May 31, 2025
Dear Friends,
Last week in Congress, I spent a number of sleepless nights in committee rooms, on the House floor, and in the halls of Congress condemning in every possible way the horrors of this Republican budget — what they dubbed their “big, beautiful bill.” As Republicans met in the dead of night to advance this legislation, I was compelled to stand up and speak out about the harms these cuts would inflict on my constituents and on Americans across the nation.
Despite this effort, and the incredible public outcry I heard while traveling through the district and from communications to my office, Republicans eked through their budget.
That budget now faces another uphill battle in the Senate. Several Republican senators have already expressed their dissatisfaction with this more than 1,100-page budget betrayal. In all likelihood, it will be revised and sent back to the House. But I’m not waiting around for that moment. I’ll continue using every tool at my disposal to fight back against this cruel budget and stand up for those who will suffer most from its passage.
At the heart of my work is an unwavering commitment to strengthening our Capital Region, supporting our communities, and driving solutions that make life better for all those who call our region home.
I spent my first full week in the district this month doing just that. On Wednesday, I celebrated the opening of more than 140 new affordable housing units built by Pennrose in partnership with the Troy Housing Authority. This project’s completion was the culmination of a partnership between federal, state, and local authorities dedicated to creating safe, secure housing communities where residents can build fulfilling lives.
I know firsthand that federal policy can either build up our communities or break them down. That’s why I’m pushing against efforts to slash Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, dismantle fair housing protections, and gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Instead of cutting the resources that make projects like this possible, I’ve worked with colleagues to bolster the programs that matter most. That’s why I authored my bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act, and lent my support to legislation like the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act. In the face of a housing crisis, I’ll continue driving forward these initiatives that make housing safer, more affordable, more energy-efficient, and more accessible for everyone.
This week, I also joined the second annual Westminster Climate Forum at Albany’s Westminster Presbyterian Church to answer questions from constituents and deliver an update on what I’m doing in Washington to help preserve our planet for future generations.
As the longtime top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, I’ve led the charge to develop and advance climate legislation in Congress that meets the moment, lowers energy costs for consumers, creates good-paying, union jobs, and addresses historic environmental injustices. The successful implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act is the centerpiece of that work. In its first two years, the law has helped create over 400,000 jobs and spurred over $420 billion in private sector clean energy investments. But now, instead of building on this important work, I’m fighting in Congress to prevent these transformational benefits from being clawed back by the Trump administration. No denial from this administration will alter the fact that climate change is upon us. If we fail to respond to it powerfully, we condemn our future generations to be sicker, poorer, and less safe.
Lastly, I toured the Neural Stem Cell Institute's (NSCI) new facility in Albany to see the cutting-edge research the institute is conducting on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). I’ve long worked in Congress to address these devastating diseases that impact so many across our region, and I was thrilled to see massive progress on that effort last year with the enactment of bills I helped champion — including the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, the National Alzheimer's Project Reauthorization Act, the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, and more.
Recent administration cuts and layoffs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have thrown into question the future of these efforts. While I push to ensure these wildly popular, bipartisan laws are implemented fully and effectively, the work of the Neural Stem Cell Institute will be more crucial than ever in supporting families in our region and beyond.
Next week, I’ll return to Washington armed and uplifted by these visits, conversations, and collaborations. I’m continuously inspired by the determination, ingenuity, and compassion of our Capital Region. Now and always, you have my promise to never stop working on behalf of our communities.
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 governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
Since day one of his presidency, Trump, his billionaire donor Elon Musk, and the rest of this administration have illegally gone after and eliminated countless federal research projects and grant awards allotted and approved by Congress.
In response to this illegal action, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has created a survey to help measure the impact of the Trump administration’s cancellation of federal research awards.
If you had an award terminated on or after January 20, 2025, I encourage you to share your story with the Committee by completing their survey.
Some things to note:
If you had multiple awards terminated, please fill out a separate form for each award.
While you may choose to have your response remain anonymous, you are encouraged to include your contact information if you are open to having a confidential conversation with Committee staff.
To learn more about these confidentiality rights and protections, CLICK HERE.
