October 12, 2024

Dear Friends,

I’ve always considered myself lucky to represent a region that is home to so many stellar institutions of higher learning. Our colleges and universities are essential in shaping and honing the bright minds of those who will be our future workers, leaders, movers, and shakers. As these institutions help propel our students forward, they also serve as key hubs of civic engagement and points of connection for students and community members alike to meet, learn, and engage.

This week, I visited a few of our region’s institutions of higher learning and experienced the full scope of their importance in driving community connection, supporting local organizations and programs, and equipping our future generations with the tools they need to succeed.

Talking with students about college affordability

As a Member of Congress, one of my goals is to preserve the American dream, which has been realized by so many through higher education. Unfortunately, the rising cost of tuition and the burden of student loans have transformed the college experience and stifled the economic and educational ambitions of far too many young Americans.

Earlier this week, I held a conversation with college students, graduates, and members of the community at Russell Sage College to discuss ways to create and expand affordable pathways to higher education. I also shared information about how I’m working alongside the Biden-Harris Administration to make higher education more accessible to all Americans by cancelling billions in student debt for public service workers — including teachers, firefighters, nurses, and more — expanding eligibility for Pell Grants, and providing relief for borrowers through fixes to income-driven repayment.

At every turn, these efforts to make college affordable have been attacked by Republican courts and legislators. Despite this, however, Democrats remain as determined as ever to make certain that the pursuit of education is a pathway to opportunity and fulfillment, not a worrying descent into crippling debt. I’m grateful to everyone who attended Tuesday’s conversation and shared their insights, personal stories, and hopes for the future.

Addressing the climate crisis

One of the most pressing challenges of our time, particularly for our future generations, is the threat of climate change. We have become accustomed to regular reminders, including two devastating hurricanes in the past two weeks, of the consequences we are already facing — and will continue to face — if we fail to respond to the climate challenge.

But there is good news. In Congress and in our own communities, there is serious work being done to act on climate. This week, I joined a symposium on sustainability and integral ecology at Siena College to speak about our successes at the federal level in implementing historic climate and clean energy legislation. If we want to maximize the benefits we’ve advanced through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other legislation, we need everyone working and planning together. Siena’s symposium provided an opportunity to unite and have those conversations, and a chance to commit to ourselves and each other to be sound stewards of our environment and leave our planet in a better position for those who follow us.

Lifting up those on the path to recovery

Finally, I wrapped up the week yesterday with a visit to SUNY Schenectady County Community College for a discussion with staff members and students from Healthy Capital District’s Certified Peer Development Program (CPDP) for Certified Recovery Peer Advocates (CRPA-P). Peer advocates like those in this program help reduce hospitalizations and behavioral crises, improve management of co-occurring physical conditions, restore relationships and social connection, and ultimately save lives.

For decades, I’ve worked to provide support and treatment to those walking the path of recovery. It was truly inspiring to learn more about this program while also marking its one-year anniversary. Participants shared their powerful stories of supporting those in our community — highlighting hope, success, and the meaningful lives led by those in recovery. Since CPDP’s launch, 125 individuals have been trained as peers, guiding the personal recovery journeys of countless other members of our Capital Region community. I look forward to another year of this program’s success, and I’ll do all I can to support it and every organization doing its part to address the disease of addiction.

I’m deeply thankful to the universities and colleges who hosted me for these important events and conversations this week. Through their vision, leadership, and service to community, our college students, faculty, and administrators are together carving out a brighter, more hopeful future for us all.

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:

• In addition to delivering historic clean energy investments to spur private-sector investment, the Inflation Reduction Act includes game-changing new provisions that will enable tax-exempt entities to take an active role in building the clean energy economy, lowering costs for working families, and advancing environmental justice.
• Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s “Elective pay” — also known as “direct pay” — some clean energy tax credits are now available for the first time to tax-exempt and governmental entities, including local governments, institutions of higher education, school districts, and non-profits that do not owe federal income tax.
• Next week, I’ll be joining an informational session with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Energy (DOE), and Governor Hochul’s office to provide insights in how these municipalities, schools and nonprofits can leverage these provisions.
  • WHAT: Elective Pay Informational event
  • WHEN: Thursday: October 17^th at 9:30am
  • WHERE: Carl B. Taylor Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady, 78 Washington Avenue, Schenectady
• RSVP for that session HERE.