Securing Funding for the Country and Critical Projects Across

NY-24

Congress officially passed 11 appropriations bills, and President Trump signed the funding package into law, reopening the government and providing full-year funding for most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year. This package supports core government functions, including national defense, public safety, infrastructure, education, housing, and workforce programs, while avoiding further disruption for families and communities. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is provided through a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that extends current funding levels through February 13.

This legislation also locks in community-focused investments our office secured for NY-24, working directly with local leaders across the district. Through Community Project Funding (CPF), more than $24 million was secured to support public safety, water and sewer infrastructure, transportation improvements, and economic revitalization projects throughout NY-24. These projects reflect a focus on practical needs, fiscal responsibility, and delivering results that communities can see and rely on.

Community Project Funding (CPF FY26) Included for NY-24:

• City of Oswego — $1,000,000 for a new police station for the City of Oswego Police Department. 
• Orleans County — $1,750,000 for the County Public Safety Building to make improvements enhancing operations and security. 
• Town of Torrey — $2,050,000 for Town of Torrey Water District #2 resource improvements for residents. 
• Genesee County — $10,000,000 for Genesee County clean water system improvements. 
• Town of Phelps — $1,000,000 for upgrades of the sanitary sewer distribution system. 
• Town of Throop — $750,000 for clean water system improvements. 
• Village of Geneseo — $1,000,000 for water and sewer system improvements. 
• Village of Mexico — $750,000 for water system improvements. 
• Village of Waterloo — $750,000 for sewer system improvements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades. 
• 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 safety upgrades and installation of enhanced omni directional approach lights at the Watertown International Airport. 
• Town of Lyons — $2,000,000 for affordable housing and mixed-use development spaces, including infrastructure upgrades for Canal Street. 
• Wyoming County — $1,000,000 for the ongoing Silver Lake Dredging Project. 

Introducing Legislation to Rename Martville Post Office in Honor of Fallen Sergeant Starrett John Ingleston

I introduced legislation to rename the Martville Post Office in honor of Sergeant Starrett John Ingleston, a native New Yorker, who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Ingleston began his service in the U.S. Army on February 3, 1969, and was deployed to Vietnam in July of that year. During his service, he earned numerous distinctions, including sharpshooter and expert grenade thrower medals, a Unit Citation, and two Air Medals for participating in more than 50 helicopter missions. In October 1969, he was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart. On March 29, 1970, Sergeant Ingleston was killed when his camp came under rocket fire. He moved to defend the perimeter and was killed while protecting his fellow soldiers. For his heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star. Renaming the post office would create a lasting tribute in the community he called home and ensure that his service and sacrifice are remembered by future generations.

 Leading Bipartisan IRAN Act to Expand Internet Freedom for the Iranian People

Alongside Rep. Swalwell (CA-14), we led the introduction of bipartisan legislation to expand internet freedom for the Iranian people and push back against the Iranian regime’s efforts to silence dissent. The Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act strengthens U.S. policy to ensure civilians in Iran can access the open internet, communicate freely, and share information without fear of censorship or shutdowns imposed by the regime. Iran remains one of the worst countries in the world for internet freedom, and its government routinely uses surveillance and blackouts to isolate its people. This legislation requires the U.S. government to implement and regularly update a clear strategy to support internet access, protect essential communication tools, and ensure sanctions do not unintentionally block access to information. Standing with the Iranian people means backing their right to communicate, organize peacefully, and pursue basic human rights without interference from a repressive regime.

Reintroducing the SAFE Olympic Sports Act

During the same week of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, I am leading the reintroduction of the SAFE Olympic Sports Act to protect fairness and integrity in Olympic-sanctioned competition to ensure women compete on a level playing field. This legislation would require Olympic events to be based on biological sex and strengthen existing language by clearly defining male and female using objective, biological standards. Introducing this bill alongside the opening of the Winter Olympics underscores a simple principle: women’s sports exist to maintain equal opportunity, fair competition, and the chance to succeed without ambiguity. Clear rules matter, and protecting the integrity of women’s athletics ensures future generations have the same opportunities women fought to secure.

