Hi team --

I wanted to take some time out of your busy day to talk to you about results.

A big part of what I do is deliver direct results to positively impact everyone in our community -- and I take great pride in that.

The work I do is anchored in a commitment to truly listening to the people -- listening to you. Understanding your wants and needs for yourselves and your families is what's important. My top priority is simply to get stuff done, and I'm eager to share with you some of the things I've been working on to improve everyday lives.

Upstate schools are struggling to source cafeteria meals. That's why I introduced the Small Farm to School Act, to incentivize partnerships between small farms and local schools. Local public schools would be reimbursed at a higher rate for sourcing school lunches from small farmers under the National School Lunch Program. The bottom line is it helps schools to ensure students have healthy food while simultaneously supporting our local farmers.

I believe that if we want to build our economy back stronger and support our communities, we need to invest in American goods that create American jobs. That's why I've introduced the MADE HERE Act, which would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense to establish a manufacturing cluster program to award resources and grants to partnerships among educational institutions, private companies, nonprofits, and labor groups collaborating in a particular field of manufacturing.

I’m also leading my colleagues in pushing for the Employee Retention Tax Credit to remain in place for the remainder of this calendar year. The credit allows small business owners to claim payroll tax credit of up to $7,000 per employee, per quarter for wages paid while closed or operating at reduced capacity due to the pandemic. For business owners in NY-19, the ERTC has been the difference between closing their doors and staying open for business.

Lastly, it was an honor to host Veterans Affairs Secretary McDonough to NY-19. Secretary McDonough met with our veterans right here in Ulster and Columbia counties. We fostered many conversations regarding the need to do more to support our country’s veterans -- from health care to employment and more. That's why this past Summer, I was proud to introduce the REACH Act, which would improve upon the Veterans Crisis Line and expand the current 988 hotline for veterans in crisis. I also introduced the MST Survivors Act, which would ensure that survivors of military sexual trauma get the comprehensive support they deserve through the Veterans Benefits Administration.

What matters to you is what matters most to me. That's why when I took office back in 2019, I promised to do whatever it takes to deliver results that directly impact our communities in the best way possible.

Now, nearly three years later, I promise to continue to show up to the fullest extent to ensure I’m delivering the best results for NY-19 and beyond. It’s truly an honor to represent you and Americans everywhere, every day in Congress, team.

Onward and upward,

Antonio