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The Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden's Vax Mandate for Large Employers

This week, the Supreme Court stepped in to protect American workers and businesses from President Joe Biden’s vaccine-or-testing mandate for companies of more than 100 employees. It was clear from the beginning that this requirement, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outside the normal rule-making process and without authority from Congress, was an unconstitutional abuse of power by President Biden. Unfortunately, healthcare heroes were hung out to dry when the court ruled to allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to require healthcare workers at institutions receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to be vaccinated. While I support voluntary vaccination efforts through increased access and education, the heavy hand of the federal government must not be involved in the American people’s personal medical decisions when it comes to this vaccine. This is a big win, but the fight continues. In Congress, I support legislation like the Keep Vaccines Voluntary Act to prohibit federal agencies or recipients of federal funds from discriminating based on COVID-19 vaccine status. I also introduced the Employment Freedom for All Act to nullify non-compete agreements for employees fired for COVID-19 vaccine non-compliance. Americans must have freedom and choice.

Democrats Push Another Partisan Election Takeover

Once again, Democrats in Congress are pushing a federal takeover of our elections, and they are spreading mass misinformation about voting laws to advance their partisan agenda. I am making it a priority to set the record straight about some of the worst parts of the so-called voting rights bill considered by the House this week. States would be required to automatically register voters from databases like the state Department of Motor Vehicles without a clear process in place for even verifying citizenship or eligibility. Those who paid attention to the 2020 election in New York's 22nd Congressional District know why this is a bad idea. Partisan, unelected bureaucrats at the Department of Justice would be empowered to throw away commonsense election security laws voted on by the people or passed by state legislatures. Photo voter ID laws would be banned, including for mail-in ballots. Same-day voter registration, a proposal soundly rejected by New York voters last November, would be required in every state, making it nearly impossible to verify a voter’s eligibility.  Your hard-earned tax dollars would be used to fund political campaigns, lining the pockets of career politicians like Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer. This reckless effort to give the federal government control over our elections would be catastrophic for election integrity. The Election Integrity Caucus, which I am proud to co-chair, is standing up to fight back. This week, five new members joined the caucus to underscore their commitment to election integrity.

Questioning Small Business Administration IG Over Failure to Stop Illegal Planned Parenthood Loans

In a hearing this week with Small Business Administration (SBA) Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware, I continued to press for answers on whether Planned Parenthood will receive loan forgiveness for taxpayer-funded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans the organization illegally received. According to the rules of PPP, Planned Parenthood and its affiliates are ineligible from receiving loans under the program. This questioning follows a hearing in November where I pressed SBA Administrator Guzman on whether she plans to deny loan forgiveness to the Paycheck Protection Program loans that were provided to abortion provider Planned Parenthood against the rules established by Congress. We know that the SBA struggled at times throughout the pandemic, and that’s one of the reasons I introduced the Transparency in COVID-19 Expenditures Act. Only through the full audit of COVID-19 emergency programs can we ensure these mistakes aren’t made again. You can watch the clip of my questions by clicking here or on the video above.

Continuing to Support Law Enforcement

It was a privilege to sit down with the NYPD's Sergeants Benevolent Association to talk about rising crime in our communities, which has been heartbreaking to watch. Families should never have to worry about walking around our streets. We discussed how to combat the tide of crime and legislation I introduced to support law enforcement in their jobs and protect qualified immunity, like the Local Law Enforcement Protection Act. This bill would protect qualified immunity for police officers, a vital legal protection that shields them from frivolous lawsuits simply for doing their jobs.