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. 583, the BEACH Act of 2025: This bill would reauthorize the BEACH Act of 2000 until Fiscal Year (FY) 2029, which supports continued monitoring and notification of recreational waters for harmful pathogens and pollutants that could pose health risks to the public. Ensuring accurate and timely water quality information helps protect swimmers, beachgoers, and coastal communities from exposure to contaminated water. This legislation strengthens public health protections and supports continued funding for monitoring efforts that safeguard America’s waterways.

H.R. 6582, the Flight Risk Reduction Act: This bill would amend current law to have a rebuttable presumption that a defendant who is a non-U.S. citizen poses a danger to the community and a serious risk of flight, for purposes of determining whether to release or detain the defendant pending trial.  Under current law, detention hearings are automatically held in certain criminal cases to determine whether a defendant should be held pretrial. This bill would add non-citizenship as an automatic trigger, ensuring that judges closely examine the risk of flight before making a decision, and that any decision to overturn would require clear and convincing evidence. Non-U.S. citizens facing deportation have a clear motive to flee and evade justice, making pre-trial detention critical in ensuring holding these individuals accountable. Ensuring that courts have appropriate tools to assess flight risk and community safety is critical to public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system.

H.R. 5529, the Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act: This bill would amend federal housing law to ensure that disability compensation received by veterans is not used to unfairly limit their eligibility for federally assisted housing programs. Specifically, it would clarify that certain service-connected disability benefits are excluded when determining income eligibility for housing assistance. Disabled veterans should not be penalized for receiving the benefits they have earned. This legislation helps expand access to stable, affordable housing for disabled veterans while ensuring that housing programs are administered fairly and consistently.

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.

Monday, February 2

I voted "Yes" on H.R. 980, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Implementation Act of 2025. This bill enacts several reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Resources and Employment (VR&E) Program. Specifically, grants the VA flexibility in offering on-campus educational and vocational counseling, expands the types of flight training available to veterans, and establishes new outreach requirements for the VA in administering the VR&E Program. After military service, veterans and their families should have access to effective resources to support their transition to the civilian workforce. This bill passed the House by a vote of 402-2

I voted "Yes" on H.R. 3123, the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act. This bill amends federal laws governing veterans’ benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to require that certain unpaid pension benefits due at the time of a veteran’s death be paid to the veteran’s spouse, children, dependent parents, or estate. Specifically, this bill would ensure that, if a veteran is approved for a pension benefit, the pending payment would continue processing upon the veteran's death. By taking care of the spouses and dependents of veterans, we honor the sacrifices made by those who have served our country. This legislation, named for the legacy of New York State World War II veteran Ernest Peltz, takes a critical step toward improving the VA’s effectiveness and accountability within the VA system. This bill passed the House by a vote of 405-1 

Tuesday, February 3

I voted “Yes” on the Senate amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. This package included five appropriations bills to fund the Departments of War, Treasury, State, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, along with a two-week continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. These funding measures are centered on core priorities: maintaining a strong national defense, Our office partnered with local officials throughout NY-24 to ensure this legislation reflects the real needs of our region, including support for employers, military preparedness, public safety, and the education and workforce programs families count on. The final package delivers significant resources to NY-24, including $200 million to modernize the New York National Guard’s LC-130 polar aircraft and $5 million to support four Community Project Funding initiatives. It also maintains strong support for essential programs such as Job Corps, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Impact Aid, AFG and SAFER Grants, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Together, these investments enhance our security, reinforce economic growth, and strengthen local communities. The legislation does not allocate funding to woke left-wing organizations, like NPR or PBS, eliminates funding for wasteful projects, blocks any future reimposition of COVID-19 mask mandates, and dedicates $941 million to improving oversight and combating waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. With this package, House Republicans have passed 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Homeland Security appropriations bill expediently to complete the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. This bill passed the House by a vote of 217-214. 

