Friend,
If you asked me what legislation I'm proudest of in my first term, at the top of the list is my very first bill signed into law, the Family Farmer Relief Act.
Today marks
one year since my bipartisan bill that provides debt relief to family farmers became law. I'm proud of it for so many reasons:
It's truly bipartisan. Partisanship is a bitter block that Congress is faced with every day -- but that's why I'm beyond proud to have worked with both Republican and Democratic colleagues in order to pass this commonsense bill. Seeking common ground with my colleagues from across the aisle is what allowed me to be one of just six House members to have two or more stand-alone bills signed into law in 2019.
It's the result of outreach to NY-19 folks. Throughout my time in Congress, I've visited dozens of farms in upstate New York. And a clear issue folks brought up over and over again is that our local farmers were already facing a difficult farm economy and needed real relief.
Our family farmers constantly face uncertainty due to export market disruptions, inclimate and unpredictable impacts of weather, along with the decline of farming income. The FFRA helps family farmers weather those financial hardships by increasing the debt limit for relief eligibility
by over $6 million.
It's more important than ever. Farmers were already struggling under President Trump's trade war. Now, they're grappling with a difficult economy made worse by the ongoing pandemic that no one was expecting to face. This bipartisan law can provide critical support.
When we reach across the aisle and seek thoughtful solutions to challenging problems, positive and sustainable change can happen -- that's exactly why we were able to pass the Family Farmer Relief Act.
If I'm reelected this November, please know,
I will always work for the people of New York's 19th Congressional District, and I'll always lead with compassion and find solutions to help all in our community prosper.
Onward and upward,
Antonio
