Our Nation’s Leaders Must Be Servants to the Public, Not Loyalists to One Man November 16, 2024 Dear Friends,Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked tirelessly to rise above the political fray and get things done for the people I represent. Even amid the chaos and uncertainty of the past several years, my Democratic colleagues and I have maintained that deep commitment to our constituents by reaching across the aisle to deliver tangible results for the American people. Now, as we approach the upcoming 119th Congress, our mission remains unchanged: putting people over politics to improve the lives of hardworking American families. If President-elect Trump and Republicans in Congress are willing to work with us to lower the cost of living and bolster the middle class, we will gladly extend our hand to seek commonsense solutions that work for all Americans. But if he and his allies choose instead to pursue a radical agenda that hurts working families and threatens our fundamental freedoms, my Democratic colleagues and I are ready to stand up against their extremism, corruption, and cronyism. This week, the importance of that latter commitment became clearer than ever as President-elect Trump revealed the first batch of appointees for his new administration. Time and again, Donald Trump has demonstrated that no attribute is more important to him than personal loyalty. Throughout his last administration, he repeatedly selected unqualified, extremist individuals for key posts because he knew they would defend him and pursue his personal vendettas at every turn. Now, as his second term approaches, it is clear his priorities have not changed. In the past week alone, President-elect Trump has selected, among other nominees:Congressman Matt Gaetz as Attorney General of the United States. Gaetz, who has been investigated by both the Department of Justice and the House Ethics Committee for sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, illegal drug use, and other charges, has long been one of Trump’s foremost loyalists in Congress. Gaetz echoed Trump’s false claims about the 2020 presidential election, and even called for the abolition of the FBI during their investigations of the former President. As the people’s lawyer, the Attorney General must, above all else, have integrity and believe in the principle of justice. In Matt Gaetz, Trump has selected a man who will exact revenge on his political opponents without hesitation.Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth has repeatedly referred to Trump’s political opponents as “America’s domestic enemies” and “America-wreckers,” shown disdain for international laws that prevent war crimes, and lobbied against women serving in combat roles in the military. Hegseth has promised a “frontal assault” on Pentagon leadership, and with Trump’s advisors already drafting plans to purge top generals from the ranks, this appointment raises deep concerns about political interference in our armed forces.Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard has spent years echoing Russian propaganda and cozying up to foreign autocrats — even taking a secret trip to Syria in 2017 to meet with Bashar al-Assad, a war criminal who is accused of killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in his own country. By elevating Gabbard to this critical position overseeing 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, Trump has chosen someone who will put his personal relationships with foreign dictators over our own national security. Since he first took office, Donald Trump has repeatedly shown us that, in choosing his appointees, he values loyalty to himself far above a desire to serve the public. But the men and women who serve in these critical posts need to demonstrate skill, soundness of leadership, and an understanding that they are not just beholden to one person or one President. They are beholden to the American people, and they are obligated to do what is best for them. For the sake of our nation and our communities, I hope whoever fills these positions will take that obligation seriously. Over the past several years, congressional Republicans have clearly demonstrated that they cannot be counted on to push back against the worst excesses of Donald Trump and his loyalists. As one House Republican said just this week, “If Donald Trump says, ‘Jump three feet high and scratch your head,’ we all jump three feet high and scratch our heads. That’s it.” So, while my Democratic colleagues and I will continue to pursue bipartisan solutions to better the lives of families, we will also remain vigilant in standing up for working Americans and for the fundamental freedoms that define our nation. 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 and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:  The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Week 2025 will take place from May 4th through May 10th, 2025.As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members from all 50 states and U.S. territories through the National Small Business Week awards.With that in mind, the window to nominate businesses for these prestigious awards at the national and local level is now open through December 5th!Any legal resident of the United States or its Territories who owns and operates or who bears principal responsibility for operating a small business may be nominated.Additionally, partners who jointly own and operate a small business may be nominated as a “team,” so long as the number of individuals in the team nomination does not exceed four.Individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community may submit nominations, or individuals may self-nominate.For more information about the national-level awards, click HERE.For more information about the district-level awards from SBA’s Syracuse District Office, click HERE.You can click HERE or email [email protected] to learn more about how to submit your nomination today!