Applauding House Passage of Four Appropriations Bills Delivering Key Investments for NY-24

This week, the House passed a package of four appropriations bills that fund core federal responsibilities and deliver key investments for communities across NY-24. These bills support national defense, homeland security, transportation and water infrastructure, housing, workforce development, education, and public safety. 

Throughout the appropriations process, our office worked closely with local leaders across NY-24 to secure targeted, accountable funding that directly benefits our region. This package includes $200 million to recapitalize the New York National Guard’s LC-130 fleet, investments that support local defense manufacturers and military readiness, and $5 million for community project funding in our district. It also delivers strong support for programs families rely on every day, including Job Corps, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Impact Aid for our schools, AFG and SAFER grants for firefighters, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. These investments strengthen our economy, support first responders, and deliver real results for the communities we represent.

Community Project Funding Included for NY-24

• City of Lockport — $1,000,000 for Phase III of the Erie Canal Flight of Five Locks Rehabilitation Project
• Jefferson County — $1,000,000 for the installation of omni-directional approach lights for Runway 10 at Watertown International Airport
• Wyoming County — $1,000,000 for the Silver Lake dredging project
• Town of Lyons — $2,000,000 for Canal Street District improvements

The House Passage of the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

This week, the House passed my legislation, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. This bill codifies states’ ability to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy resource centers that provide essential services, including prenatal care, parenting education, counseling, ultrasounds, and material assistance. These centers serve women with dignity and compassion, especially during some of life’s most challenging moments. The legislation responds directly to the Biden Administration’s efforts to limit state flexibility and override long-standing authority in how these funds are used. It protects states’ ability to support mothers, protect unborn children, and strengthen families without federal interference. Advancing this bill through the House is an important step toward restoring commonsense, pro-family policies that put women and children first.

Standing Up for Victims of Non-Consensual Digital Exploitation

I joined colleagues and advocates in support of the DEFIANCE Act, bipartisan legislation I cosponsored to protect victims of non-consensual digital exploitation. As technology advances, so do the ways bad actors abuse it, creating explicit digital forgeries that can devastate lives, reputations, and livelihoods. The DEFIANCE Act gives victims real legal tools by allowing them to pursue civil action against those who knowingly create or distribute this content, while safeguarding victims’ privacy and dignity. I stood alongside victims and advocates, including Paris Hilton, who courageously shared her story to shine a light on this growing threat. Our laws must keep pace with emerging technology, and I will continue working to ensure victims can fight back, hold perpetrators accountable, and reclaim control over their own identity.

Continuing the Fight for the Susan Muffley Act

This week, I testified before the House Rules Committee to fight once again for the Delphi Salaried Retirees by pushing to include the Susan Muffley Act in the 2026 appropriations package. While my amendment was not ruled in order, I want you to know this fight is far from over. More than 20,000 Delphi salaried retirees had their pensions and benefits slashed during the 2009 GM bankruptcy, while union workers’ pensions and benefits were protected behind closed doors, an injustice that has devastated families in our community and across the country. I shared the story of my constituent, Judy Fooks, whose late husband worked for Delphi for decades, believing his pension would provide security for his family, only to have that promise taken away overnight. After more than 16 years, these retirees have exhausted the courts and are relying on Congress to do what is right. The Susan Muffley Act would fully restore their earned pensions, with backpay, and even includes a responsible pay-for that saves taxpayers money. I will not stop fighting until this wrong is corrected and Delphi retirees finally receive the retirement security they earned and were promised.

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. 272, the Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act of 2025: This bill would prohibit federal taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions or abortion coverage, including through federal health care programs and insurance plans that receive federal subsidies. Taxpayers should not be forced to finance abortion, and this legislation protects both unborn life and taxpayer dollars. 

H.R. 1465, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act: This bill would prohibit U.S. foreign assistance funds from being used to perform or promote abortion overseas. U.S. foreign assistance should always reflect American values, such as upholding life. This bill ensures that foreign aid funding is administered consistently and in accordance with existing pro-life protections.