Recognizing the Importance of Peterboro, NY to the Abolitionist Movement

This week, I delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives recognizing the historical importance of Peterboro, New York to the United States’ abolitionist movement. I also highlighted my recent visit to the home of Harriet Tubman in Auburn, New York. I joined Congressman Burgess Owens in telling the stories of America’s abolitionist heroes, like Mr. Gerrit Smith of Peterboro. Smith was an abolitionist who spent nearly 40 years using his wealth and property to guide formerly enslaved persons to freedom. Congressman Owens and I were lucky enough to visit the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum in Peterboro in October 2021, as well as Harriet Tubman’s home. It is important to tell Gerrit Smith’s and Harriet Tubman’s stories. Now, more than ever, we must understand our shared history and learn from those who came before us. Our Great Nation was founded on the promise that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Yet in the earliest days of our Nation’s founding, it is clear we failed to live up to our ideals. We failed to end the slave trade or to free those who were tied down in bondage. While this grave mistake will forever be a part of our history, so too will the courageous stories of Gerrit Smith, Harriet Tubman and so many more Americans of different races, creeds, and religions who fought for a better America, as we all do today. The way to improve this nation is not to cynically tear down our institutions or erase and rewrite our history, but rather to take inspiration from the ideals of our founding and those who persevered with great courage to fight for a better future. You can watch my full remarks on the House Floor by clicking here or on the video above.

My Votes Explained

I'm committed to restoring transparency to government, which is why I explain every vote I take on the House floor. While we may not always agree, you will always know where I stand on the issues and how I vote in Congress. To read more about my votes, please click here.  I voted “No” on H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021. As the mother of a Marine officer, I understand the sacrifices made by our service members and their families. One of my top priorities in Congress has always been to make sure that every American service member and veteran is well-equipped and properly taken care of, both while they are serving and after they return to civilian life. Unfortunately, while this bill may have been well-intentioned, it never truly received a hearing or due consideration in the Veterans Affairs Committee. It was rushed through committee on a party-line vote without any meaningful input from committee members on both sides of the aisle. It would cost tens of billions of dollars in mandatory spending without any offsets, threatening other vital Veterans priorities and programs, such as toxic exposure legislation. It also would extend Department of Veterans’ Affairs Home Loan housing fees and would increase the fee for Interest Rate Reduction Refinanced Loans. This bill passed by a vote of 287 – 135.   I voted “No” on Concurring in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746. This amendment focused on election reform was added in the dead of night to completely unrelated (and bipartisan!) NASA legislation. It is a cynical attempt by House Democrats to diminish the voting power of law-abiding American citizens. The legislation would federalize elections, even though Article 1 Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution clearly protects the rights of states to determine voting laws and practices. The legislation is an unconstitutional power-grab that would ban voter identification rules, mandate ballot harvesting, give the American people’s hard-earned tax dollars to political campaigns they do not agree with, and open the door for all noncitizens to vote. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 220-203.

Celebrating the Life of Late Rome Mayor Fusco

This week, I took a moment to celebrate the life and legacy of former Rome, New York Mayor Joseph "Joe" Fusco Jr., who sadly passed away in December of last year. Mayor Fusco was a dedicated public servant who led an incredible life. After first serving as a Rome City Councilman, he then served as Mayor from 2011 to 2015, where he always did his job with integrity, passion and determination. I extend my deepest condolences to Mayor Fusco's family, as they are grieving deeply at this time. This includes his beloved wife and dear friend Laurie, his son Joe, and his many grand children. He will be greatly missed, and his legacy will not be forgotten. You can watch my full remarks on the House Floor by clicking here or on the video above.

Camden Students Assisting in Disaster Relief

In February, a group of students from the Camden High School Track and Field team will be heading to Kentucky to assist in the cleanup efforts following last year's catastrophic tornado, which left countless people homeless. Thank you to these wonderful young people, who will help to rebuild homes in the disaster-stricken community. New York's 22nd District is a community committed to service, and I'm honored to represent such a selfless group of individuals!

REMINDER: Mobile Office Hours

Next week, my office will be hosting mobile office hours for constituents in New York's 22nd Congressional District to connect with caseworkers for assistance dealing with a federal agency. Constituents interested in attending a mobile office hour session should schedule an appointment in advance by contacting my Binghamton District office at 607-242-0200 or my Utica District Office at 315-732-0713. This will provide a more expedited casework experience for individuals and ensure that every constituent is able to receive the help they need. Oneida County Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 11AM - 1PM Camden Village Hall 57 Main Street Camden, NY 13316 Chenango County Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 11AM - 1PM Moore Memorial Library 59 Genesee Street Greene, NY 13778

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 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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