{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"NY\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-unveils-2025-annual-report-highlight-results-ny-24", "Congresswoman Tenney Unveils 2025 Annual Report to Highlight Results for NY-24 Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Oswego, New York \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released her 2025 Annual Report, showcasing how her office delivered for working families, farmers, small businesses, veterans, and seniors across the district. The report highlights expanded constituent services, strong legislative action, and a continued commitment to transparency and accountability.\n\n\u201cServing NY-24 in 2025 has been a privilege, and this year delivered meaningful progress for families and small businesses. My office returned $27.5 million to constituents who were owed benefits, resolved 2,600 constituent cases, and responded to tens of thousands of calls and messages from those seeking help,\" said Congresswoman Tenney. On the legislative front, I supported the Trump Tax Cuts to deliver permanent relief for working families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses, and backed dozens of bills that advanced through the House. This annual report outlines how these efforts delivered real results for Upstate New York and where the focus remains as we head into the new year.\u201d\n\nView the full report here and view highlights from each section below:\n\nConstituent Services\n\nReturned over $27.5 million in benefits or back pay to residents of NY-24.\n\nCompleted 2,600 constituent cases, helping people cut through federal red tape.\n\nAnswered more than 16,000 constituent calls and messages.\n\nProvided over 850 commendations and proclamations to veterans, first responders, students, and community leaders.\n\nWrote 110 grant letters to support local community projects and economic growth.\n\nAttended over 130 community events across the district.\n\nAccessibility and Transparency\n\nExplained every vote cast in Congress, surpassing 1,000 detailed vote explanations on the website.\n\nResponded to more than 78,000 constituent messages seeking answers and accountability.\n\nContinued to provide clear breakdowns of Washington actions that affect costs, security, and local priorities.\n\nDelivering Results for NY-24\n\nIntroduced 67 bills and cosponsored 472 bills on critical issues like economic growth, national security, and election integrity.\n\nSupported 45 bills that passed the House of Representatives.\n\nHelped advance 11 bills that became law, including measures enacted in the Trump Tax Cuts that deliver permanent relief.\n\nSecured wins that support local priorities: tax credits for advanced manufacturing, stronger protections for family farms, and rural hospital support.\n\nAdvocated for energy affordability and reliability, including preserving nuclear credits important to Upstate New York.\n\nHighlights for the District\n\nBacked efforts that helped secure the release of an American held abroad.\n\nPassed H.R. 323, Renaming a Post Office to Honor Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz\n\nPressed for stronger border security and enforcement to protect public safety and stop illegal trafficking.\n\nSupported workforce development initiatives and small business outreach efforts across NY-24.\n\nRead the full 2025 Annual Report here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/29/dear-colleague-on-january-6th-five-year-anniversary/", "Dear Colleague on January 6th Five-year Anniversary", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Dear Colleague:\n\nI write with respect to the upcoming solemn anniversary of the January 6th brutal attack on the Capitol. Nearly five years ago, a violent mob incited by Donald Trump attempted to halt the peaceful transfer of power. As a result of the extraordinary bravery of the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement professionals, the treacherous effort to prevent certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election failed.\n\nHowever, the cost was profound. More than 140 heroic police officers were seriously injured and many suffered lasting physical and psychological trauma. Several tragically lost their lives. In the years since that disgraceful day, far-right Republicans in Congress have repeatedly attempted to rewrite history and whitewash the events of January 6th. Our country has been indelibly scarred.\n\nDonald Trump promised to lower the high cost of living on day one of his presidency. One year later, costs are out of control, America is too expensive and Republicans believe that the affordability crisis is a hoax. They have done nothing to lower costs for everyday Americans, but are gutting healthcare and enacted massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors.\n\nThe toxic priorities of the Republican Party are clear. On day one of his second term, President Trump issued blanket pardons and commutations to the nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the January 6th attack, including hundreds of violent felons who brutally assaulted law enforcement officers. Several of those individuals have been charged with new crimes throughout the country, putting the safety of the American people in jeopardy. A troubling number of the criminals pardoned by Donald Trump have been arrested for child molestation, sexual assault and kidnapping. Republicans own the failed economy, their broken promise to lower costs and the crime spree the dangerous criminals pardoned by the President have visited on our country.\n\nWe must never forget the horrors of January 6th and will continue to honor the brave law enforcement officers who were injured and lost their lives defending the rule of law in the United States. To that end, on the fifth anniversary of that fateful day, led by the Honorable Bennie Thompson and the Members of the January 6th Select Committee, House Democrats will hold a special hearing that will commence at 10:00 a.m.\n\nAt the hearing, we will examine ongoing threats to free and fair elections posed by an out-of-control Trump administration, expose the election deniers who hold high-level positions of significance in the executive branch and detail the threats to public safety posed by the hundreds of violent felons who were pardoned on the President\u2019s first day in office. We will also present a panel of Members who wish to share their personal experiences from that horrific day. If you wish to testify, please contact Emily.Berret@mail.house.gov by 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 2.\n\nThank you for your leadership and I look forward to our continued work in the new year to make life better for the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\nHakeem Jeffries\n\nDemocratic Leader", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/langworthy-announces-cms-funds-support-rural-hospitals-across-western-new-york", "Langworthy Announces CMS funds to Support Rural Hospitals Across Western New York and the Southern Tier", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicholas A. Langworthy", "L000600", "langworthy.house.gov", "langworthy", "https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced that New York State has been awarded $212 million in federal funding for Fiscal Year 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic investment authorized under H.R. 1 and the Working Families Tax Plan, and announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely proud to share that New York will receive $212 million in funding to strengthen our rural hospitals and healthcare systems that serve so many hardworking families in Western New York and the Southern Tier,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cThis funding is historic \u2014 and it will make a real difference for patients and providers across our communities.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Program represents the largest federal investment in rural healthcare in American history. Established under H.R. 1 and the Working Families Tax Plan, the initiative invests $50 billion over five years to expand access to care, improve outcomes, modernize healthcare delivery, and support rural providers nationwide.\n\n\u201cRural hospitals are the backbone of healthcare in our communities. For too long, many rural systems have faced mounting financial pressure, workforce shortages, and access challenges \u2014 forcing patients to travel farther for care,\u201d Langworthy continued. \u201cThis investment helps change that.\u201d\n\nCMS confirmed that funding will support initiatives such as workforce development, expanded access to primary and specialty care, improved care coordination, and modern health technology investments designed to improve outcomes in rural communities.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I was proud to help advance the policies that made this investment possible,\u201d Langworthy added. \u201cThis is critical funding to strengthen the rural hospitals and healthcare systems that serve so many residents of New York\u2019s 23rd Congressional District.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, with oversight to ensure resources are used efficiently, responsibly, and with a clear focus on delivering measurable improvements for patients and providers.\n\n\u201cThis is a historic win for rural healthcare in New York,\u201d Langworthy concluded. \u201cI will continue fighting in Congress to bring home resources that protect access to care, support healthcare workers, and strengthen the communities we serve.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-tours-delaney-hall-ice-facility-calls-for-accountability-and-immediate-closure-after-detainee-death/", "CLARKE TOURS DELANEY HALL ICE FACILITY, CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMMEDIATE CLOSURE AFTER DETAINEE DEATH", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 23, 2025\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nBROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Representatives Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) toured the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark following the death of Haitian migrant Jean Wilson Brutus under ICE\u2019s custody and mounting reports of inhumane conditions and systemic abuse within detention facilities.\n\n\u201cCongressional oversight is essential to preventing and ending the abuses at Delaney Hall and within other detention facilities nationwide. No human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the veil of Donald Trump\u2019s deportation machine, today. But while the state of this facility was shocking, it was not at all unexpected. This administration and its ICE enforcers have demonstrated nothing but cruelty through their xenophobic and inhumane immigration policies that disproportionately target blue states and have swept up immigrants and U.S. citizens alike, often without due process, before they are funneled into detention facilities designed to strip them of their dignity and expose them to serious harm.\n\n\u201cMr. Jean Wilson Brutus should still be alive today. This administration\u2019s despicable response to this tragedy and their total lack of transparency speak volumes and tell us everything we need to know about how ICE views the human beings in its care. Let me be clear: any death in the custody of the United States federal government is the responsibility of our government and the administration that leads it. With four reported deaths in ICE custody in recent weeks and a record number since this administration took power, it is an insult to call this incident isolated. Being undocumented should not be a death sentence. I will continue to demand accountability and closely monitor the situation as we learn more.\n\n\u201cTo see so many faces that look just like my own and those of my constituents\u2019 be filled with fear for their lives and grief for a future that was stolen from them was a heartbreaking experience, and one that will stay with me for all time. Every day, this administration\u2019s actions are rotting the soul of America. It is time to remember that we are better than these horrors. Our nation reaches its greatest heights when guided by our hearts, compassion, and a moral obligation to our neighbors in need. That is why my home of New York City will remain a sanctuary city to the oppressed and powerless. Our doors will always be open to those seeking refuge and safety, and they will always be closed to Donald Trump and his agents of hatred.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-goldman-demands-classified-briefing-trump-administration-following-pause", "Rep. Goldman Demands Classified Briefing with Trump Administration Following Pause of Offshore Wind Projects", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "New York, NY - Today, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticizing the recent decision to pause all offshore wind leases and demanding a classified briefing with the appropriate officials on the national security concerns cited as the rationale for the pause. One of the affected offshore wind projects, Empire Wind 1, is located partially in New York\u2019s 10th Congressional District and will be adversely impacted by the decision.\n\nIn the letter, Goldman lays out the urgent need for offshore wind projects like Empire Wind 1 and calls out President Trump\u2019s hypocritical crusade against renewable energy, which has only served to raise costs for families across the country and further drive the affordability crisis.\n\nRep. Goldman writes, \u201c[Empire Wind 1] is an economic driver for the state of New York, helping to create over 4,000 jobs, and is expected to generate upwards of 810 megawatts of electricity, enough to power an estimated 500,000 homes.