Fighting for Broadband Access and Affordability
This week, the House Small Business Committee hosted a hearing focused on broadband infrastructure. During this meeting, I expressed my concerns about the virtual Spectrum Cable monopoly facing our community. After New York State, under Governor Andrew Cuomo, agreed to a cable consolidation plan with Spectrum that it claimed would improve service, the state has failed to enforce this agreement. As a result, New Yorkers are now stuck with unreliable and limited service at high prices. Watch the hearing by clicking the image above.
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Censuring "The Squad" for its anti-Semitic Habits
You might have seen recently that Rep. Ilhan Omar, a sitting member of Congress who still serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, compared the United States to Hamas and the Taliban. She's a member of "The Squad," along with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, who all have a habit of trafficking in anti-Semitic rhetoric, and recently went as far as defending Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
That was way too far for me. That's why I joined my colleagues, Congressmen Michael Waltz and Jim Banks, to introduce a resolution to censure "The Squad" for their repeated anti-Semitic rhetoric, including their defense of Hamas' recent terrorist attacks against Israel.
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Essential Caregivers Act Gains Greater Bipartisan Support in Congress
This week, I introduced an updated version of the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act with Congressman John Larson of Connecticut and several other members from both sides of the aisle. This legislation will close a loophole in existing law to better protect the rights of seniors and vulnerable populations in long-term care facilities. Residents of these facilities have rights, and it is up to Congress to make sure they are protected in any future emergency.
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HR4 = HR1. Dems' latest election bill is also disastrous for our nation. Let's look closely
As Chairwoman of the House Election Integrity Caucus, I'm committed to commonsense reforms that encourage more Americans to vote while protecting the fairness and transparency of the democratic process. While H.R. 1 has hit a snag in the Senate, Democrats are now pushing to advance, H.R. 4, the John Lewis Advancement Voting Rights Act. But this bill is just as bad for American democracy. H.R. 4, like H.R. 1, would federalize our election system, give more power to unelected career bureaucrats in Washington, and unconstitutionally erode the ability of states to oversee and administer elections.
I published a piece on Fox News this week that takes a deeper dive into why this legislation is just as bad as H.R. 1. I'll continue standing for election integrity and fighting back attempts to consolidate power in the hands of DC operatives who want to see Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer remain in power forever.
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President Biden Met with Putin: It didn't go well |
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President Biden has been on an apology tour for the United States since he landed in Europe last week. His meeting with Putin this week showed just how unwilling he is to meet Russian aggression with a swift and decisive response. Even after Russia's continued cyberattacks against the US, President Biden handed Putin a roadmap for Russia to continue attacking the United States rather than making it clear that ALL attacks must be off the table.
Biden needs to take concrete and immediate actions to counter Russian cyberattacks, rescind the waivers that paved the way for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and support Ukraine against Russian aggression. His meeting with Putin and the summit in Brussels accomplished none of these things.
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My Votes This Week
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 “Yes” on a package of 10 bipartisan bills, which passed the House by a vote of 287-140. This package includes legislation that will protect consumers, veterans , and our environment. The package also included a bill I cosponsored to provide a congressional Gold Medal to the Harlem Hellfighters. This package passed by a vote of 287-140.
- I voted "No" on H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act. This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requiring payment from a veteran for any contraceptive item that is required to be covered by health insurance plans without a cost-sharing requirement. The bill would require taxpayers to bear the full cost of contraception through the VA, which includes forms of birth control like Plan B and Ella, which are abortifacients. This bill required two-thirds of the House's support and failed by a vote of 240-188.
- I voted "Yes" on H.R. 3325, to award four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. I have consistently condemned the actions of January 6, and applaud the heroism of the United States Capitol Police officers who defended our Nation’s Capital. The legislation passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 406-21.
- I voted "No" on H.R. 1443, the LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act. I strongly support the equal rights and protections of all people, no matter their race, gender, religion, or sexuality. I have concerns that this bill could lead to preferences in the financial sector based on certain classifications. This bill failed by a vote of 248-177.
- I voted “No” on H.R. 1187, the Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act. This legislation would politicize the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by implementing a one-size-fits-all disclosure regime for publicly traded companies that will increase costs, discourage investment, and deter private companies from going public. Although this bill faced bipartisan opposition, it passed the House by a slim margin of 215-214.
- I voted “Yes” on S.475, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. This bill establishes June 19 as an annual federal holiday known as, “Juneteenth National Independence Day.” Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, freeing the last remaining enslaved African Americans and marking the end of slavery in the United States. This bill passed by a vote of 415-14.
- I voted “No” on H.R. 256, to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. This bill repeals current counterterrorism authorities without standing up a replacement that is scoped to current national security threats. H.R. 256 would only repeal the 2002 AUMF, which provides continuing legal authority for military operations against terrorist threats in Iraq, including Iran-backed militias. Repeal without a replacement sends the wrong message, and will only embolden our terrorist adversaries, including Iran and ISIS. This bill passed the House by a vote of 268-161.
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Weekly Cosponsor Update
I am pleased to share several bills that I cosponsored in Congress this week. I am focused on representing you in Washington and will continue to support commonsense legislation that delivers results for New York families, small businesses, and seniors. This is what I cosponsored this week:
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H.R. 4007: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure that public institutions of higher education eschew policies that improperly constrain the expressive rights of students, and to ensure that private institutions of higher education are transparent about, and responsible for, their chosen speech policies.
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H.R. 3694: To require the United States Trade Representative to submit a report on the manner and extent to which Nicaragua is in compliance with the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement.
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H.R. 3922: To impose sanctions with respect to members of the Chinese Communist Party and heads of Chinese health agencies relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.
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H. Res. 474: Condemning and censuring Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts for defending foreign terrorist organizations and inciting anti-Semitic attacks across the United States.
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H.R. 3820: To enforce the requirement that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System make a final disposition of requests to correct its records within 60 days, and for other purposes.
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NY-22 Celebrates National Flag Day
244 years ago, the United States adopted the first version of the American flag, which included thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. As America has grown, so has our flag. Let us celebrate the beauty of this symbol of freedom and prosperity. It represents the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am so thankful to see our local communities, including the city of Utica (picture above), taking time to celebrate our flag and all that it stands for. God bless America!
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Supporting Local Memorials and Honoring Our Heroes
You may recall a few weeks ago when I was in Rome to unveil details of my Remembering Our Local Heroes Act, which would support local communities like Rome in constructing, restoring and maintaining memorials that honor heroes, including military men and women, veterans, law enforcement, and firefighters. This week, I was honored to formally introduce this bipartisan bill with Congressman Chris Pappas of New Hampshire. This legislation will preserve the legacies and memories of those who have served our communities and sacrificed so much for our Nation.
You can learn more about this bill by following the link here. It's an honor to fight for these local issues in Congress.
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Honoring a Local Legend
Richard J. Furlong was a cherished member of our community who left a permanent mark on our hearts before his passing. He served in the U.S. Army during the World War II era and was the oldest living member of the American Legion, Leon R. Roberts Post 161.
I was honored to reflect on his life and his accomplishments on the House floor this week. We will always remember his service and vibrant personality. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Click here or the image above to watch my full remarks.
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June Mobile Office Hours
I would like to thank everyone who came to mobile office hours this week in Chenango County! I am pleased to announce that my office will be holding additional office hours in Tioga County this 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.
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! |
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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