Wednesday, February 4

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 4090, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act. This bill directs the Interior Department to expedite permitting approvals, recommend changes to streamline current mining laws, and conduct a nationwide review of federal, state, and local laws impeding mineral exploration and development. Additionally, this would require the Secretary to submit recommendations for policy changes to streamline domestic mining. Domestic mining of hardrock and critical minerals is a national security priority and ensures we are not reliant on adversarial nations like China for the technologies essential to Americans’ everyday lives. We cannot allow antiquated and unnecessary requirements to hinder mineral development while China continues to dominate this realm. This bill passed the House by a vote of 224-195. 

I voted “Yes” on H.J. Res. 142, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the action of the District of Columbia in approving the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025. This resolution blocks a misguided action by the D.C. Council that would decouple the District’s tax code from the Trump Tax Cuts, stripping away key provisions like the increased standard deduction, additional tax relief for seniors, and relief from taxes on tips, overtime pay, and auto loan interest. Under the Home Rule Act, Congress “reserves the right, at any time, to exercise its constitutional authority as legislature for the District of Columbia,” as well as to review and disapprove of most laws enacted by the D.C. Council before they take effect. If allowed to take effect, the D.C. Council’s action would raise taxes on the District’s working families, seniors, and small businesses. H.J. Res. 142 ensures that D.C. residents can fully benefit from pro-growth federal tax policy and reaffirms Congress’s oversight role under the Home Rule Act. The resolution passed the House by a vote of 215-210.

Roy-Hart Pancake Breakfast

Our team attended the Royalton-Hartland School District’s annual pancake breakfast at the Terry’s Corners Volunteer Fire Company in Gasport, a well-attended community tradition that brings together students, educators, families, and local volunteers. The event highlighted the strong sense of community and local involvement that defines the district. Students from the Royalton-Hartland FFA program helped run the breakfast and serve attendees, demonstrating leadership and hands-on skills. During the event, our office also presented certificates recognizing recipients of the New York Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award, honoring educators who help connect students with the importance of agriculture in our region.

Cody Volunteer Fire Department

Our team joined the Cody Volunteer Fire Department to mark the delivery of new firefighting equipment made possible by a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). The department received $132,571.42 in FY 2024 AFG funding, which was used to purchase updated protective gear for department members. This new equipment improves safety, reduces exposure to harmful contaminants, and includes gear designed to better fit all firefighters. Supporting volunteer fire departments is critical to protecting our communities, and it was a great opportunity for our office to see this investment put directly into the hands of those who serve and keep our region safe.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

Our office recently toured the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge to learn more about the important conservation work taking place in our region. The visit included time with refuge staff and volunteers who care for more than 10,000 acres of protected habitat that support hundreds of bird, mammal, fish, and other wildlife species. We also discussed the refuge’s outreach efforts with local schools and communities, as well as preparations underway for spring migration and nesting season. It was clear how passionate their team is in preserving this unique landscape and sharing it with the public. Places like Iroquois play a vital role in protecting our natural resources while connecting future generations to the outdoors across Upstate New York.

IRS Webinar

My office is hosting a Zoom webinar with the IRS on February 25 at 2:00 PM to help constituents prepare for the 2026 tax filing season and make sure they are taking full advantage of the tax programs available this year. This webinar will walk through best practices for filing and explain how the Trump Tax Cuts can benefit you, including new deductions for eligible workers who earn tips or overtime pay, enhanced relief for seniors, and provisions that support small businesses and working families. These common sense reforms are designed to reward hard work and let families keep more of what they earn, and it’s important that taxpayers understand how to claim the benefits available to them. If you would like to attend, RSVP at the link below to receive the Zoom webinar information. If you have questions or need assistance signing up, our Canandaigua District Office is happy to help at 585-869-2060.

TO RSVP AND RECEIVE THE ZOOM WEBINAR LINK, CLICK HERE

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.