Thank you to Trooper Seager
This week, New York State Trooper Becky Seager was shot and injured in the line of duty while responding to a welfare call in the Southern Tier. While her injury was deemed to be not life-threatening, this is a reminder of the dangers police officers face on the job. Our whole community thanks Trooper Seager for her service and is grateful she was released from the hospital recently, where she was greeted by fellow law enforcement officers, friends, family, and community members. I wish you a full and speedy recovery, Trooper Seager!
I'd also like to commend the New York State Police and other local law enforcement agencies in our region for staying on this case to track down the perpetrator who fled the scene after this cowardly assault. I cannot express my gratitude for the work you do each day to keep us safe.
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Securing Our Defense Priorities
This week, I testified to the House Appropriations Committee on the importance of funding critical research and defense missions happening in New York's 22nd Congressional District. Our region has a history of innovation and is involved in world-class research that's leading our Nation into a more secure future. I am honored to support the FY22 defense funding request for the Rome Lab that will allow continued development of emerging technologies to keep the US ahead in the high tech digital battle space.
My testimony also underscored the importance of the Civil Air Patrol's mission that bolsters our national security and greatly contributes to our homeland security mission. The Civil Air Patrol is both an Air Force auxiliary and a nonprofit that serves thousands of communities across the country. They are a professional group leaders committed to world class training and service to our communities. Ensuring they are properly funded for the year ahead is essential to the success of our Nation.
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Biden Administration Delists Iran Sanction Violators
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I've had the chance to speak directly with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on multiple occasions, including this week when he testified before the committee. I was appalled to learn through the media, not the Secretary himself, that the Administration lifted sanctions on several Iranian officials just days before the G7 summit in the UK.
In multiple hearings and conversations, the Secretary made it very clear he would keep Congress and the Foreign Affairs Committee updated on any changes to previously imposed sanctions on Iran. However, he's failing to stick to this commitment. That's why I am calling on Secretary Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to immediately explain to Congress why these violators have been delisted from the sanctions list and why we are now in the business of making concessions to Iran. Iran continues to hold American hostages, expand its nuclear program, and fund terrorist proxies. There is no reason why we should be removing sanctions until Iran changes its behavior.
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President Biden Meets with G7 Leaders
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This week, President Joe Biden is in the United Kingdom for the G7 summit, where he will have the opportunity to reassert the U.S. position on several key issues. I've outlined a clear list of priorities the President must push while in meetings with G7 leaders. Unfortunately, President Biden has wasted little time returning our country to the failed policies of the past.
President Biden continues to claim, ‘America is back.’ This begs the question, back to what? The polices of the past 30 years – which Joe Biden helped shape – did nothing for American families. They decimated our domestic manufacturing, drove our nation deeper into debt, eroded our competitive edge, led to endless war, neglected our alliances, and paved the way for the rise of adversaries like China and Russia. Abandoning the America First agenda might appease European technocrats and impress coastal elites, but it won’t help the American worker or secure a more prosperous future for our nation.
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The Border Crisis is Getting Worse
This week, the Department of Homeland Security released statistics for illegal border crossings at our southern border. They show that the illegal immigration crisis created by President Biden is getting worse. In May, there were 180,034 border crossings - a 674% increase over May of 2020 and a new 21-year high.
As more human smugglers and cartels take advantage of the open border, America is becoming less safe. Drug seizures have increased by 18% in the last month alone, and so far in 2021, Customs and Border Protection have interdicted more fentanyl than they did in all of 2020. Instead of tackling this issue at the source, the Administration is more focused on visiting foreign countries and sending American tax dollars to Central America without oversight of how the funds will even be spent. If the President and Vice President want to understand the severity of this once in a generation catastrophe, they need to get on the ground at the border, talk with our law enforcement officials who are on the frontlines, and work with Congress to end this disastrous boondoggle.