\u201d\n\nHe continues, \u201cSince President Trump took office in January, electricity prices are up 13 percent nationwide, and the cost of electricity is climbing more than twice as fast as the rate of inflation. Moreover, with a significant increase in high-energy data centers around the country, demand for energy will continue to increase, placing additional upward pressure on energy prices in New York. Instead of embracing offshore wind\u2019s potential to lower costs for New Yorkers, the decision to pause Empire Wind 1\u2019s lease is yet another example of the President\u2019s illogical, irrational, and economically irresponsible vendetta against renewable energy.\u201d\n\nGoldman has consistently pushed back against the Trump administration\u2019s reckless renewable energy policies, and his efforts were central to the administration lifting its stop work order against Empire 1 when it was previously arbitrarily targeted by President Trump earlier this year. Goldman also helped lead opposition to the approval of a new fracked natural gas pipeline in New York harbor, which would endanger marine ecosystems, threaten public health, and undermine New York\u2019s landmark climate goals.\n\nThe Congressman continues, \u201c[T]he Department of the Interior\u2019s press release oddly \u2014 and for the first time \u2014 cites national security concerns as the principal rationale for the current decision to pause construction of Empire Wind 1. The press release cites classified documents supplied by the Department of Defense in support of this assertion.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccordingly, pursuant to my Constitutional oversight duties, I hereby request access to the documents cited in the press release and a classified briefing with both the Departments of Interior and Defense when Congress is next in session the week of January 5, 2026.\u201d\n\nRep. Goldman\u2019s statement on the pause can be found here. A copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-goldman-deluzio-introduce-legislation-improve-affordability-stadium", "Reps. Goldman, Deluzio Introduce Legislation to Improve Affordability of Stadium Concessions", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u2018Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act\u2019 Would Direct FTC to Investigate Concession Price Gouging at Sports Stadiums\n\nDespite Public Subsidies of Stadiums, Going to Ball Games Unaffordable for Working Families\n\nStadiums Concessions Charge New York Captive Audiences Double the Street Price, Despite Receiving Billions in Public Subsidies\n\nWashington, DC - U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced the Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a nationwide study of concession pricing practices at sports venues.\n\nDespite the significant public investment into sports venues, the cost of many concessions remains unaffordable for the average American family. The average beer at Madison Square Garden in New York City costs $16. At Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, beer costs nearly $10, double the price fans would pay elsewhere. The average lowest price for a hot dog across MLB\u2019s 30 ballparks in 2024 was nearly $6. Working families should be able to afford to take a break and see a game \u2013 at venues supported by their tax dollars \u2013 without facing massive price markups. For example, taxpayers paid $1.2 billion for Yankee Stadium, while Madison Square Garden receives an estimated $42 million annually from New York City through a property tax exemption.\n\nWorking families are already struggling to pay rising prices thanks to Trump's reckless economic agenda, and being charged inflated prices for concessions at publicly funded stadiums adds insult to injury. The HOTDOG Act would shine a much-needed light on exploitative pricing practices and allow the FTC, lawmakers, and most importantly, working families, to gain more transparency into potential price gouging by venues and determine best practices for affordable pricing.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to ensure that hardworking families can afford to enjoy nights out at ball games - especially when their hard-earned tax dollars are supporting big sporting projects across the state and country,\u201d said Congressman Goldman. \"That\u2019s why I\u2019m leading legislation to push to ensure that we have a better understanding of how stadiums and sports organizations are pricing concessions. Federal dollars should be used for the benefit of the people, not just the benefit of the corporations or the owners.\u201d\n\n\"One of life\u2019s great joys is a hot dog and a cold beer or pop watching the Black and Gold. But concessions at pro stadiums across the country have become a ripoff, with so many teams pricing out fans and families,\" said Congressman Deluzio. \"Congressman Goldman and I are introducing the HOTDOG Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to find ways to stop this price gouging. People should be able to go enjoy a game and grab a bite or a drink without breaking the bank.\"\n\nThe HOTDOG Act would direct the FTC to evaluate pricing practices at professional sports stadiums that were constructed or are operated with public subsidy funds. The FTC would examine the prices of comparable food and drinks inside and outside stadiums; pricing practices such as dynamic pricing, service fees, and promotions; transparency of concession prices to consumers, and other types of pricing policies. The bill requires the FTC to issue a report to Congress detailing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or industry action to improve affordability and transparency.\n\n\u201cAny American who's been to the ballpark or a concert recently knows that, too often, a stop by the snack counter can feel like a shakedown,\u201d said Alex Jacquez, Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative. \u201cWorking families are already struggling to pay rising prices thanks to Trump's reckless economic agenda, and being charged inflated prices for concessions at publicly-funded facilities adds insult to injury. Rep. Goldman\u2019s legislation would bring much-needed transparency to pricing practices at stadiums and other venues so Americans can enjoy their favorite pastimes without feeling ripped off.\"\n\n\"For too long, fans have been gouged at the concession stand in the same venues built with their own tax dollars,\u201d said Brian Hess, Executive Director, Sports Fans Coalition. \u201cThe HOTDOG Act will shine a much-needed light on exploitative pricing practices and help identify solutions that make attending games affordable for working families again. When taxpayers invest hundreds of millions into stadiums, they deserve transparency about why a hot dog costs three times what it does on the street outside. We applaud Representatives Goldman and Deluzio for taking this important first step toward holding venues accountable and making game day affordable for American families.\"\n\n\"Public Citizen is singularly focused on fighting for everyday Americans\u2014especially during an affordability crisis that is stretching family budgets to the breaking point,\u201d said Joshua Miller, Director of Congress Watch at Public Citizen. \u201cWhen taxpayers help finance stadiums and arenas, working families should not be priced out of attending games or gouged once they walk through the door. This bill is about fairness, transparency, and basic respect for the public.\"\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Goldman led a letter with nine House Democrats to urge the House Appropriations Committee to direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate stadium and airport food prices to increase transparency and prevent potential price gouging practices.\n\nThe HOTDOG Act is endorsed by Groundwork Collaborative, Sports Fan Coalition, and Public Citizen.\n\nOriginal cosponsors include Reps. Troy Carter (LA-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Chuy Garc\u00eda (IL-04), and Robert Garcia (CA-42).\n\nThe HOTDOG ACT is the latest effort by Congressman Goldman to address the nation\u2019s affordability crisis.\n\nThis month, Goldman introduced the \u2018Redistribution of Billions by Instituting New High-Income Obligations on Overlooked Debt (ROBINHOOD) Act,\u2019 which would close the billionaire tax loophole by applying a 20% excise tax on loans and lines of credit backed by capital assets. By making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, the bill would generate more than $276 billion to invest in universal pre-K, child care, and working families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-mannion-ny-22-announces-2025-congressional-app-challenge", "Representative Mannion (NY-22) Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winners", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SYRACUSE, NY \u2014 Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to explore computer science by designing and coding original software applications.\n\nThe first-place winner for NY-22 is Mikyal Mobeen, a student at Jamesville-DeWitt High School, for his app \u201cPhosTrack.\u201d The quiz-style app helps dialysis patients identify phosphate levels in common foods, making it easier to manage and maintain healthy diets. It also includes a journal for patients to track symptoms and other resources.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion said, \u201cThe Congressional App Challenge provides hands-on STEM education, giving students the opportunity to address real-world problems through technology. Mikyal\u2019s app is a great example of creativity, skill, and purpose coming together to improve health outcomes for the community. I\u2019m proud of every student who stepped up, expanded their understanding of computer science to help others, and took part in this fun and rewarding program.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition hosted by Members of Congress across the country. Students compete individually or in teams to build an original app using any platform or programming language. The winning app was selected by Representative Mannion from student app submissions from across NY-22.\n\nResults for NY-22:\n\n1st Place:\n\nMikyal Mobeen, Jamesville-DeWitt High School \u2014 \u201cPhosTrack,\u201d a quiz-based app that helps dialysis patients recognize phosphate levels in common foods.\n\n2nd Place:\n\nHenry Glade, Haoyu Wang, Haoxuan Wang, and Noah Kopiasz, Fayetteville-Manlius High School \u2014\u201cTurtle Miner,\u201d an educational video game designed to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of mining.\n\nRepresentative Mannion congratulates all participants and thanks the educators who supported students throughout the challenge.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-his-advocacy-schumer-announces-112-million-in-americorps-funding-for-senior-volunteers-across-new-york", "FOLLOWING HIS ADVOCACY, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $11.2+ MILLION IN AMERICORPS FUNDING FOR SENIOR VOLUNTEERS ACROSS NEW YORK", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Earlier This Year, Trump Fired Thousands Of AmeriCorps Staff And Ripped Away Community Grants For Seniors\n\nSchumer Revealed Impact Of The Cuts And Cancelled Grants And Demanded Trump Restore Funding For AmeriCorps Programs; Senator Now Announces Trump Backed Down And Fed Funding Is Flowing To Support 1,000+ Older NY AmeriCorps Members\n\nSchumer: Despite Trump\u2019s Threats To Dismantle AmeriCorps, Older AmeriCorps Volunteers Continued Their Excellent Work & Now Get The Support They Deserve\n\nU.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced $11,274,471 in federal funding has flowed this year to programs across New York through AmeriCorps\u2019 Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program, supporting more than 1,000 volunteers.\n\nEarlier this year, President Trump took steps to dismantle AmeriCorps, firing staff and freezing federal grants. Schumer demanded that Trump and Republicans protect this vital public service agency, and now, thanks to his advocacy, organizations across New York have continued to receive the funding they needed for volunteers to serve their communities, especially through the popular Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program.\n\n\u201cAmeriCorps is one of the world\u2019s greatest service programs, and more than one thousand New York seniors rely on AmeriCorps funding to volunteer in their communities every year. That\u2019s why when I heard the Trump administration was threatening to dismantle AmeriCorps, including the popular and effective the popular Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program, I demanded answers and called on him to reverse these counterproductive and cruel cuts,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI\u2019m proud to announce that, despite Trump\u2019s threats, New York has received $11.2+ million this year for older AmeriCorps members to continue the excellent work they do to support kids and other seniors in their communities through the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs. I will continue to fight any cuts to the excellent AmeriCorps program and support organizations that help our seniors stay active in their communities.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Trump and \u2018DOGE\u2019 placed a majority of AmeriCorps employees on leave and terminated nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grants nationally. Schumer revealed the impact that slashing over $26 million in federal funding for local community projects had on over 3,600 community service members across New York State and demanded that Trump and Republicans protect this vital public service and immediately reverse these cuts. Schumer continued to demand answers about the funding freezes and called for the money to be released.