Friends,

I’m just about to jump on a virtual press conference to give an update on our latest relief efforts and wanted to make sure to check in with you first.

Yesterday, I voted to send much-needed assistance to family-owned farms, small businesses, and local hospitals and health care workers.

Instead of my usual SYR to DCA flight, I jumped in my car on Tuesday night and made the almost seven hour drive to Washington. On my drive to DC and back, I had our communities, our families, and our frontline workers on my mind. Life might look a little different lately but my commitment to serving you has only become stronger through this crisis.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from countless small businesses owners who are struggling to stay afloat. So many of my favorite memories growing up in Upstate New York center around these mom and pop shops, the same places I love to take my kids today. Small businesses are the heart and soul of our Upstate economy, and we have to do everything we can to make sure financial support is going to those who need it most.

The bill we passed yesterday will send an additional $370 billion to small businesses who have been hit hardest. It also includes my work to ensure small farms are eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and helps put us on the road to recovery by allocating $75 billion to hospitals and health care providers and $25 billion to expand COVID-19 testing.

This bill is far from perfect, but it is a critical next step in our national response efforts. There is so much more work left to do. Next, we have to send help to our heroes on the frontlines: health care workers, police officers, firefighters, teachers, grocery store workers, transportation and delivery workers, and all our essential workers who are putting their health at risk in order to save lives and keep our economy moving.

I wake up every morning committed to doing everything I can to help Upstate New York fight this pandemic. This isn’t about politics -- this is about doing what’s right for our communities and our country.

Thank you so much for reading my note. Please stay safe and healthy.

-- Anthony Brindisi