August 2, 2024
Dear Friends,
Over the past few years, Democrats have been hard at work delivering real solutions on the issues that matter to the American people. Now, as we enter the August District Work Period, I’m excited to spend the month traveling across our district to meet with constituents and talk about the work I’m doing to better the lives of families here in our Capital Region and beyond.
Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda and transformative legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’ve taken bold action to promote a brighter future for all Americans by addressing the climate crisis, lowering the cost of healthcare, and so much more. Unfortunately, Republicans have a starkly different vision for our nation’s future — one that reverses our hard-won progress and brings our country backward. In this critical moment, my Democratic colleagues and I have one message for the American people: we are not going back.
Meeting the moment on our climate crisis
The Inflation Reduction Act represents the largest investment in clean energy and climate action in American history. Thanks to the provisions of this landmark law, we’ve already made significant strides in addressing the climate crisis and mitigating its impact on our communities. But as important as these measures are, I know that we must do even more to achieve a carbon-free economy and halt the ongoing rise in global temperatures.
That’s why this week, I introduced the Climate Pollution Standard and Community Investment Act — legislation that builds upon the Inflation Reduction Act by establishing a clear regulatory framework that guarantees climate pollution is reduced to the level required to meet our nation’s net-zero goals. My bill would implement a “cap and invest” strategy — setting an economy-wide, enforceable limit on greenhouse gas emissions while generating new revenues to reinvest in communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. This approach has a proven track record of success in protecting our communities, and I’ll continue pushing for Congress to get serious about our climate targets and deliver more meaningful action.
Republicans, however, have radically different plans for the future of our planet. In their “Project 2025” manifesto, the GOP and its allies in the fossil fuel industry are proposing a slew of policies that would decimate our nation’s capacity to address the climate crisis. Among other measures, their plan would gut the EPA’s authority to regulate air pollution, cancel all existing energy efficiency standards, and even reduce our ability to respond to increasing natural disasters by eliminating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service. This sharp contrast only underscores the urgent need to implement robust climate policies to protect our environment for future generations.
Lowering healthcare costs for families and seniors
Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration, my Democratic colleagues and I have been working tirelessly to lower the cost of healthcare for American families. Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act, we’ve expanded subsidies to help millions of Americans purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for seniors — measures that are already paying significant dividends. Enhanced ACA subsidies have saved thousands of NY-20 residents an average of $2,560 per year on their health insurance premiums, and the insulin price cap has helped more than 4,000 Capital Region seniors save $460 annually on their essential medication.
But now, Republicans want to rip away these vital benefits. Their Project 2025 would eliminate the Inflation Reduction Act’s cap on insulin prices and out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, washing away the significant savings that millions of American seniors have come to rely on. Under the GOP’s plan, 1.1 million seniors and people with disabilities in New York alone would pay an average of nearly $400 more per year for essential prescription medications. These draconian cuts would undo years of our efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, leaving millions vulnerable to higher costs and limited access to care.
Our nation is at a crossroads between two competing visions for the future — one that seeks to harness the limitless potential of the American people to build a better tomorrow, and another that takes us backward on the road to yesterday, sowing fear and division at every turn. Now, as we face this pivotal moment, I’m more committed than ever to moving our nation forward on the path of progress.
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 Thursday, August 8th, my office will be hosting Mobile Office Hours from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Lansingburgh Branch of the Troy Public Library, located at 27 114th Street, Troy, NY 12182.
- I welcome you to stop by and speak with my constituent service representatives if you are in the area and have questions about federal government policies or services.
- My staff can assist with questions related to veterans’ benefits, Social Security, small business loans, and much more!
- Please feel free to share this information with family, friends, and neighbors. I look forward to our continued dialogue and appreciate any feedback or information you wish to share with us.
- To RSVP or learn more about this event, visit my Facebook page HERE.
- If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at (518) 465-0700.