\n\nThanks to Schumer pushing to resolve delays with the AmeriCorps Seniors Program grants, AmeriCorps was able to complete two rounds of FY2025 funding, delivering $11.2 million in Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) and Senior Companion Program (SCP) awards to organizations across New York State. A list of Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program awards for New York in FY2025 can be found below:\n\n\u201cThe Community Place of Greater Rochester is deeply grateful for Senator Schumer\u2019s steadfast support and for this significant AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program grant,\u201d said Scott C. Benjamin, President & CEO of Charles Settlement House & The Community Place of Greater Rochester. \u201cThis more than $1 million investment strengthens our ability to connect older adults with meaningful opportunities to serve, mentor, and support children, families, and neighbors across our community. These programs change lives every day \u2014 not only for those receiving support, but for the seniors whose wisdom, compassion, and service make Rochester stronger.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program is an impactful program providing opportunity for Broome County Seniors to serve their community and make positive contributions to the lives of others and have meaningful outlets to share their time and talents. The funding Broome County is receiving from this program will support opportunities for over 30 volunteers and we are grateful to Senator Schumer for his tireless efforts on behalf of this program,\u201d said Jason Garnar, Broome County Executive.\n\n\u201cWe are very pleased about the release of 2025 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program funds and the continuation of this important mentorship program. The one-to-one social-emotional attention, encouragement, and support provided to the approximately 225 Syracuse City School District and Head Start children is critical in a city like Syracuse, where childhood poverty is the worst in the nation. Likewise, the more than 68 senior volunteers gain renewed purpose, companionship, and a modest stipend for their time and talents. We thank Senator Schumer for his continued support of this program,\u201d said Carolyn D. Brown, Executive Director, People\u2019s Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc.\n\n\"We are so thankful for the efforts of Senator Schumer to secure funding for our foster grandparent program,\u201d said Deacon Steve Schumer, president & CEO, Catholic Charities of Buffalo. \u201cWhen funding for the program was cut earlier this year, it impacted more than 1,000 children with special and exceptional needs, who received added assistance to help them succeed academically, and older adults, who were given a sense of purpose and much needed social interaction in their retirement years. The extra care and attention the foster grandparents provide make a difference not only in the classroom, but in the lives of these children. During this season of giving, Senator Schumer has given Catholic Charities a gift that is so appreciated by the children, teachers and foster grandparents who can now restart this vital program in our community.\u201d\n\nVernex Harding, Executive Director of Head Start of Rockland, Inc., said, \u201cI express heartfelt gratitude for Senator Schumer's unwavering support and advocacy for AmeriCorps to allocate essential funds to programs like Foster Grandparents. This funding restores and empowers our dedicated senior volunteers' ability to continue mentoring and uplifting children, creating meaningful relationships that shape bright futures. We are deeply thankful for this assistance, which strengthens intergenerational bonds and enriches the lives of both children and volunteers in our community.\u201d\n\nAmeriCorps programs have long-standing bipartisan support, having been previously authorized by Congress and funded by the annual appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed into law. The FGP and SCP programs both provide grants to engage Americans 55 and older in volunteer service to their communities. FGP members support children and youth with special or exceptional needs in schools, Head Start centers, youth facilities, and other community-based settings, providing critical support such as tutoring, mentoring, and emotional reassurance. SCP members support older adults who need assistance to remain independent, offering friendship, companionship, and support with daily tasks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases/garbarino-highlights-2025-accomplishments-delivering-results-long-island", "Garbarino Highlights 2025 Accomplishments: Delivering Results for Long Island", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Andrew R. Garbarino", "G000597", "garbarino.house.gov", "garbarino", "https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) highlighted a year of legislative and constituent service accomplishments focused on delivering real results for Long Island families, small businesses, and law enforcement.\n\n\u201cEverything I do in Congress is about delivering real results for Long Island,\u201d said Congressman Garbarino. \u201cWhether it\u2019s lowering taxes, protecting 9/11 health care, strengthening our national security, or standing up for local communities, my focus is simple: getting things done for the people I represent.\u201d\n\nIn 2025, Congressman Garbarino secured a significant achievement when he was named Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, giving Long Islanders a direct voice on critical issues including border security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity.\n\nGarbarino also led the fight to quadruple the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000, delivering long-awaited tax relief for Long Island families and helping them keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\nProtecting 9/11 first responders and survivors remained a top priority throughout the year. Congressman Garbarino continued to work to fully fund and safeguard the World Trade Center Health Program.\n\nOn the legislative front, Congressman Garbarino introduced 30 bills focused on Long Island priorities, including preserving flood insurance, supporting small businesses, and backing law enforcement. He also co-sponsored 171 bills aimed at advancing commonsense solutions for families and communities.\n\nJust as importantly, Garbarino\u2019s office delivered direct results for constituents. In 2025 alone, his team returned more than $1.6 million to constituents, responded to over 24,000 constituent contacts, and successfully resolved more than 1,400 individual casework requests.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud of what we accomplished this year,\u201d Garbarino added. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll keep fighting every day to deliver real results for Long Island.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-21T06:28:16Z", "2026-05-21T06:29:43Z"], ["https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases/two-garbarino-bills-advance-financial-services-committee-would-deliver-real", "Two Garbarino Bills advance in the Financial Services Committee that would deliver real results for Long Islanders", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Andrew R. Garbarino", "G000597", "garbarino.house.gov", "garbarino", "https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Last week, two bills sponsored by Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) that are critical to Long Island\u2019s housing market and small business community were advanced during the House Financial Services Committee\u2019s markup.\n\nH.R. 5577, the NFIP Extension Act, would ensure the National Flood Insurance Program remains fully operational even in the event of a government funding lapse through Fiscal Year 2026. During the recent shutdown, NFIP\u2019s brief lapse froze policy renewals and home closings. This was an especially disruptive outcome for coastal communities like Long Island, where flood insurance is often required to secure a mortgage.\n\nThe second bill, H.R. 4130, the Small Business Relief Act, updates outdated SEC rules that can force growing private companies into costly public registration. This legislation would allow Long Island businesses to grow and innovate without being burdened by unnecessary compliance costs.\n\n\u201cLong Island families and small businesses depend on stability and predictability to plan, invest, and grow,\u201d said Congressman Garbarino. \u201cWhether it\u2019s keeping flood insurance available for homeowners or ensuring small businesses can access capital without unnecessary red tape, these bills would address real challenges facing our region.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s committee markup is a critical step in the legislative process, allowing Members to debate, amend, and advance legislation before the full House can consider it.\n\n\u201cThese are practical solutions that protect Long Island homeowners and support local small business owners,\u201d Garbarino added.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-20T06:27:31Z", "2026-05-20T06:28:54Z"], ["https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gillen-secures-nearly-600000-village-hempstead-road-safety-initiative", "Rep. Gillen Secures Nearly $600,000 for Village of Hempstead Road Safety Initiative", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Laura Gillen", "G000602", "gillen.house.gov", "gillen", "https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "HEMPSTEAD, NY \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the Village of Hempstead was awarded $586,018 in new federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s 2025 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. This federal investment will unlock millions more to support the Village of Hempstead\u2019s comprehensive Safety Action Plan.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have fought for and secured this transformative funding that will help Hempstead develop a comprehensive road safety plan to prevent future tragedies and make our streets safer for everyone,\u201d said Rep. Gillen. \u201cEvery seven minutes, a serious car accident occurs on Long Island. It\u2019s unacceptable and I\u2019ll continue to do everything I can in Congress to improve road safety for everyone in our community.\u201d\n\nIn July, Rep. Gillen held a press conference alongside Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Village of Hempstead Police Chief Richard Holland and other community leaders, just steps from one of Long Island\u2019s most dangerous intersections. Rep. Gillen encouraged the Village to apply for the USDOT Safe Streets for All program, expressedher support for the Village\u2019s application and directly urged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to award Hempstead the grant. This funding will allow the Village to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan to audit road safety and manage speeds in high-crash corridors.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/goldman-lambasts-trump-administration-pausing-offshore-wind-projects", "Goldman Lambasts Trump Administration for Pausing Offshore Wind Projects", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "New York, NY - Today, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Interior announcing that it is pausing\u2014effective immediately\u2014the leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the United States, including Empire Wind 1 in New York:\n\n\"With increasing energy demand and rising energy prices, President Trump\u2019s latest attempt to kill the offshore wind industry in the United States is as stupid as it is shortsighted. Renewable energy manufactured in America with American jobs actually makes our nation more secure, not less. United States energy policy cannot be dictated by one person\u2019s irrational, childish dislike of the visual appearance of wind turbines from a golf course in Scotland.\n\nI will continue to fight this moronic decision, starting by asking my New York Republican colleagues whether they will stand up for their constituents or continue to bow down to Trump.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-representatives-goldman-and-espaillat-conduct-oversight-ice-facilities-26", "U.S. Representatives Goldman and Espaillat Conduct Oversight of ICE Facilities at 26 Federal Plaza Following Court Win", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lawmakers Gained Access to ICE Facilities at 26 Federal Plaza After Suing Trump Administration\n\nCongressional Oversight Visit Marks the First Time Members of Congress Have Been Allowed at 26 Federal Plaza Facilities During Trump Administration\n\nVideo of the Press Conference Can Be Viewed Here\n\nNEW YORK, NY - Today U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) gained access to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza to conduct their congressional oversight duties. The oversight visit marks the first time under the Trump Administration that Members of Congress have been allowed access to these facilities in order to exercise their lawful congressional duties of inspecting immigration detention facilities to ensure the safety of detained individuals and compliance with federal law.\n\n\u201cToday, after months of being blocked from entry, Rep. Espaillat and I finally gained access to 26 Federal Plaza to exercise our oversight responsibility of the ICE facilities there,\u201d said Rep. Goldman. \u201cWhat we saw today only reaffirms the clear violations of both law and American values by the Trump Administration\u2019s immigration dragnet. Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants are still kept for up to three days without showers or beds and often no way to contact their families or lawyers. I have no doubt that this week\u2019s court order to allow congressional access into 26 Federal Plaza and other ICE detention facilities around the country forced ICE to improve conditions here. But Members of Congress should not have needed to seek a court order to conduct oversight. I will continue to use every tool available, including returning here to conduct oversight unannounced, to hold ICE and the Trump Administration accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, we saw people housed for as long as three days or more in cells without access to showers, limited toilets, no real beds \u2013 an administrative building is simply not equipped to hold detainees. The Trump administration's obsession with hitting an arbitrary \u2013 and unrealistic \u2013 number of deportations is creating a humanitarian crisis,\u201d said CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat. \u201cThe courts reaffirmed our right to inspect detention centers and we exercised that right immediately -- that's the good news. The bad news is we saw what we already knew to be true: The White House's unhinged expectations are forcing DHS officials to cut corners. This is not how America should enforce its laws.\u201d\n\nThe Members have been previously denied access to the ICE facilities at 26 Federal Plaza and the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York Field Office at the same location. However, on December 17, a U.S. District Court ruled in favor of twelve members of Congress, including Reps. Goldman and Espaillat, who sued the Trump Administration in an effort to halt ICE\u2019s policy of blocking Members of Congress from conducting unannounced oversight visits to ICE facilities, including field offices. The District Court\u2019s opinion temporarily restored the Members\u2019 lawful duties of inspecting immigration detention facilities to oversee compliance with federal law.\n\nFederal law (Sec. 527, FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act) allows Members of Congress to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites where noncitizens are detained without having to provide prior notice. But over the course of this year, many Members of Congress have been stopped from their attempts to conduct oversight at these facilities. In response to questions about this, ICE officials announced a new policy requiring a seven-day waiting period and preventing entry to ICE field offices.\n\nOn July 30, Rep. Goldman, Rep. Espaillat, and ten other individual Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sued the Trump\u2013Vance administration, challenging the policy as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by counsel Democracy Forward and American Oversight, demanded that the administration comply with a federal law that guarantees Members of Congress the right to conduct oversight visits to any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities - including field offices - where noncitizens are detained, without prior notice. The U.S. District Court opinion issued on December 17 temporarily halted ICE\u2019s unlawful policy of blocking members of Congress from conducting unannounced oversight visits to ICE facilities, including field offices.\n\nEarlier this month, Representatives Goldman and Espaillat (NY-13), along with Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-7) and House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (CA-42), introduced the Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act, new legislation that aims to protect immigrants who are pursuing lawful pathways to migrate to the United States and attending their court-ordered appearances from being targeted for arrests by the Trump Administration. The legislation would prohibit U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers or agents from arresting or detaining an individual that is physically present at an Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) immigration court facility for the purpose of attending or participating in a hearing, except pursuant to a judicial warrant. These protections would extend to individuals whose immigration case is still active and has not resulted in a final order of removal.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-mannion-announces-928-million-federal-grant-purchase-low", "Representative Mannion Announces $9.28 Million Federal Grant to Purchase Low-Emission Buses for CENTRO's BRT System", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SYRACUSE, NY \u2014 Representative John W. Mannion today announced a $9.28 million federal grant to purchase new low-emission buses for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority\u2019s (CENTRO) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.\n\nThe funding, awarded through the Federal Department of Transportation\u2019s Low- or No-Emission Program, will allow CENTRO to purchase custom-designed, compressed natural gas (CNG) buses built specifically for BRT service. These buses will feature a unique design and dedicated branding so riders can clearly identify them as part of the BRT system. The grant will cover the cost of approximately nine new busses.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion (NY-22) said, \u201cThis is a significant investment in local transit that will reduce emissions, improve reliability, and deliver the speed and consistency riders depend on to get to work, class, medical appointments, shopping, and back home. With federal funding being delayed and withheld by the Trump administration, communities need certainty when dollars are approved so projects can move forward. I will continue holding the administration accountable and fighting for transparency \u2014 and for every dollar Central New York and NY-22 deserve.\u201d\n\nMayor Ben Walsh said, \u201cBus rapid transit is a high priority for Syracuse Surge, our strategy for inclusive growth in the New Economy. Frequent, reliable public transportation is essential to deliver great quality of life and opportunity for city residents. I thank Centro for being a Syracuse Surge partner and moving ahead with BRT and I\u2019m grateful to Congressman Mannion for providing funding to get the buses needed to run the service.\u201d\n\nMayor-elect Sharon Owens said, \u201cRepresentative Mannion\u2019s announcement of a $9.28 million federal grant for CENTRO\u2019s Bus Rapid Transit system is an important investment in the City\u2019s future. The new low-emission, custom-designed CNG buses will not only modernize our public transportation infrastructure but also advance our shared commitment to sustainability and accessibility. I applaud this forward-thinking initiative and look forward to working with our local, state and federal partners to ensure that Syracuse continues to lead in clean, efficient, and equitable transit solutions.\u201d\n\nChristopher Tuff, Chief Executive Officer of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, said \u201cThe BRT system is a game-changer for public transportation in Syracuse. It can compete with the car, enticing new users to public transportation and providing a better network for existing bus riders.\u201d\n\nSyracuse\u2019s BRT system is designed to provide faster, more reliable, and more frequent transit service, connecting neighborhoods with downtown, University Hill, major employers, healthcare institutions, and the transit hub. The project is closely aligned with the I-81 Community Grid, helping ensure that as the region rebuilds its core infrastructure, transit is modern, accessible, and equitable. By providing bus service that runs every 12-15 minutes, Centro\u2019s BRT service helps core businesses located on the BRT to thrive while at the same time opening up job opportunities for our most impoverished neighborhoods.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://nadler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397447", "2025 End of Year Newsletter", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Jerrold Nadler", "N000002", "nadler.house.gov", "nadler", "https://nadler.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Dear Friends,\n\nAs we close out 2025 and enter into the new year, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your voice in Congress.\n\nThis year brought the beginning of Trump\u2019s second term as President. Across the country we said we would fight Trump in the halls of Congress, in courtrooms, and in our communities.\n\nIn Congress, I voted against Trump's Big Ugly Bill, opposed his disastrous policies that gutted the federal workforce and eliminated environmental and civil rights efforts, and proudly joined a near-unanimous vote to release the Epstein Files.\n\nIn court, more than 526 lawsuits were filed by people all across the country directly challenging Trump\u2019s lawless and unconstitutional acts. I joined several amicus briefs, including one in defense of birthright citizenship which Trump senselessly attacked, and one to oppose the unjust firing of FTC Commissioner Slaughter, which was part of Trump\u2019s efforts to consolidate power. We recently won a court case forcing the Trump Administration to allow Congressional inspections of ICE detention facilities.\n\nIn our community, I marched with fellow New Yorkers at the No Kings protest. I spoke at rallies to blast Trump\u2019s disastrous actions, like freezing $18 billion for NYC public transit, decimating the Environmental Protection Agency, and attacking the LGBTQ+ community. We fought back against his effort to eliminate congestion pricing and were able to maintain vital funding to improve our subways.\n\nI put together this end of year newsletter to share the great work my staff and I are doing for New Yorkers across the 12th district.\n\nHere are some of the highlights:\n\nMy office closed over one thousand cases to help New Yorkers with federal agencies \u2013 whether it was helping to get a passport, a White House tour, or to receive social security checks on time. On average, it has taken my team only 42 days to close a case and help constituents with a federal agency.\n\nI requested more than $30 million to invest in projects around the community \u2013 including $3 million to improve accessibility and safety at Ralph Bunche Park, $3 million to upgrade affordable housing at the Thomas Apartments, and $2 million to repair and improve pedestrian pathways throughout Central Park.\n\nWe responded to thousands of letters from Manhattanites and held 11 town hall meetings! It was great to talk to so many of you across the district.\n\nI cast more than 300 votes on the House floor.\n\nI introduced 9 bills to tackle crucial issues \u2013 including bills to federally decriminalize marijuana and correct historical injustices, to improve helicopter safety, and to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank and punish those who commit such acts, regardless of nationality.\n\nIt has been my honor to represent you in Congress this year.\n\nHappy Holidays and Happy New Year, New York!\n\nSincerely,\n\nJERROLD NADLER\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-introduces-small-business-relief-act-eliminate-trumps", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN INTRODUCES \u201cSMALL BUSINESS RELIEF ACT\u201d TO ELIMINATE TRUMP\u2019S TARIFFS ON HUDSON VALLEY SMALL BUSINESSES AND REQUIRE FULL REFUNDS TO THOSE FORCED TO PAY THEM", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "During his Small Business Listening Tour this summer, Ryan heard from small business owners across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties about how the tariffs are forcing them to raise prices and threatening the future of their businesses, profits, and local economies\n\nThe introduction follows months of action by Ryan, building on his efforts to reverse the national emergency Trump declared in order to enact his tariffs and prevent House Republicans from ceding their own ability to challenge tariffs to the President\n\nMost recently, Ryan passed two bills through the House lowering costs and cutting through red tape for small business owners\n\nKINGSTON, NY \u2013 Congressman Pat Ryan introduced the \u201cSmall Business Restoring Equity for Local Importers through Economic Fairness Act,\u201d or \u201cSmall Business RELIEF Act,\u201d legislation that will ease the immense financial burden on Hudson Valley small businesses by eliminating the President\u2019s tariffs on small businesses and providing refunds to those who were forced to pay them.\n\nDuring his Small Business Listening Tour this summer, Ryan heard from small business owners and Chamber of Commerce members across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties about how the tariffs are forcing them to raise prices and threatening the future of their businesses, profits, and local economies.\n\nRyan has been fighting the harmful effects of Trump\u2019s tariffs for months. He joined an effort in the House to reverse the national emergency Trump declared in order to enact the tariffs, and opposed a measure by House Republicans to cede their ability to challenge tariffs to the President \u2013 kneecapping Congress\u2019s own ability to stand up for their constituents being crushed by high prices.\n\nMost recently, Ryan passed two bills through the House, the \u201cSmall Business Regulatory Reduction Act\u201d and the \u201cDUMP Red Tape Act,\u201d lowering costs and cutting through red tape for small business owners.