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Always Fighting for Rome Lab
Rome Lab is an engine of growth and prosperity for our community, and I'm fighting to preserve this legacy. This week, I joined Congresswoman Elise Stefanik in submitting a letter to the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate's FY22 defense appropriations request.
This investment is vitally important to our national security because Rome Lab remains at the forefront of cutting-edge technological advancements in a range of fields. When our adversaries like Russia and China pose unprecedented threats in cyberspace, the United States must fully invest in Rome Lab's critical research and development. Each federal dollar allocated to Rome Lab advances America's security and our region's prosperity. I am honored to lead this charge with Congresswoman Stefanik and thank her for her partnership on this.
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Listening Sessions for Veterans
An Important Notice to all veterans: The VA continues to host listening sessions for veterans across America to share their experiences with the VA healthcare system. If you or someone you know are interested in attending an upcoming session, click the link here to learn more and register.
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Supporting New York's Civil Air Patrol
New York’s Civil Air Patrol plays an important role in supporting emergency operations in our community and across the nation. It was an honor to join them in flight for an emergency response simulation. This week's training session was an opportunity to see the Civil Air Patrol’s expertise and resolve firsthand.
The NY Civil Air Patrol stands ready to respond and offer their support at a moment’s notice. Whether assisting in the aftermath of a hurricane or providing supplies to a disaster-impacted area, the Civil Air Patrol is always there. The Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program also gives young people such a unique opportunity to learn about emergency response and aeronautics, which many build on to pursue outstanding careers in the military and aerospace. I am committed to supporting their efforts in Congress and across New York.
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Supporting Local Small Businesses
I am continuing to meet with small businesses around New York's 22nd Congressional District as part of my Small Business Outreach Tour. This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with members of the Greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce to discuss solutions that will support our small business recovery efforts. I'm committed to finding bipartisan, targeted policies to ensure small businesses have the necessary tools and resources to come out of the pandemic stronger.
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Fighting for
Sandy Pond
I was in Oswego County this week to join local residents and officials in calling on state and federal agencies to allow a dredging project to continue in the area. This vitally important project will ensure boaters, residents and first responders continue to have critical access to Lake Ontario. The dredging project was halted after a Piping Plover bird was spotted several hundred feet away from the ingress and egress locations where the work was being conducted. The inability to dredge is causing significant economic harm to the community and poses a very real threat to public safety. Dredging can be done safely and without harm to the environment, which is why I am calling on NYS DEC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow this work to continue. Together with the community, we will continue to fight the bureaucracies in Washington and Albany to get the job done.
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Congrats to Our Newest Eagle Scouts
I enjoyed attending the Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Saturday to celebrate Diego and Jeffrey. These two young men have demonstrated incredible leadership, commitment, and integrity. I have no doubt they'll continue making a positive impact on our community. It was an honor to witness their promotion and congratulate them on such an outstanding accomplishment.
I'd also like to congratulate Anthony, Aaron, Jason, Garrett, and Michael of the Vestal Boy Scout Troop 225, who were also promoted to Eagle Scouts this week. Each of these young leaders has chosen to better themselves and our community. I'm wishing them nothing but success as they move forward in life with such a distinct honor of being an Eagle Scout.
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June Mobile Office Hours
I would like to thank everyone who came to mobile office hours this week in Cortland County! I am pleased to announce that my office will be holding additional office hours in Chenango County this week and in Tioga County the following week.
If you or someone you know are interested in attending a session, please contact my Binghamton District Office at 607-242-0200 or my Utica District Office at 315-732-0713 to schedule an appointment today.
Chenango County
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 from 11AM - 1PM
Village of Greene Offices
49 Genesee Street
Greene, NY 13778
**New**
Tioga County
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 11AM - 1PM
Owego Town Court
2354 State Route 434
Apalachin, NY 13732
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Have news or updates to share? Email me!
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If you have updates regarding events in the community or other news to share from across New York's 22nd 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 #NY22 as we can each week.
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