House Passes Funding Package Including Key NY-24 Water Projects

This week, the House passed a major appropriations funding package that includes key investments to improve water and sewer infrastructure across NY-24. Through the Community Project Funding process, this package advances targeted projects to strengthen clean drinking water systems, upgrade aging wastewater infrastructure, and protect public health in communities across Upstate New York. Working closely with local leaders, these projects were selected to address real needs, reflect responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and deliver long-term benefits for families, businesses, and local governments as the appropriations process moves forward.

Projects Included for NY-24: 

• Genesee County — $10,000,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in Genesee County.
• Town of Phelps — $1,000,000 for their sanitary sewer distribution improvement project.
• Village of Geneseo — $1,000,000 for water and sewer system improvements.
• Village of Waterloo — $750,000 for sewer system improvements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
• Town of Throop — $750,000 for water improvement project.
• Village of Mexico — $750,000 for water system improvement project.

My Statement on Venezuela

Last weekend, the United States conducted a decisive military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, confronting Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate regime and reinforcing our commitment to security and stability in the Western Hemisphere. Below was my statement:

"Last night, under the leadership of President Trump, Secretary Marco Rubio and Secretary Pete Hegseth, the U.S. conducted a decisive and successful action against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his illegitimate regime. This operation sends a clear message that the United States will stand firmly against tyranny and corruption that threaten US security in our hemisphere.

I also want to recognize the brave men and women of the United States Military for carrying out a flawless operation with professionalism, precision, and strength. Their service continues to protect freedom and uphold American leadership on the world stage.

Nicolás Maduro was not only a brutal dictator, but an indicted drug trafficker. The people in Venezuela now have the opportunity to pursue freedom and prosperity."

Reintroducing the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women Act

This week, I reintroduced the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women Act with Congresswoman Fischbach to ensure states retain the flexibility to support pregnant women and new mothers through proven, community-based resources. This legislation would codify states’ authority to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to support pregnancy resource centers that provide medical care, parenting education, counseling, and essential supplies for women facing unplanned or difficult pregnancies. During the last Congress, I served as a co-lead on this effort as House Republicans worked to block the Biden administration's rulemaking that would have restricted these funds and limited access to care. This bill ensures that Washington does not stand in the way of states that choose to support pregnant and parenting women, protect unborn children, and strengthen families. During Pro-Life Month and every month, standing up for life means standing with women, families, and the organizations that serve them.

Nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize

I formally nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for the third time in recognition of his extraordinary record of delivering peace through strength and decisive diplomacy. In his first term, President Trump achieved what many believed was out of reach by securing the historic Abraham Accords, establishing normalization agreements between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan, marking the first such agreements between Israel and Arab nations since 1994. In his second term alone, his administration successfully negotiated settlements to eight international conflicts spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, an unprecedented level of diplomatic achievement within a single year. These results were not symbolic gestures; they were concrete agreements that reduced violence, strengthened regional stability, and saved lives. President Trump’s leadership reshaped global diplomacy, proved that American strength paired with principled negotiation delivers results, and made the world safer.

ICYMI: Annual Report 2025

Last week, I released my 2025 Annual Report to provide a transparent and detailed account of how our office delivered for the people of NY-24. This report outlines the work we accomplished to cut through federal red tape, return taxpayer dollars owed to constituents, strengthen accountability in Washington, and advance policies that support working families, farmers, small businesses, veterans, and seniors across Upstate New York. It also reflects my commitment to explaining every vote, staying accessible to constituents, and ensuring Washington works for the communities we represent. I encourage you to review the highlights below and read the full report to see how our team remained focused on results for NY-24 throughout 2025.

Highlights from each section below:

Constituent Services

• Returned over $27.5 million in benefits or back pay to residents of NY-24.
• Completed 2,600 constituent cases, helping people cut through federal red tape.
• Answered more than 16,000 constituent calls and messages.
• Provided over 850 commendations and proclamations to veterans, first responders, students, and community leaders.
• Wrote 110 grant letters to support local community projects and economic growth.
• Attended over 130 community events across the district.

