Hi team --

I can't believe I'm already sending you our 5th dispatch of the year!

Time is flying, and it's crazy to think just how different things were this time last year. Thankfully, we are in a much better situation. Though COVID-19 has proven to be unpredictable, we know so much more about it now, especially when it comes to combating it.

The best thing about now is vaccines. Over half of adults in New York are vaccinated, and the vaccine is available to all individuals 12 years and older. While we still have to be cognizant and ensure we're being safe, at the very least, it looks like we’ll have a fairly normal summer.

If one thing's for sure -- it's that the latest CDC face mask guidance was a breakthrough moment in our fight against COVID-19.

In other news, last week, you may have finalized your federal tax filing -- this is good news, because this July, the Child Tax Credit will be going directly to over 38,000 families in NY-19. This is the American Rescue Plan at work, and helping to pass it through Congress is something I'd do a million times over again.

Via my Direct Support For Communities Act funding formula, the American Rescue Plan is also allocating funds to local governments across the country -- no matter the size. In the beginning of the pandemic, only larger counties and cities were receiving direct federal relief. My funding formula provides funding to localities of all sizes.

Brighter days are ahead of us, and it's never felt so good to be on a brink of the slightest bit of normalcy. We must continue to encourage our neighbors to get vaccinated, wear our masks as needed, and remain vigilant to the threat of COVID.

We've gotten this far, and we simply cannot go backward. Let us continue on together, thoughtful, and caring as we enter the next chapter of overcoming COVID.

With love,

Antonio