H.R. 5616, the $2.50 for America’s 250th Act: This bill would authorize the United States Mint to issue commemorative coins minted in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The 250th anniversary is a significant national milestone that offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history and founding principles. This legislation provides a voluntary way for Americans to support commemorative efforts and recognize the semiquincentennial of our nation’s founding.

H.R. 6866, the Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act: This bill would strengthen oversight of federal investments in U.S. ports to ensure funds protect our national security and supply chain resilience. Specifically, it would require additional reviews and reporting requirements to prevent federal port funding from supporting projects that could expose critical infrastructure to undue foreign influence or security risks. Safeguarding America’s ports is essential to economic and homeland security and this legislation ensures that taxpayer-funded port investments are strategic, secure, and aligned with U.S. national interests.

H.R. 2226, the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025: This legislation would prohibit federal, state, and local governments from discriminating against pregnancy care centers because of their life-affirming mission, and it would provide pregnancy centers facing discrimination with a private right of action. This will help protect pregnancy resource centers from efforts by New York State, and other Democrat-led states, to cut off funding and harass pregnancy resource centers. We must ensure women have access to the resources pregnancy centers provide, empowering them to choose life.

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.

Tuesday, January 20

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act. This bill equips Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) with the tools and training they need to help local employers understand, evaluate, and adopt artificial intelligence in ways that boost productivity and growth. By expanding proven initiatives like the SBDC AI U program, we’re giving small businesses across the country the same kind of access to cutting-edge technology that’s driving innovation in major industries. This bill helps ensure that Main Street can harness the benefits of AI to compete, grow, and thrive. This bill passed the House by a vote of 395-14.

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 5763, the Main Street Parity Act. This bill modernizes the SBA 504 loan program by removing outdated rules that force businesses in limited or single-purpose properties, such as car washes or medical offices, to put up an extra five percent in equity compared to other borrowers. Small businesses in New York shouldn’t face steeper financing hurdles just because of the type of property they operate in. By leveling the playing field and standardizing equity requirements across industries, the bill lowers barriers to entry, encourages investment, and gives more entrepreneurs a fair shot at expanding their operations. This is a practical step to help Main Street compete and grow. This bill passed the House by a vote of 383-8.

Wednesday, January 21

I voted “Yes” on H.J.Res. 140, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN. This bill rescinds the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management under President Biden that would have instituted a 20-year ban on new mineral and geothermal exploration and development activities covering 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota contains undeveloped deposits of critical minerals, including copper, nickel, and cobalt. In 2021, the Biden Administration canceled mineral leases held by the mineral company, effectively prohibiting mineral and geothermal exploration. Access to critical mineral resources is a national security priority, and this resolution is a necessary reversal of the Biden administration’s agenda that stifled domestic industrial capacity. This bill passed the House by a vote of 214-208. 

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 6495, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. This bill would prohibit any President from limiting the ability of states to spend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds on pregnancy resource centers. Under the Biden administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed a rule that would prevent pregnancy resource centers from receiving TANF dollars to support their important work. This attempt was not only unconscionable but also exceeds their statutory authority. Pregnancy resource centers serve women with dignity by providing medical care, counseling, and practical support during some of life’s most challenging moments. Advancing this bill through the House is an important step toward restoring commonsense, pro-family policies that put women and children first. I was honored to co-lead this important legislation and support its passage both through the House Ways and Means Committee and on the House floor. This bill passed the House by a vote of 215-209.

Thursday, January 22

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. This bill provides $92.008 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Specifically, this bill funds various agencies organized within DHS, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at an increased $3.27 billion above the FY 2025 enacted level. Additionally, this bill secures funding for key programs, including the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Furthermore, this bill upholds House Republicans’ commitment to ensure that law enforcement receives the support needed to enforce our immigration laws, stop deadly fentanyl from entering our country, and safeguard our northern border. This bill ends programs that incentivize illegal immigration, such as the Shelter and Services Program used by nonprofits to facilitate alien transportation and housing and eliminates funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. Supporting this funding helps protect our country and supports local communities in NY-24. This bill passed the House by a vote of 220-207. 