Accessibility and Transparency

• Explained every vote cast in Congress, surpassing 1,000 detailed vote explanations on the website.
• Responded to more than 78,000 constituent messages seeking answers and accountability.
• Continued to provide clear breakdowns of Washington actions that affect costs, security, and local priorities.

Delivering Results for NY-24

• Introduced 67 bills and cosponsored 472 bills on critical issues like economic growth, national security, and election integrity.
• Supported 45 bills that passed the House of Representatives.
• Helped advance 11 bills that became law, including measures enacted in the Trump Tax Cuts that deliver permanent relief.
• Secured wins that support local priorities: tax credits for advanced manufacturing, stronger protections for family farms, and rural hospital support.
• Advocated for energy affordability and reliability, including preserving nuclear credits important to Upstate New York.

Highlights for the District

• Backed efforts that helped secure the release of an American held abroad.
• Passed H.R. 323, Renaming a Post Office to Honor Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz
• Pressed for stronger border security and enforcement to protect public safety and stop illegal trafficking.
• Supported workforce development initiatives and small business outreach efforts across NY-24. 

READ THE FULL 2025 ANNUAL REPORT HERE

As your representative in Congress, my top priority is championing legislative initiatives that benefit you and your families. Each week, I review numerous bills and letters, engaging in thorough discussions with members of our community to determine which actions to support and address your needs. Below are a few bills I recently cosponsored.

H.R. 2941, the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2025: This bill would expand and modernize the federal Historic Tax Credit to encourage additional private investment in the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Specifically, H.R. 2941 would increase the value of the credit and make targeted adjustments to improve access for rehabilitation projects in rural areas. This legislation strengthens this existing incentive by promoting housing, economic, and infrastructure projects, while preserving America’s historic structures.

H.R. 3732, the BARK Act of 2025: This bill would provide liability protections for individuals and businesses that make donations of pet food and supplies in good faith. Pet shelters and rescue organizations rely on donated goods to care for animals in need, and donors who contribute unused pet food in good faith should not face overburdensome liability for accidentally donating expired goods. This legislation helps reduce barriers to charitable giving and supports organizations working to provide for our pets. 

H.R. 450, the FORCE Act: This bill would prohibit the removal of Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism until the President makes the determination that a transition government in Cuba is in power. Cuba remains a national security threat to the United States, and it is more vital than ever to ensure that dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel does not continue his oppression of the Cuban people. 

Transparency in Congress and a well-informed electorate are vital to preserving our self-governing Constitutional Republic. My constituents deserve to know how their members of Congress vote, which is why I have explained every vote I have cast in Congress since I was first elected. 

To read more about my votes and see the full list with explanations of all the legislation considered this week by the House, please click here.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

I voted “No" on the Veto Message to Accompany H.R. 504, the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act. The bill amends the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to expand a certain area located in the Everglades National Park in southern Florida and occupied by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. The Tribe has a residential community at the Osceola Camp, including other infrastructure, none of which meets the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The Biden administration developed a plan to protect and replace unauthorized infrastructure at the Osceola Camp, which could cost taxpayers up to $14 million. Additionally, despite seeking funding from the Federal Government, the Miccosukee Tribe has actively obstructed the reasonable immigration policies of President Trump, imposing sanctuary policies. We are committed to preventing American taxpayers from being abused and opposed to any efforts to impede the Administration's policy of removing violent criminal illegal aliens from the country. I support the President’s veto and oppose this effort to override it. This veto override required a 2/3 majority to pass and failed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 236-188.

I voted “No” on the Veto Message to Accompany H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act. This bill would have changed the interest payments for the 35 percent nonfederal costs of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) to a rate equal to 50 percent of the interest rate determined by the Secretary of the Interior. This legislation would also have changed the repayment period to 75 years and directed the contract for the Arkansas Valley Conduit to require the contracting parties to assume the care, operation, maintenance, and replacement of the Conduit. The AVC was originally authorized as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project in 1962. Under the original plan, the project's costs were to be initially funded by the Federal Government, with repayment by local users in full, with interest, over a 50-year period following completion of construction. In 2009, the AVC was reauthorized to reduce the share paid by local users from 100 to 35 percent. More than $249 million has already been spent on the AVC, and total costs are estimated at $1.3 billion. This change would have forced additional taxpayer dollars to bear a greater share of the costs of a local project intended to be paid by its local beneficiaries. Voting against this veto override helps ensure taxpayer dollars are not abused. This veto override required a 2/3 majority to pass and failed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 248-177. 

