Hi friend,

I hope you are doing well. In this week’s Patriot Weekly, I want to discuss efforts to restore the Rhinecliff station, how the fight over reproductive freedom is affecting the Hudson Valley, and how the Big Ugly Bill will affect our health care system.

Today is also Labor Day, and I wanted to recognize the critical contributions of the organized labor movement to building the American middle class and the American Dream. I’m a proud supporter of our unions, and labor plays an essential role in helping people have the economic freedom to live good lives. As Trump and Republicans continue to sell us out to billionaires, we need to stay focused on rebuilding the middle class, and making sure everyone knows that Democrats are the only party who can and will rebuild it.

How to stay involved

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There are also lots of volunteer opportunities in the Hudson Valley around this year’s local elections. Sign up to volunteer with the Ulster, Dutchess, or Orange County Democrats to start making a difference.

What’s going on

Hudson Valley

What I’m doing: The Rhinecliff train station is a critical piece of Hudson Valley infrastructure, and its long-overdue upgrade has been stalled. For months, I’ve been pushing federal agencies to move this project forward. I’ve written to the Federal Railroad Administration with local leaders, demanded answers, and raised concerns directly with the DOT.

Now, New York’s leading passenger rail group is taking action too. The Empire State Passengers Association just launched a statewide public campaign to demand movement on the Rhinecliff station project. Their message is simple: $40 million in improvements have already been awarded. The money is there. The plans are ready. The community is on board. The delays must end.

This is not a controversial project. It’s about safety, accessibility, and honoring a historic site that still serves thousands of travelers each year. I’ll keep pushing alongside our community until we see progress.

What you can do: Share the following message on social media.

“It’s been years. The Rhinecliff Station project is funded, needed, and ready to go. I stand with @PatRyanUC and the Hudson Valley in demanding action now.”

New York

What I’m doing: Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck is being sued by Texas’s MAGA Attorney General for refusing to enforce an out-of-state abortion judgment that violates New York law. He retained a top civil rights firm to defend him and they agreed to represent him pro bono once county funds are exhausted. That’s how strongly they believe in his case and in New York’s shield law.

Earlier this month, the Ulster County Legislature voted to support Taylor's defense. The room was filled with cheers, cardboard thank-you signs, and a clear message: we stand together when extremists attack our rights. Bruck is showing courage, and so are the lawyers who stepped up to defend him without pay.

What you can do: Bruck’s story shows that every one has a role to play in pushing back against Trump’s encroachment on our fundamental freedoms. Whether it’s voting, donating, attending a protest, or something else – take a small action every day to move the ball forward for our democracy.

Washington

What I’m doing: The Big Ugly Betrayal is already taking a toll across the country, and a new report confirms what we feared: New York will be among the hardest hit. Medicaid cuts in the bill will strip health care from millions of Americans, with immigrants, working families, and kids facing the worst of it.

States like New York that expanded coverage are now being punished. Hospitals will face rising costs. Families will lose access to care. State budgets will be pushed to the limit. All of this, while billionaires and massive corporations get a payout.
From the start, I’ve called the Big Ugly Betrayal what it is—a massive giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of working people. I’m fighting to protect Medicaid, expand access to care, and hold those responsible accountable in 2026. I was proud to vote against it.

What you can do: We need your voice to break through the noise. Here’s how you can help:

Post on social media: Trump’s Big Ugly Betrayal is slashing Medicaid and threatening health care for millions. While billionaires get tax cuts, families lose coverage. I stand with @PatRyanUC to fight back. #ProtectMedicaid #StopTheCuts
Share your story: If you or someone you know is losing coverage or feeling the impact of these cuts, let us know. Your story helps shape this fight.
Talk to your community: Most people still don’t realize what this bill will do. Conversations with neighbors, family, and coworkers can go a long way. Text five of your friends this article to make a difference.

Going on offense

We have to remember what’s at the core of this fight. The middle class and working people just want to live a decent life and get by, while billionaires and executives want to get even richer than they already are. I’m all for hard work and success. But I’m not for a system that increasingly rewards wealth and connections more than hard work. That’s why I’m in this fight.

Local elections are coming up soon, and I’m excited to get some key Democratic wins across the Hudson Valley. Those will be an opportunity to show our strength, and I highly encourage everyone to go volunteer for your county parties. I highly encourage you to go to Hudson Valley Strong’s website and find an opportunity to get involved.

In Solidarity,

Pat