Weekly Newsletter from the Office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe ‌ ‌ ‌ An update from the office of Congressman Andrew Garbarino SPOTLIGHT House Passes Annual Defense Funding Bill Including Several of Andrew's Priorities House of Representatives’ this week passed its annual defense authorization bill which would authorize $857 billion for national defense. The Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a 4.6% pay increase for servicemembers, strengthens the national security posture of the United States, and puts an end to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccinate mandate for military personnel. In a statement following the bill's passage he said, “It has never been more imperative that we strengthen our national defense and ensure that our military is strong and prepared in the face of rising threats. I was proud to vote in favor of this critical bill and am pleased to have had several of my priorities incorporated in the final text, including those to improve our cyber preparedness and take on drug trafficking at the border.” Read more here. ANDREW IN THE NEWS European and North American Lawmakers Urge Terror Listing for Iranian Revolutionary Guards " 220 politicians from Europe, Canada, and the United States on Thursday released a statement calling on the European Union and Canada to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies as terrorist organizations. 'We, lawmakers from opposite sides of the Atlantic and with diverse political views, are united in our grave concern about the growing threat to regional and global peace posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,' the statement reads. 'Since its inception in 1979, the IRGC has created and funded a multitude of terror groups in the region, including Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The regime has used these terror proxies to spread death, terror, and instability in the Middle East and beyond. The transatlantic community should therefore impose sanctions and designate the IRGC, and all of Iran’s terror proxies, as the terrorists they are.' The statement was delivered Thursday to the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the European Council, and the governments of all 27 EU member states. The initiative was led by the American Jewish Committee’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel project. Signatories included 27 US Senators and Congressional Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties, including statement co-initiators Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), as well as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Reps. Kathy Manning (D-NC) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX). " Listen Here To Read Full Article. WHAT'S NEW IN NY-02 Andrew Honors Pear Harbor Veterans on 81st Anniversary This week, on the 81st Anniversary of the attack on Pear Harbor, the Long Island Air Force Association (AFA) held a memorial ceremony at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale. Andrew provided Congressional Certificates of Recognition for our veterans of the attack in honor of their service. May we never forget the 2,400 Americans who lost their lives that day nor the brave sacrifice of the Greatest Generation on behalf of our nation. Andrew Works To Address Long Island Food Insecurity This week, LI Cares, an organization dedicated to serving Long Island's hungry and food insecure populations, held its annual government affairs breakfast where several nonprofits along with concerned members of the community gathered to discuss top legislative issues relating to food insecurity, including the work Andrew has done in Congress to support these efforts. Andrew is dedicated to bettering our community and ensuring Long Islanders have access to the resources they need. CASEWORK HIGHLIGHT: Clearing Up Child Passport Delays The Buffalo Passport Processing Center was holding the application for a minor child. This application is being held in DC for clearance while the child's custody was verified. Andrew's casework team got involved and ensured the passport was cleared through DC and the family was able to make their flight on that Saturday. Andrew knows how frustrating dealing with bureaucracy can be. That is why he has an entire team dedicated to helping constituents get what they need for the federal government. If you need help dealing with a federal agency, contact our office and our team will get to work on your case. KEEPING UP WITH CONGRESS Andrew's Small Business Cybersecurity Bill Advances Andrew is proud to announce that his bill, H.R. 4515 - The Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act, is one step closer to becoming law after the House of Representatives voted on a bipartisan basis to pass a House Amendment to the Senate version of the bill, S. 1687, which is sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). This bill would help Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) become better trained to assist small businesses with their cyber security and cyber strategy needs by establishing a cyber counseling certification program. Andrew Stands With Israel Against UN Bias Andrew recently joined with Representatives Dean Phillips, Brian Fitzpatrick and 46 other Members of Congress to advocate for greater objectivity in the United Nations’ investigations of alleged human rights violations in Israel and Palestine. In a letter to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the Members advocated to reduce or eliminate funding for the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel (COI). Even President Biden has said that the COI “does nothing to establish conditions of peace,” noting that the investigative body’s work is “open ended and biased,” and the U.S. State Department has criticized its anti-Israel bias and called to reform its funding. Read the full letter here. Thanks for reading! Do you know someone who might like to receive these updates? Forward this email to your friends and families and tell them to click below to subscribe! Click Here To Subscribe Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino Congressman representing New York's 2nd Congressional District ‌ ‌ ‌ Washington, D.C. 1516 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7896 Fax: (202) 226-2279 Massapequa Park 1003 Park Boulevard Massapequa Park, NY 11762 Phone: (516) 541-4225 Fax: (516) 541-6602 Rep. Garbarino | 1516 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]