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. This three-bill “minibus” funds key federal agencies and advances targeted investments to improve access to clean water, invests in new drinking water infrastructure, and strengthens resiliency across Upstate New York. House Republicans delivered funding that will modernize critical water systems, protect local resources, and support families and businesses throughout the region. This three-bill “minibus” included six of my Community Project Funding projects, providing $14.25 million for new drinking and waste water infrastructure. I worked closely with local leaders to advance projects that address meaningful needs and reflect responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and the passage of this critical legislation will deliver real results for our district. Passage of the package in the House represents an important step toward modernizing aging infrastructure, protecting public health, and strengthening long-term economic stability in communities throughout the district. This bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 397-28. 

I voted “No” on H.R. 1834, the Breaking the Gridlock Act. Obamacare failed from the beginning. It has always put the bottom of multi-billion dollar insurance companies ahead of patients, families, taxpayers, and the health of the American people. The economist architect of Obamacare, Jonathan Gruber, famously said in a leaked interview that in order to pass Obamacare, the Obama Administration needed “lack of transparency” and credited “the stupidity of the American voter”. Now, under this system, Americans have an overpriced insurance card but worse health outcomes and less money in their pocket. After 15 years of failure, Democrats are shamelessly blaming Republicans for the collapse of the partisan policies that Democrats alone passed. Today’s vote is yet another misguided, partisan attempt by Democrats to bail out the failing Obamacare system by extending temporary COVID-era subsidies for individuals with six-figure incomes at the expense of more than $60 billion to taxpayers. The Unaffordable Care Act didn’t make health care more affordable, it made taxpayers pay for trillions of dollars in windfall to insurers while simultaneously undermining small businesses’ ability to offer affordable, comprehensive coverage to their workers. Since Obamacare became law, the share of small employers able to offer coverage has collapsed by nearly half, forcing workers onto government exchanges and driving up costs for both taxpayers subsidizing the exchanges and small employers trying to offer affordable coverage to their employees. Families are paying more for less. Obamacare plans have narrower networks, fewer covered doctors, and higher deductibles, especially in states like New York, where premiums are now the highest in the nation. These so-called enhanced subsidies have fueled price hikes and have been a driving force behind the unaffordability of health care. As premiums rise, so do federal payments, giving insurance companies every incentive to keep raising their prices. That’s how Democrats created a system of government-driven inflation in healthcare. Throwing more taxpayer dollars at a failing system is not a solution, it only adds more fuel to the fire of exploding health care costs. That is why last month, I joined House Republicans in supporting and advancing real solutions that will reduce the cost of health care for all Americans through the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which would properly fund Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments to reduce premiums for ACA silver plans by 12 percent for middle class Americans that need it, not subsidizing individuals with six-figure incomes. Funding CSR payments would save enrollees on average roughly $900 a year, while reducing costs to taxpayers by over $30 billion. It also would have established affordable coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed, curbed the abuses of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that have jacked up the cost of prescription drugs, and protects self-funded employer plans from partisan state mandates like those in New York that jeopardize employers’ ability to keep health care costs down for more than 60 percent of covered workers. The Breaking the Gridlock Act puts the bottom line of billion-dollar insurance companies ahead of hardworking families that deserve lower premiums and more affordable coverage. The bill passed the House by a vote of 230-196.

Friday, January 9, 2026 

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5184, the Affordable HOMES Act. This bill removes requirements for the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and enforce energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing and allows the Secretary of Energy to transmit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommendations for revisions to the preemptive energy conservation standards. Additionally, this bill would rescind the Biden Administration rule that increased red tape for housing developers and priced families out of homeownership. It is imperative that consumers have more choices in housing and that overburdensome energy standards be reduced or eliminated. This bill helps make homes more affordable, delivering price relief while eliminating duplicative and overburdensome standards. This bill passed the House by a vote of 263-147. 

