermath at the World Trade Center, in lower Manhattan, at Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. But the program’s administrators said the money Congress has provided so far will fall short because the number of responders and survivors who have enrolled in the WTC Health Program exceeded expectations and the cost of providing health care increased over time...'Over the last several years, we have successfully chipped away at the program’s funding shortfall – first securing $1 billion, and then an additional $676 million to keep the program afloat,' said Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), the lead House sponsor of the new bill. 'With the introduction of this bill, we hope to move past the piecemeal funding solutions and fully fund 9/11 health care for all those who need it,' Garbarino said.

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On Friday, Andrew was honored to be elected to serve as Vice Chair of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Board of Visitors (BOV), located in King's Point. The USMMA is one of our nation's five federal service academies and responsible for educating and training mariners who are committed to serving the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. The USMMA BOV is an oversight board established by Congress to provide independent advice and recommendations to the USMMA and the Administration regarding the academy. Andrew is proud to serve on the BOV and help shepherd Long Island's own service academy.

This week was World Drowning Prevention Week. Drowning is the leading cause of death among children 1 to 4 years old. It can happen in seconds and is often silent. Most importantly, drowning is preventable. It can happen to anyone, anywhere there is water so Andrew urges Long Islanders to check out these resources for downing prevention. This is especially important after a series of backyard drownings that have recently taken place on Long Island. Stay safe!

A Shirley resident contacted Andrew's office for assistance after her father passed away. Her father had funds in a TreasuryDirect account which her aging mother needed to help cover assisted living costs. However, she and her family were unable to receive the funds even after sending the appropriate paperwork to the Treasury Department. Andrew's casework team contacted Treasury and were able to secure the funds for the constituent.

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 government. If you need help dealing with a federal agency, contact our office and our team will get to work on your case. 

Following the attempted assassination of President Trump, it is clear that there were inexcusable security failures that day. That's why, this week, the Homeland Security Committee held a hearing examining the assassination attempt. Watch Andrew question witnesses here. The House also voted to establish a task force to investigate, with Andrew's support. Andrew is committed to continuing to investigate until Congress gets to the bottom of exactly what happened and ensures that nothing like this can happen again.

This week, the House passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Andrew was proud to have secured language in the final bill to aid NY-02 flood mitigation and flood risk management efforts, including in the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Islip, and Oyster Bay. Each passing storm increases the damage to our shoreline. This legislation would allow for emergency restoration in the wake of future storms and further protect Long Island beaches from erosion and flooding. Learn more here.

One of Andrew's number one priorities is making sure he is accessible to his constituents which is why he hosted a telephone townhall on Monday where he took calls from constituents about our economy, health care, what he is doing on behalf of veterans and small businesses, and more. If you would like to join Andrew's next townhall, just sign up here.