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Hi friend,

These last few weeks have been overwhelming and scary. Last Friday, I spoke with over 500 friends, activists, and community members to hear your concerns and share the work I’ve been doing to fight for the Hudson Valley. 

On that call, I pledged to host a monthly Zoom so we can stay in touch on crucial issues, including cuts to Social Security and Medicare, illegal attempts to access our personal data by Elon Musk, and coordinated attempts to make billionaires richer at our expense. 

In addition, I promised to send out a weekly email updating you on what I’m working on and what you can do to help! This is the first email in that series, it’s going to outline the work that I’m doing and the opportunities you have to support our work and fight for our country! Our goal for this series is not just to keep you informed, but to give you specific actions you can take to make a difference.

In addition, many people asked after Friday’s call for the slides we went over, so I am attaching a copy of those here: Friday Night Zoom Presentation. If you have any friends or family who want to join the email list, please have them sign up here so they can receive our weekly email. 

Sign up for weekly emails from Pat!

What's going on

Hudson Valley

In the Hudson Valley, our Social Security office in Poughkeepsie was closed without adequate warning, cutting off access for tens of thousands of seniors who rely on these services. This is unacceptable, especially during the winter when traveling can be more complicated, and a small lapse in services can lead to immeasurable harm. 

What I’m doing: I have written a letter to the Social Security Administration demanding that they keep the office open and have introduced the Protecting Social Security Act, which would immediately establish an office in Poughkeepsie and would guarantee that Social Security benefits for hard-working Americans could not be decreased or taken away, regardless of the Administration.

What you can do:

If you live in the Hudson Valley and are affected If you do not live in the Hudson Valley but care about Social Security office closures
Call 1-800-772-1213 and demand they reopen the office in Poughkeepsie and guarantee services continue even during the office renovation. 

Check this list to see if your member of Congress is a co-sponsor of the Protecting Social Security Act, H.R. 963. If they are, call and thank them; if not, call them and ask them to sign on. You can find your member of Congress here: find your member of Congress. 

New York

Last week, my friend Dr. Maggie Carpenter was charged by a grand jury in Louisiana for prescribing abortion medication to women who have been affected by Trump’s abortion bans. 

What I’m doing: I’ve led crucial legislation, the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act, to protect doctors - like Dr. Carpenter - who provide medication abortion via telehealth so that women across America can have access to reproductive health care. 

What you can do: The work that Dr. Carpenter is doing is crucial to protecting all Americans’ rights to abortion freedom. You can learn more and support her organization, Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, here. You can also call your representative and ask them to sign on to the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act

Washington

Elon Musk’s attempts to cut services and undermine our freedom must be stopped. 

What I’m doing: In addition to the call last Friday, I’ve heard from constituents and leaders from all across the Hudson Valley about their fears of Elon Musk’s takeover of our crucial services and his threats to cut Social Security and Medicare. To stop him, I’ve co-sponsored legislation to stop Elon’s access, including the Taxpayer Data Protection Act and CLEAR Act, and appeared in multiple interviews, including Fox News, to condemn Elon. 

What you can do: We need to ensure everyone knows about Elon Musk and the Administration cutting essential services and risking our privacy. Please share articles with your networks about the overreach of DOGE and the cuts they are making to government services, including Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. Please reach out to friends and family in conservative areas and have them call their Congressional representation. Representatives across the political spectrum must hear from their constituents.

Going on offense

Flipping NY-21 

The first special election in the country is coming up in New York. I’m not going to lie, it will take a lot for Democrats to flip NY-21 and replace Elise Stefanik. This district voted for President Trump significantly in 2024, but we have a tremendous nominee in Blake Gendebien. Blake is a father of three boys, a second-generation dairy farmer, small business owner, and Vice Chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark. He was born and raised on a farm in the North Country and is deeply rooted in his community. He serves as a JV basketball coach, Lisbon Central School Board Member, and founder of a non-profit supporting kids with pediatric cancer and their families.

I’m supporting him because, though it’s a tough hill to climb, we don’t win when we don’t fight, and I believe our message and values can win anywhere. Please consider contributing to him, through this link which will split your contribution between Blake and my PAC, Patriot PAC. Your contributions to Patriot PAC will be used to support great candidates across the country! 

Split a contribution between Patriot PAC and Blake today!

If you would prefer to give just to Blake, you can donate here as well: Donate to Blake

Thank you so much for all that you are doing. I’m committed to working with you as patriots to set our course for a better future. 

In Solidarity,
Pat