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. This package included four appropriations bills to fund the Departments of War, Homeland Security, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. These appropriations bills focus on what matters most: strengthening our national defense, supporting first responders, investing in infrastructure and innovation, and delivering real results for our communities. Our office worked with local leaders across NY-24 to ensure these bills included critical investments for local employers, military readiness, public safety, and workforce and education programs that families in our region rely on. In this package, I secured critical funding that benefits NY-24, such as $200 million to recapitalize the New York National Guard’s LC-130 fleet and $5 million for five Community Project Funding projects. I also secured robust funding for key programs like Job Corps, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Impact Aid, AFG and SAFER Grants, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. This funding helps protect our country, strengthen our economy, and support the communities we represent. This bill provides no funding to NPR and PBS, rescinds funding for wasteful “high speed rail” projects, prevents the Department of Transportation from enforcing COVID-19 mask mandates and provides $941 million to strengthen efforts to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. While this package has many great provisions, I am greatly disappointed that the Susan Muffley Act, which would restore the Delphi retirees’ pensions and benefits, was not included in this package. I was disappointed that my amendment to add this provision was not ruled in order. I will continue working to get this legislation signed into law to right the egregious injustice that was perpetrated by the Obama Administration against the Delphi retirees. This bill passed the House by a vote of 341-88.

I voted “No” on H.Con.Res. 68, To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. This resolution would require the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela under the War Powers Resolution. For years under Maduro’s autocratic regime, Venezuela served as a center for illegal operations such as human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and illicit oil trade, activities that pose a direct threat to U.S. national security. President Trump took decisive steps to bring Maduro to justice and hold him accountable. The Trump administration has also confirmed that there are currently no U.S. forces in Venezuela, making this resolution unnecessary. However, this War Powers Resolution would hamstring the President from protecting the United States should further action be necessary, effectively granting impunity to Venezuela to continue threatening American security interests. Additionally, some legal experts have raised serious constitutional objections to the War Powers Act, arguing that it improperly encroaches on the President’s authority as Commander in Chief, a position with which I agree. For these reasons—both to safeguard national security and to address constitutional concerns, I voted in opposition to this resolution. This bill failed to pass the House by a vote of 215-215.

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. This legislation requires colleges and universities to clearly communicate the support and accommodations available to students who are pregnant. It also mandates that institutions explain how students can file a complaint if their Title IX protections related to pregnancy are violated, and ensures this information is widely accessible, including in student handbooks, covered during orientation, posted on school websites, and made available through campus health and counseling offices. No student should be forced to choose between continuing a pregnancy and earning a college degree. This is a commonsense bill, and I strongly supported its passage in the House. This bill passed the House by a vote of 217-211. 

Master Sergeant Sheckler Recognition Ceremony

Our team was honored to attend the recognition ceremony for World War II veteran Addison C. Sheckler of Cato, New York, who was awarded France’s highest honor, the Legion of Honor, formally known as L’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur. Established more than two centuries ago, this distinction recognizes extraordinary service to France and humanity. At 102 years old, MSG Sheckler was celebrated for his remarkable contributions during the Normandy Campaign, where he helped establish secure transatlantic communications between the French mainland and the War Department in Washington, strengthening Allied coordination and helping shorten the war in Europe. Approved by Emmanuel Macron, the award reflects a lifetime defined by service, ingenuity, and heroism. After the war, MSG Sheckler continued to serve through groundbreaking engineering work at General Electric and Xerox, while building an extraordinary family legacy spanning generations. It was a privilege for my office to join the community in honoring a veteran whose impact reached far beyond the battlefield and whose service will never be forgotten.

Tri-County Government Affairs Roundtable

Our team joined the Tri-County Government Affairs Roundtable with local chambers, business owners, community leaders, and elected officials for an important conversation about the policy issues shaping our region. Events like this create valuable opportunities to hear directly from those who are creating jobs, growing local businesses, and strengthening our communities across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. We appreciate the chambers for bringing everyone together and for fostering open dialogue on legislative priorities, economic challenges, and ways government can better support growth and opportunity. These conversations help ensure the voices of our local employers and residents are heard as we work to advance commonsense policies that keep our region strong and competitive.

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