Highlighting New Tax Filing Benefits Under the Trump Tax Cuts

As tax filing season gets underway, I want to make sure families across NY-24 know about the new relief available under the Trump Tax Cuts and how it can benefit them this year. The IRS has released guidance for the 2025 tax year outlining commonsense changes that reward hard work and let people keep more of what they earn, including allowing eligible workers to deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tips and up to $12,500 in eligible overtime pay, with higher limits for joint filers. Seniors also receive additional relief, and small businesses continue to benefit from pro-growth policies that support job creation and economic stability. These reforms are about fairness, recognizing the value of work, and strengthening family finances. As you prepare to file, I encourage everyone to review the IRS guidance, understand how these provisions apply to your situation, and make sure you claim every benefit you earned.

FULL IRS GUIDELINES AND MORE INFORMATION

Orleans County Swearing-In

This week, our team attended the Orleans County Legislature’s Organizational Meeting as county and town leaders begin the new legislative session. Officials were sworn in, leadership positions were confirmed, and the Legislature addressed important organizational business to set the tone for the months ahead. Our team welcomed the newly sworn-in officials and discussed priorities important to Orleans County, including economic development and tourism. We appreciate the dedication of these local officials and look forward to continuing to work closely with them on issues that matter to Orleans County families and communities.

Oswego County Swearing-In

Our team was present at the Oswego County swearing-in ceremony, where local leaders officially began a new term of service. The event included the oath of office for County Legislators, Treasurer, and Clerk, underscoring the importance of local government and public service in keeping Oswego County strong. It's inspiring that these officials are publicly reaffirming their commitment to serving residents, managing taxpayer resources responsibly, and addressing the County's most critical issues, and we look forward to our continued partnership with the County leadership. 

Buffalo Niagara Partnership Advocacy Agenda Rollout and Public Officials Reception

Our team took part in the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Advocacy Agenda Rollout and Public Officials Reception, where regional leaders gathered to discuss priorities that will shape Western and Upstate New York’s economic future. The presentation outlined the Partnership’s 2026 Advocacy Agenda, with a focus on strengthening regional competitiveness, modernizing infrastructure, expanding workforce development, improving energy reliability, advancing housing solutions, and supporting emerging industries like semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence. The event also provided an opportunity to engage with elected officials and business leaders on cross-border trade with Canada and other issues crucial to growth and job creation. These conversations help ensure that Upstate New York’s voice is heard as policies are shaped at every level of government.

Schuyler County District Attorney Swearing-In

Our team attended the swearing-in of Jeremy Hourihan as Schuyler County District Attorney, a meaningful moment for the community and local law enforcement. The ceremony brought together Mr. Hourihan’s family, the prior District Attorney Joe Fazzary, members of the sheriff’s department, and local police departments, reflecting the strong partnership between prosecutors and law enforcement that is essential to keeping communities safe. We are thankful to those who serve in the justice system and work every day to uphold the rule of law, protect public safety, and ensure accountability for the people of Schuyler County and across NY-24.

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES

This week, our team joined the 2nd Annual Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES Legislative Brunch in Newark, where educators, students, and lawmakers came together for a thoughtful discussion about the future of education in our region. The program provided an opportunity to hear directly from state legislators, school leaders, and students about challenges facing local schools, including funding stability, workforce recruitment and retention, student mental health support, and the rising costs tied to new mandates. These conversations reinforced how closely education policy is tied to workforce development, energy reliability, and long-term community strength. We appreciate Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES for hosting a constructive forum that brought together voices from across the region, and I remain focused on working with local educators and leaders to support students, families, and schools throughout NY-24.

Need Help with a Federal Agency? Call us today.

If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, we are just a phone call away and are ready to help you! Please contact my Canandaigua Office at 585-869-2060, my Oswego Office at 315-236-7088, or my Lockport Office at 716-514-5130. I am honored to have the opportunity to represent you.

Have News or Updates to Share? Email Me!

If you have updates regarding events in the community or other news to share from across New York's 24th District, please visit the "Contact Me" page on my website to share it with me. My team will try to include as many of your updates from around #NY24 as we can each week.