\n\n\u201cWe don't have billion dollar corporations in the Hudson Valley. What we proudly do have are tons of small businesses that clothe our kids, feed our families, and employ our friends \u2013 and they\u2019re being absolutely crushed by Trump\u2019s tariffs. My bill gives small businesses the much needed relief they deserve,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cMy legislation protects our small businesses from Trump\u2019s damaging tariffs and pays them back for what they\u2019ve already been forced to pay. Because they can\u2019t afford that burden \u2013 and our community can\u2019t afford higher prices. This bill relieves the pressure on small businesses, keeps costs from being passed onto our families, and eases the burden on our local economy. I have heard your concerns loud and clear. As the Hudson Valley continues to stand up and speak out, I won\u2019t stop fighting like hell for our small businesses and entire community.\u201d\n\nDuring his Small Business Listening Tour this summer, Ryan heard from small business owners and Chamber of Commerce members across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties about how the tariffs are forcing them to raise prices and threatening the future of their businesses:\n\n\u201cA year ago, margins were already tight, and competing with large corporations presented a significant challenge. The tariffs currently in place have exacerbated the difficulties faced by businesses, adding to the stress and uncertainty in an already challenging business environment,\u201d said Colin Stark, Owner of Stark Blooms Flower Farm and Executive Director of the Red Hook Area Chamber of Commerce. \u201cCongressman Ryan\u2019s Small Business RELIEF Act would provide exactly that - RELIEF. Small businesses are essential to our communities and play a vital role in the success of every Main Street in America. By implementing this act, we can help ensure the continued strength and health of small businesses, enabling them to thrive without unnecessary expenses.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a small business, these tariffs have placed real financial strain on us \u2014 cutting directly into already thin margins and limiting our ability to operate and grow,\u201d said Marie Uridia - Owner, The Red Hook Stationary Co. \u201cWe\u2019ve also spent countless hours trying to decode shifting policies, surprise fees, and tariff rules that seem to change overnight. This bill would ease that financial pressure while also lifting the ongoing burden of navigating such a confusing system, allowing us to reinvest our time, energy, and resources back into our work and the community we serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a small business owner, I always joke that I have to be the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker. The list of responsibilities is long,\u201d said Sarah Carlson, Owner, The Crows Nest. \u201cThe tariffs have been such a negative experience, only adding to evaluations about product, expenses, lead time (shipping takes much longer from overseas) and the direction of business. I'm excited to hear that Congressman Ryan's bill would offer some relief.\u201d\n\nRyan\u2019s bill eases the immense financial burden on Hudson Valley small businesses by eliminating the President\u2019s tariffs on small businesses and providing refunds to those who were forced to pay them.\n\nA small business concern is a for-profit, independently owned and operated U.S. business that is not dominant in its industry and meets the SBA\u2019s size standards for its NAICS code. To learn more about if your business qualifies, look here.\n\nThroughout the summer months Congressman Ryan held community meetings with Chambers of Commerce across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties. Ryan has also taken action in Washington to limit the harmful impacts of Trump\u2019s unprecedented tariffs, including joining an effort to terminate the national emergency that the president declared to institute the tariffs.\n\nAdditionally, Ryan voted against an effort by House GOP leadership and Speaker Mike Johnson to cede their ability to regulate and challenge tariffs to the President \u2013 kneecapping Congress\u2019s ability to stand up for their constituents being crushed by high prices.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-job-and-energy-killing-empire-wind-1-and-sunrise-wind-pause/", "Gillibrand Statement On Job And Energy Killing Empire Wind 1 And Sunrise Wind Pause", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the brazen attack on New York\u2019s energy economy by Trump\u2019s Department of the Interior:\n\n\u201cThis announcement has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with a political agenda against energy and job creation in New York. There is no justification for a decision that destroys good-paying union jobs and drives up energy costs for hardworking New York families. I urge the Interior Secretary to reverse this reckless pause and allow these projects to power homes, job creation, and New York\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/21/leader-jeffries-on-tavis-smiley-were-going-to-keep-the-pressure-on/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON \u2018TAVIS SMILEY\u2019: \u201cWE\u2019RE GOING TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON\u201d", "2025-12-21", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "This week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on KBLA\u2019s Tavis Smiley, where he reiterated that Democrats are committed to protecting healthcare and that Republicans have a responsibility to join them by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: It is true that he is the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives. It is true that if Democrats can take over the House in November, he will be the first African American to be Speaker of the US House. But it is also true he\u2019s my fraternity brother. He\u2019s a good Kappa. Please welcome\u2014we are pleased to welcome Hakeem Jeffries to this program. Leader Jeffries, how are you, sir?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Great to be with you. Alpha Chapter in the building. Always appreciate you, Tavis, and also congratulations on the success that Indiana University is having with their football season. An extraordinary season.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: You are kind to say that. I\u2019m looking forward to going to the Rose Bowl to see them play. They\u2019re coming out my way here in California, so it makes it easy for me. I ain\u2019t got to travel but 15 miles down the road to see them. I know you got a tight schedule, just about five or six minutes here. Let me just ask you to give me and give the audience an update. Here we are near the end of the year, everybody concerned about these healthcare subsidies. What\u2019s happening in real time, Leader Jeffries?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we were very successful yesterday in obtaining the 218 votes needed. All 214 Members of the House Democratic Caucus, plus four House Republicans joined us yesterday morning to trigger an up-or-down vote on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits connected to legislation that I\u2019ve introduced that would extend it in a straightforward way for three years, because we believe that working class Americans, middle class Americans, Black and brown Americans deserve the same level of certainty that Republicans always try to provide to the wealthy, the well-off, the well-connected and their big donors. So right now, we\u2019re waiting on Mike Johnson\u2014demanding that Mike Johnson actually bring that legislation to the Floor today. Connected to the Rules, he can wait as much as seven legislative days, which would take us into early January, but there\u2019s no reason for him to wait, and we\u2019re going to continue to keep the pressure on him so we can get these tax credits extended before they expire at the end of the month.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: I said this program yesterday that this is so\u2014it\u2019s kind of stuck on stupid. That\u2019s my language. You\u2019re more classy than I am, so you wouldn\u2019t say nothing that like that. But it\u2019s also\u2014they\u2019re stuck on stupid for me because this is going to impact their base. Their base cares about rising healthcare costs as well. Why are they so blind on this?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah. It\u2019s unbelievable. And these people really are blind. They\u2019re burying their heads in the sand, and they\u2019re obsessed with the Affordable Care Act. These people have tried to repeal it now more than 70 different times over the last 15 years, and the American people have only grown in their affection, in terms of the support for the Affordable Care Act, because it impacts everyone, Tavis, as you just indicated. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, people all across the country. In fact,the ten states that would be most adversely impacted if the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire are all states currently run by Republicans.We\u2019re talking about West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, North Dakota and South Dakota, and Florida has millions of people as well who would be adversely impacted if there are changes made that are adverse to the Affordable Care Act. So it\u2019s extraordinary to me, [\u2026] this isn\u2019t a partisan fight, it\u2019s a patriotic fight because we\u2019re fighting to make life better for everybody.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: My colleague, my White House correspondent, Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey is here. Dr. Quartey, your question for the Leader.\n\nDR. NII-QUARTELAI QUARTEY: Leader Jeffries, can you dial us in to what\u2019s the strategy in the Senate? So if you\u2019re successful in the House and if the four Republicans join the Democratic Caucus, what assurance do you have it\u2019s going to pass the finish line in the Senate?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, you know, Abraham Lincoln once said that public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed. We\u2019ll have renewed momentum if we can move the legislation out of the Republican-controlled House over the objection of Donald Trump and over the objection of the Deputy Speaker, Mike Johnson, right, because Donald Trump says he\u2019s both the President and the Speaker. And we\u2019re able to go around them in order to do what\u2019s right for the American people. That will intensify the pressure on the Senate. Now, we also know in the Senate, though the bill initially did not hit the 60-vote threshold, that the three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits did secure the support of at least four different Republicans, and that bill has more support than any other bill in the Senate chamber. So we think there\u2019ll be renewed momentum and opportunity. We\u2019ll work closely with our Senate Democratic colleagues. But what\u2019s important, of course, is to jumpstart the effort again by getting it out of the House of Representatives.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: Leader Jeffries, I know you got a full schedule. My final question. What\u2019s your gut tell you about what\u2019s about to happen?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, I think that Johnson is going to try to delay this as much as possible, but many of his traditional conservative Members who have now partnered with us don\u2019t want to leave town without getting this done. And so, we\u2019ve made clear that, listen, we should stay here until the Affordable Care Act tax credits are extended. And if the House adjourns, it falls squarely on the Republicans, and there are many up on the other side of the aisle who don\u2019t wanna take that heat. So, you know, the next couple of days will be interesting. But we\u2019re going to keep the pressure on, and ultimately, I believe, even if this waits until early January, we are going to successfully get this bill out of the House. It will have bipartisan support, and that will increase the pressure on the Senate, and then retroactively, we\u2019ll have to deal with, perhaps, reopening the open enrollment period so we can restore the health insurance to people and make it more affordable, having gotten the tax credits restored.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: It\u2019s been fun, but I know my good Kappa brother has got to run. Hakeem Jeffries, I love you, and I appreciate you. Thank you for your time, sir.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Love you. Appreciate you, brother.\n\nTAVIS SMILEY: Alright, good to have you on the program.\n\nFull interview can be listened to here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/watch-gillibrand-touts-her-law-to-protect-large-public-events-from-drone-attacks-on-cbs-saturday-morning/", "Watch: Gillibrand Touts Her Law To Protect Large Public Events From Drone Attacks On CBS Saturday Morning", "2025-12-20", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "***Watch the segment here***\n\nIn case you missed it, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, appeared on CBS Saturday Morning with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) to discuss their legislation to protect large public events from drone attacks. Their bill, which passed earlier this week as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, authorizes state and local law enforcement who have been trained by federal authorities to disable drones that pose a credible threat to large gatherings of people. With major events like Buffalo Bills playoff games, the Super Bowl, the FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics rapidly approaching, this legislation is vital to help protect civilians from the growing threat of drone incursions.\n\nCBS News: Police can now take down drones at public gatherings, new defense law says\n\nTRANSCRIPT:\n\nAnchor: This week, ahead of a series of high-profile sporting events like the Super Bowl, FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, lawmakers passed the National Defense Authorization Act. This new defense bill enables local law enforcement to take down drones at public gatherings. That\u2019s something pro sports teams and police have been pushing for. Our Nicole Sganga has the details of how the new law made it across the finish line.\n\nREPORTER: Drones hovering above. For years, local police could see them but not stop them. In their last two playoff seasons, the NFL\u2019s Baltimore Ravens saw games disrupted by rogue drones flying near M&T Bank Stadium, and in 2023, a swarm of unidentified drones breached skies above Langley Air Force Base, putting the Pentagon on alert.\n\nGillibrand: When we had multiple, day-after-day drone incursions over Langley, it created huge concern, and it\u2019s what got me so focused on this issue, because we didn\u2019t have the policy in place to take them down.\n\nREPORTER: Senators Tom Cotton and Kirsten Gillibrand, leading Republican and Democratic voices on drone threats, say the new defense bill, signed into law by President Trump Thursday night, closes a dangerous security gap, creating a pathway to train local law enforcement to disable threatening drones.\n\nCotton: There aren\u2019t enough FBI agents and Homeland Security officers to protect it. So this legislation will empower state and local authorities with training from the federal government to, say, protect the airspace over Razorback Stadium or protect the airspace for a Buffalo Bills game.\n\nREPORTER: According to the NFL, since 2017, drone incursions over football games have increased by more than 20,000 percent, inspiring companies like D-Fend Solutions.\n\nHalachmi: Right now, these drones are accessible to everyone. In order for you to get a drone, all you need is a credit card and an internet connection.\n\nREPORTER: CEO Zohar Halachmi gave us an inside look at the sophisticated counter-drone technology.\n\nHalachmi: When we see drones, what we actually see is a virus\u2014a virus with wings\u2014and what we actually developed is an antivirus. It\u2019s a cyber technique that enables us to detect those drones and penetrate into them.\n\nREPORTER: That cyber technique enabling operators like [operator name] to take remote control of a rogue drone and reroute it safely.\n\nDrone Operator: As it hits around 2.5 kilometers, we can take over the drone and actually tell the drone where to land in a safe area.\n\nREPORTER: Disabling aircraft without shooting them down, jamming signals, or tipping off the pilot.\n\nDrone Operator: So everything that we\u2019re doing is invisible to the pilot. The only thing the pilot will see is that he got disconnected from his drone.\n\nREPORTER: Lawmakers hope new counter-drone technology also won\u2019t tip off the fans. Do you think the public will notice a difference?\n\nGillibrand: Hopefully not. Hopefully they will be blissfully unaware and delighted to be watching the Bills or watching some other great team.\n\nREPORTER: When it comes to countering drones, are we at the finish line, or are we at the kickoff?\n\nCotton: Maybe the 40-yard line. The administration has six months to get all the training in place and then to help state and local law enforcement start using the technology to protect large gatherings and critical infrastructure. So I\u2019d say we\u2019re at least moving into field goal territory.\n\nREPORTER: Ahead of the World Cup and Olympics, a small win for the home team, or at least the Homeland Security team. For CBS Saturday Morning, I\u2019m Nicole Sganga in Washington.\n\nAnchor: Sounds like a touchdown, right?\n\nAnchor: It\u2019s a touchdown.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-espaillat-leads-introduction-legislation-lower-household-energy", "Representative Espaillat Leads Introduction of Legislation to Lower Household Energy Bills", "2025-12-20", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "[Bill Text (PDF)]\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the Lowering American Energy Costs Act. The bill directs the President to prohibit most U.S. exports of natural gas due to their contribution to rising household energy costs\u2014a move that will protect consumers from utility price hikes and reduce greenhouse gases. This would not be the first time Congress has prohibited fossil fuel exports: in 1975, Congress passed a ban on crude oil and natural gas exports\u2014a ban that was repealed in 2015.\n\nThe Lowering American Energy Costs Act is cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).Representative Clarke previously co-led the Lowering American Energy Costs Act with RepresentativeEspaillat in the House.\n\n\u201cThe Lowering American Energy Costs Act would have an immediate impact on Americans' energy bills, which have skyrocketed in the past year, with many households seeing double digit increases in the rates they pay,\u201d said Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). \u201cWhile this cost explosion is unprecedented, the solutions are clear. We must ramp up renewable energy generation and ensure that American households are our primary and priority consumers, not AI companies or foreign purchasers. I am proud to join Senator Markey, Representative Clarke, and our colleagues to offer this legislation, which would reestablish the export ban on fossil fuels that was lifted in 2015 at the behest of billionaire oil barons, and lighten the cost burden that energy bills are having on Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cFossil fuel billionaires aren\u2019t just harming our health by polluting our air, land, and water\u2014they're busting our budgets every month through massive exports of fossil fuels that drive higher prices on the international market and create sky-high prices for us at home,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cThe Lowering American Energy Costs Act would put a stop to natural gas exports that are draining Americans\u2019 pockets, polluting our planet, and destroying our chance at a livable future.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen each passing day of inaction increases the severity of the climate crisis and decreases our ability to fight back against it, solutions like the Lowering American Energy Costs Act grow all the more critical. Banning the export of our energy resources is a necessary step towards, at long last, putting American families, futures, and communities first, and I am proud to co-lead this legislative answer to an already existential problem. It's past time we prioritize the American people over someone else's profits,\u201d said Representative Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09).\n\nSeveral stakeholders joined the lawmakers in endorsing the Lowering American Energy Costs Act.\n\n\u201cThis bill is exactly what American families need to help stop soaring energy bills, driven by unchecked LNG exports. By leading this important legislation, Senator Markey and Representative Espaillat are standing up for consumers who are being exploited by profiteering LNG exporters, while also protecting communities from dangerous and unnecessary fossil fuel infrastructure,\u201d said Jim Walsh, Policy Director of Food & Water Watch.\n\n\u201cAt a time when household energy costs are skyrocketing for millions of Americans, stopping the expansion of costly, polluting gas export infrastructure is paramount. We are grateful that Senator Markey\u2019s Lowering American Energy Costs Act prohibits the export of U.S. methane gas in order to lower costs and prevent already overburdened communities from more pollution and harm caused by the unnecessary fossil fuel buildout,\u201d said Claire Dorner, Associate Director, Legislative and Administrative Advocacy, Beyond Dirty Fuels.\n\n\u201cThis bold, commonsense bill will help protect the health and pocketbooks of American families, who\u2019re being ravaged by filthy fossil fuels,\u201d said Camden Weber, climate and energy policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. \u201cBy banning U.S. methane gas exports, this bill prioritizes public health, tackles the emissions driving the climate crisis, and shields Americans from soaring energy costs. Sen. Markey is showing true leadership by putting the American people above corporate profits while the Trump administration and complicit Republicans side with fossil fuel interests.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by Food & Water Watch, Beyond Dirty Fuels, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Earthworks, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, 198 Methods, 350Hawaii, 350NYC, Better Brazoria, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, Climate Conversation Brazoria County, Climate Hawks Vote, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Earth Ethics, Elders Coalition for Climate Action, For a Better Bayou, Freeport Haven Project, GreenLatinos, Greenpeace USA, Hip Hop Caucus, Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program, League of Conservation Voters, Oil and Gas Action Network, Oil Change International, Oil Field Witness, Port Arthur Community Action Network, Putnam Progressives, Stand.Earth, The People\u2019s Justice Council, Third Act Ohio, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Vessel Project of Louisiana, Waterkeeper Alliance, Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, and New York Restoration Project.\n\nThe United States is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world\u2014the country\u2019s eight operating LNG export terminals consume more natural gas than 73 million American households combined. Unconstrained exports of natural gas have a direct impact on utility bills for American households, as confirmed repeatedly by Department of Energy studies conducted in 2012, 2018, and 2024 and by Energy Information Administration analysis released last month from the Energy Information Administration. Since Trump took office, United States households paid $12 billion more for natural gas than they did last year, largely because of the continuing rise in LNG exports\u2014an average of about $124 more per household.\n\n# # #\n\nRepresentative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government\u2019s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.\n\nMedia inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-leads-public-comment-letter-to-dhs-urging-against-proposal-that-expands-use-of-biometric-data-collection-in-immigration-and-naturalization-processes/", "CLARKE LEADS PUBLIC COMMENT LETTER TO DHS URGING AGAINST PROPOSAL THAT EXPANDS USE OF BIOMETRIC DATA COLLECTION IN IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION PROCESSES", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 19, 2025\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) led a public comment letter signed by 48 of her colleagues to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow urged them to reconsider the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) rule proposal to expand biometric data collection and reuse across immigration and naturalization processes.\n\n\u201cRecent public reporting, including an NPR investigation, has highlighted DHS\u2019s increasing reliance on facial recognition and third-party data systems with limited transparency or oversight. These findings underscore broader concerns about algorithmic bias, disproportionate impacts on communities of color and immigrants, and the dangers of expanding surveillance infrastructure without clear guardrails. Recent high-profile breaches of biometrics systems, including the breach of a biometrics database for a company used by the U.K. Metropolitan Police and the unauthorized access of U.S. Customs and Border Protection data used for a facial recognition pilot program highlight the threat posed by broad biometrics collection without strong civil rights, privacy, and cybersecurity protections. The proposed rule provides no meaningful detail on how DHS will secure, limit, or oversee the new and expansive datasets it would create. It lacks information on cybersecurity protections, retention limits, access controls, independent auditing, or transparency mechanisms. Without such safeguards, the rule risks eroding public trust in immigration systems and undermining civil-rights protections that are essential to fair and humane governance.\u201d The Members continued, \u201cBiometric technologies hold significant implications for privacy, equality, and public trust. DHS must adopt a framework that protects individuals \u2013 not one that exposes millions of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and immigrant families to unnecessary and unmitigated risk.\u201d\n\nThe letter was signed by 49 Members of Congress: Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Greg Casar, Sean Casten, Kathy Castor, Judy Chu, Yvette D. Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Veronica Escobar, Adriano Espaillat, John Garamendi, Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Adelita Grijalva, Val Hoyle, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Timothy Kennedy, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Summer Lee, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Sarah McBride, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Lateefah Simon, Adam Smith, Darren Soto, Bennie Thompson, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Juan Vargas, Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, and Bonnie Watson Coleman\n\nFull text of the letter can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/representatives-clarke-espaillat-and-senator-markey-introduce-legislation-to-lower-household-energy-bills-by-stopping-exports-of-natural-gas-abroad/", "REPRESENTATIVES CLARKE, ESPAILLAT, AND SENATOR MARKEY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO LOWER HOUSEHOLD ENERGY BILLS BY STOPPING EXPORTS OF NATURAL GAS ABROAD", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 19, 2025\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Lowering American Energy Costs Act. The bill directs the President to prohibit most U.S. exports of natural gas due to their contribution to rising household energy costs\u2014a move that will protect consumers from utility price hikes and reduce greenhouse gases. This would not be the first time Congress has prohibited fossil fuel exports: in 1975, Congress passed a ban on crude oil and natural gas exports\u2014a ban that was repealed in 2015.\n\n\u201cWhen each passing day of inaction increases the severity of the climate crisis and decreases our ability to fight back against it, solutions like the Lowering American Energy Costs Act grow all the more critical. Banning the export of our energy resources is a necessary step towards, at long last, putting American families, futures, and communities first, and I am proud to co-lead this legislative answer to an already existential problem. It\u2019s past time we prioritize the American people over someone else\u2019s profits,\u201d said Representative Yvette D. Clarke.\n\n\u201cThe Lowering American Energy Costs Act would have an immediate impact on Americans\u2019 energy bills, which have skyrocketed in the past year, with many households seeing double digit increases in the rates they pay,\u201d said Representative Adriano Espaillat. \u201cWhile this cost explosion is unprecedented, the solutions are clear. We must ramp up renewable energy generation and ensure that American households are our primary and priority consumers, not AI companies or foreign purchasers. I am proud to join Senator Markey, Representative Clarke, and our colleagues to offer this legislation, which would reestablish the export ban on fossil fuels that was lifted in 2015 at the behest of billionaire oil barons, and lighten the cost burden that energy bills are having on Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cFossil fuel billionaires aren\u2019t just harming our health by polluting our air, land, and water\u2014they\u2019re busting our budgets every month through massive exports of fossil fuels that drive higher prices on the international market and create sky-high prices for us at home,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cThe Lowering American Energy Costs Act would put a stop to natural gas exports that are draining Americans\u2019 pockets, polluting our planet, and destroying our chance at a livable future.\u201d\n\nSeveral stakeholders joined the lawmakers in endorsing the Lowering American Energy Costs Act.\n\n\u201cThis bill is exactly what American families need to help stop soaring energy bills, driven by unchecked LNG exports. By leading this important legislation, Senator Markey and Representative Espaillat are standing up for consumers who are being exploited by profiteering LNG exporters, while also protecting communities from dangerous and unnecessary fossil fuel infrastructure,\u201d said Jim Walsh, Policy Director of Food & Water Watch.\n\n\u201cAt a time when household energy costs are skyrocketing for millions of Americans, stopping the expansion of costly, polluting gas export infrastructure is paramount. We are grateful that Senator Markey\u2019s Lowering American Energy Costs Act prohibits the export of U.S. methane gas in order to lower costs and prevent already overburdened communities from more pollution and harm caused by the unnecessary fossil fuel buildout,\u201d said Claire Dorner, Associate Director, Legislative and Administrative Advocacy, Beyond Dirty Fuels.\n\n\u201cThis bold, commonsense bill will help protect the health and pocketbooks of American families, who\u2019re being ravaged by filthy fossil fuels,\u201d said Camden Weber, climate and energy policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. \u201cBy banning U.S. methane gas exports, this bill prioritizes public health, tackles the emissions driving the climate crisis, and shields Americans from soaring energy costs. Sen. Markey is showing true leadership by putting the American people above corporate profits while the Trump administration and complicit Republicans side with fossil fuel interests.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by Food & Water Watch, Beyond Dirty Fuels, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Earthworks, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, 198 Methods, 350Hawaii, 350NYC, Better Brazoria, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, Climate Conversation Brazoria County, Climate Hawks Vote, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Earth Ethics, Elders Coalition for Climate Action, For a Better Bayou, Freeport Haven Project, GreenLatinos, Greenpeace USA, Hip Hop Caucus, Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program, League of Conservation Voters, Oil and Gas Action Network, Oil Change International, Oil Field Witness, Port Arthur Community Action Network, Putnam Progressives, Stand.Earth, The People\u2019s Justice Council, Third Act Ohio, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Vessel Project of Louisiana, Waterkeeper Alliance, Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, and New York Restoration Project.\n\nThe United States is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world\u2014the country\u2019s eight operating LNG export terminals consume more natural gas than 73 million American households combined. Unconstrained exports of natural gas have a direct impact on utility bills for American households, as confirmed repeatedly by Department of Energy studies conducted in 2012, 2018, and 2024 and by Energy Information Administration analysis released last month from the Energy Information Administration. Since Trump took office, United States households paid $12 billion more for natural gas than they did last year, largely because of the continuing rise in LNG exports\u2014an average of about $124 more per household.\n\nThe full bill text is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-demands-ftc-investigation-collectors-holdings-attempt", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DEMANDS FTC INVESTIGATION INTO COLLECTORS HOLDINGS\u2019 ATTEMPT TO MONOPOLIZE TRADING CARD GRADING", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Through acquisitions of PSA (2021), SGC (February 2024), and now Beckett (announced December 2025), Collectors has consolidated over 80% of grading volume, leaving only one significant independent competitor\n\nCollectors\u2019 dominance is compounded by vertical integration; it controls grading capacity, pricing analytics through CardLadder, and participates in buying and selling graded cards\u2014creating severe conflicts of interest\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Pat Ryan wrote to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew N. Ferguson, demanding an antitrust investigation into Collector Holdings\u2019 monopolistic practices. Through acquisitions of PSA (2021), SGC (February 2024), and now Beckett (announced December 2025), Collectors has consolidated over 80% of grading volume, leaving only one independent competitor Collectors\u2019 dominance is compounded by vertical integration; it controls grading capacity, pricing analytics through CardLadder, and participates in buying and selling graded cards\u2014creating severe conflicts of interest.\n\n\u201cEven my four and six year old boys, who just started their collections, know this behavior is wrong. Attempts to corner the trading card market are not only deeply unpopular, they are unethical,\" said Congressman Pat Ryan. \"Kids, collectors and local card stores, shouldn\u2019t have to worry that the system is stacked against them, and the FTC needs to step in before this hobby is controlled by one powerful company.\u201d\n\nInvestigatory Questions\n\nThe Commission should investigate:\n\nMonopolization: Whether Collectors acquired SGC and Beckett specifically to eliminate competition, and whether internal documents reveal a deliberate strategy of monopolization.\n\nSerial Acquisition Pattern: Whether Collectors\u2019 systematic roll-up strategy violates Section 5 of the FTC Act as conduct that inherently produces the cumulative harms the antitrust laws were designed to prevent.\n\nRegulatory Evasion: Whether Coll\u0113ct\u012bvus Holdings functioned as a pass-through entity to evade merger scrutiny, and the extent of Collectors\u2019 involvement in the 2024 acquisition of Beckett.\n\nGood-Faith Representations: Whether the post-acquisition marginalization of SGC was contrary to representations made at the time of the merger, and if those actions warrant a court-ordered divestiture or unwinding of the deal.\n\nErosion of Competition: How the elimination of independent rivals has directly impacted consumer pricing, service quality, and turnaround times across the industry.\n\nPrice and Policy Coordination: What safeguards, if any, prevent Collectors from coordinating pricing, grading standards, and competitive behavior across its three nominally \"independent\" brands.\n\nBarriers to Entry: What structural barriers now prevent new competitors from entering the market, specifically regarding the control of the limited labor pool of professional graders.\n\nMarket Manipulation: How vertical integration \u2014 controlling the grading process, the pricing data through CardLadder, and the marketplace itself \u2014 creates unique opportunities for market manipulation and unfair self-dealing.\n\nRead Congressman Ryan\u2019s full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/victory-hudson-congressman-pat-ryans-bill-permanently-ban-barges-hudson-river", "VICTORY ON THE HUDSON: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN\u2019S BILL TO PERMANENTLY BAN BARGES ON THE HUDSON RIVER SIGNED INTO LAW", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "After years of relentless advocacy by Congressman Ryan, bipartisan lawmakers, and local advocates, the \u201cHudson River Protection Act\u201d \u2013 which permanently bans harmful, polluting barges from docking in the Hudson River \u2013 has been signed into law\n\nRyan first introduced the bill in 2023 following attempts to erode protections against dangerous barges anchoring in the Hudson, contaminating drinking water for Hudson Valley residents and destroying the environment\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, after years of relentless advocacy by Congressman Ryan, bipartisan elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels, and community experts and advocates, Ryan\u2019s \u201cHudson River Protection Act\u201d has been signed into law.\n\nRyan first introduced the \u201cHudson River Protection Act\u201d in 2023, following attempts to erode protections preventing harmful, polluting barges from using the Hudson River as a parking lot \u2013 threatening to contaminate drinking water for more than 100,000 Hudson Valley residents and destroy the environment.\n\n\u201cIf there\u2019s one thing we can all agree on it\u2019s making sure our drinking water is clean and that our Hudson River is safe and protected. For far too long, big corporations have polluted and put at risk our precious River in pursuit of profits. But not anymore. The Hudson is more than a river \u2013 it\u2019s the lifeblood and the heartbeat of our community,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cToday marks the culmination of years of effort by every single member of our Hudson Valley community. I especially want to thank my partners at Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson for their tireless work and commitment to protecting the Hudson. Never again will big corporations be able to turn our River into a parking lot for dangerous barges, polluting the drinking water for 100,000 of our neighbors. This victory proves that when the Hudson Valley stands up with one voice to demand change, we can accomplish anything.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Hudson River has faced serious ecological challenges for decades, and this law makes clear that our towns, homeowners, and riverfront communities come first. I was proud to help get this across the finish line and signed into law to safeguard the Hudson River for generations to come,\u201d said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).\n\n\u201cShips and barges carrying crude oil and other dangerous cargo along the Hudson pose an immense risk to the communities who rely on the river for their drinking water, livelihoods, and recreation. They\u2019re also a serious threat to local fish and aquatic life, whose habitat would be destroyed if a spill happens. The Hudson River Protection Act is a major step forward in the years-long effort to block new anchorages and safeguard this irreplaceable resource. We are grateful to Congressman Ryan, our partners, and elected leaders for taking action,\u201d said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan.\n\n\u201cMore than 10,000 New Yorkers spoke up with Riverkeeper when the U.S. Coast Guard proposed new anchorage sites for large tankers and barges \u2014 threatening irreplaceable wildlife habitat and the drinking water for over 100,000 New Yorkers. The Hudson River Protection Act\u2019s passage in both the House and Senate is a direct result of that public outcry,\u201d said Riverkeeper Associate Director of Government Affairs Jeremy Cherson. \u201cRiverkeeper thanks Congressman Ryan for being a steadfast champion for the river and for advancing this legislation over multiple years. This bill sends a clear message that the Hudson River is no longer open for industrial exploitation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Hudson 7 is an intermunicipal council representing seven mid-Hudson municipalities that rely on the Hudson River as a drinking water source for more than 100,000 people in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, and that responsibility demands a precautionary approach to the siting and regulation of activities on the Hudson River,\u201d said Gary Bassett, Mayor of the Village of Rhinebeck and Chair of the Hudson 7. \u201cWhile the Hudson 7 will continue to closely monitor activities that could threaten our drinking water supplies or the river\u2019s critical habitat, today we thank Congressman Ryan for his sustained leadership in advancing the Hudson River Protection Act.\u201d\n\nCongressman Ryan\u2019s \u201cHudson River Protection Act\u201d will ban additional barge anchorages in the Hudson, which pollute the drinking water for more than 100,000 Hudson Valley residents and damage the Hudson\u2019s diverse ecosystem.\n\nIn 2023, when the Coast Guard issued an Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) signaling an attempt to erode protections preventing commercial vessels from anchoring in the Hudson River, Ryan immediately raised the alarm, warning of devastating environmental and health impacts for the river ecosystem and broader community.\n\nAfter a more than two month delay, Michael Emerson, the Director of Marine Transportation Systems, provided a woefully insufficient response that left the door open for dangerous oil barges to line the Hudson.\n\nIn October of 2023, Ryan was joined by Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 in demanding the Coast Guard uphold the anchoring ban. Ryan gave a speech on the House Floor, calling on Hudson Valley families to join the fight and shared a form for those interested to register their opinion. The new MSIB, issued in November 2023 in response to overwhelming community outrage, temporarily paused the Coast Guard\u2019s plan to allow dangerous barges to line the Hudson River but doubles down on their plan to allow unlimited anchoring in the future.\n\nCongressman Ryan\u2019s greatest concern has been that the Hudson River serves as the primary water supply for seven communities in his district, and serves as the backup drinking water supply for our nation\u2019s largest city, New York City. Additionally, more oil barges on the Hudson will increase the risks of a catastrophic spill. This is especially concerning for the more than 100,000 people that draw their drinking water from the Hudson River.\n\nBarges often carry oil, asphalt, and other hazardous materials, which pollute the river with their noisy generators and \u201cstadium\u201d lighting. The Hudson River and its connected waters are also home to more than 200 species of fish and provide spawning and nursery habitat for striped bass, shad, and herring that support fisheries up and down the entire Atlantic coast. The River has seen significant efforts to restore the habitats of endangered fish species which are jeopardized by barge anchors dragging along the River bottom.\n\nPresident Trump signed the \u201cHudson River Protection Act\u201d into law as part of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), wherein Congressman Ryan secured numerous other wins including a pay raise for troops.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-leads-bipartisan-push-to-increase-accessibility-of-va-technology/", "Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan Push To Increase Accessibility Of VA Technology", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative David Valadao (R-CA-22) urged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take swift action to make its technology accessible to people with disabilities.\n\n\u201cEnsuring our veterans have the support, information, and services they need is of the utmost importance\u2014and VA cannot do this unless its technology is accessible to veterans and VA employees with disabilities,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cVA must train its employees to procure accessible technology and take steps to ensure that its technology remains accessible. I will continue to provide rigorous oversight on this issue to make sure that our veterans get the support that they deserve.\u201d\n\nAccessible technology is critical to make sure that veterans with disabilities can get the information and services they need and to make sure that VA employees with disabilities can do their jobs. Roughly one-quarter of veterans have a service-connected disability, and post-9/11 veterans, who VA will serve for decades to come, have a higher rate of service-connected disabilities. Additionally, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires federal technology to be accessible for and usable by people with disabilities.\n\nDespite this, congressional and independent oversight efforts have consistently found that VA technology does not meet this requirement. A recent VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report found that, of the 30 critical information and communication technology systems analyzed, 26 were not accessible for people with disabilities. In its report, VA OIG issued four recommendations to improve VA accessibility and encourage the procurement of accessible technology.\n\nIn her letter to VA, Senator Gillibrand encouraged the agency to carry out VA OIG\u2019s recommendations as fast as possible. She also requested additional information on how VA plans to do so.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-merkley-baldwin-booker-40-senators-no-new-anti-lgbtq-anti-abortion-provisions-in-must-pass-government-funding-bills/", "Gillibrand, Merkley, Baldwin, Booker 40 Senators: No New Anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Abortion Provisions In Must-Pass Government Funding Bills", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 40 other Democratic senators in urging Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to keep any new dangerous, hyper-partisan policy provisions that would curtail the freedoms of women and LGBTQ+ individuals out of must-pass government funding legislation.\n\nHouse Republicans have inserted more than 65 so-called \u201cpoison pill\u201d provisions targeting abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, which would otherwise fail the scrutiny of congressional debate, into critical government funding bills that require broad, bipartisan consensus to pass.\n\n\u201cDangerous poison pill provisions like those included in the FY26 House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress\u2019 ability to push forward must-pass legislation and keep the government open and working for the American people. As such, we urge you to reject these extremist riders from the remaining final FY26 appropriations bills,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nIn addition to Gillibrand, Merkley, Baldwin, and Booker, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe senators\u2019 letter is endorsed by the ACLU, Advocates for Trans Equality, Guttmacher Institute, Human Rights Campaign, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Network of Abortion Funds, National Women\u2019s Law Center Action Fund, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Freedom for All.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray:\n\nWe write to urge you to keep the FY26 appropriations bills free of any new poison pill policy riders. Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills. In the recent past, the Senate has had success passing bipartisan bills in committee because these bills did not contain new poison pill riders. Unfortunately, in FY26, the House has included more than 65 new anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ riders in its appropriations bills, which we urge you to reject from any remaining final FY26 appropriations bills.\n\nIn the more than three years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization, our country has experienced a reproductive health care crisis. As of December 1, 2025, 13 states have banned abortion entirely, and 7 states have banned abortion anywhere from 6 to 18 weeks. Republicans have also attempted to ban medication abortion, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States. These bans leave 1 in 3 women, as well as transgender and nonbinary people, without access to abortion and disproportionately impact people of color, people with disabilities, young people, people living in rural areas, and people with low incomes.\n\nDespite the dangerous consequences of the bans and the overwhelming support for access to abortion, House Republicans have continued to propose extremist anti-abortion policy riders in their appropriations bills. These new riders include a measure to defund Planned Parenthood, a provision to codify the Trump administration\u2019s global gag rule, a provision that would interfere with essential postgraduate medical training in abortion care, and a provision that would restrict access to abortion and fertility care for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. If adopted, these provisions would dramatically undermine people\u2019s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures and providers\u2019 ability to deliver necessary reproductive health care.\n\nHouse Republicans have also used the FY26 appropriations process to push extremist and unpopular anti- LGBTQ+ measures, which threaten the lives and fundamental dignity of LGBTQ+ communities. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is being introduced across the country; in 2025 alone, more than 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across 49 state legislatures.\n\nAgainst this backdrop, House Republicans have introduced more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions across all 12 appropriations bills. This includes provisions in almost every appropriations bill that would allow people and organizations, including those that receive taxpayer funds, to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. More than half of the House\u2019s appropriations bills also contain dangerous riders that severely restrict access to gender- affirming care, which would deprive transgender people of critical, medically necessary, evidence-based, and often life-saving health care. Among those who would be impacted by these riders are the more than 134,000 transgender veterans who rely on the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Administration for their health care.\n\nDangerous poison pill provisions like those included in the FY26 House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress\u2019 ability to push forward must-pass legislation and keep the government open and working for the American people. As such, we urge you to reject these extremist riders from the remaining final FY26 appropriations bills.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-reintroduces-two-bills-to-stop-pfas-chemicals-from-entering-our-waterways-and-to-help-significantly-exposed-victims/", "Gillibrand Reintroduces Two Bills To Stop PFAS Chemicals From Entering Our Waterways And To Help Significantly Exposed Victims", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Legislation Would Combat Toxic Forever Chemicals At The Source And Provide A Federal Cause of Action For Victims to Seek Relief\n\nThis week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand reintroduced two bills to combat dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and help support communities that have been significantly exposed to these chemicals.\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act would help address PFAS contamination at the source. The bicameral PFAS Accountability Act would give victims of significant PFAS exposure legal recourse to sue PFAS manufacturers and would allow courts to award medical monitoring for early detection and treatment of diseases connected to PFAS.\n\n\u201c\u2018Forever chemicals\u2019 like PFAS are a dangerous threat to the environment and public health,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cFor years, companies have knowingly released toxic chemicals that have devastated families and communities. Those companies must be held accountable for their actions, and New York waterways must be protected from further contamination. These two bills will help address PFAS contamination at the source and deliver real justice for the victims of PFAS pollution in New York and across the country.\u201d\n\nPFAS chemicals are widespread contaminants found in many industrial applications, firefighting foam, and a variety of consumer products. PFAS exposure is linked to an array of health problems, including various cancers, reduced immune function, reproductive challenges, birth defects, thyroid problems, and more. According to the Environmental Working Group, over 1.3 million New Yorkers have concerning levels of PFAS in their drinking water.\n\nThe bipartisan Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act would set deadlines and require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop water quality criteria and establish effluent limitation guidelines and standards (ELGs) for PFAS in industrial discharges from eight priority categories using its existing authority under the Clean Water Act. The legislation is led by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) in the House, and it is endorsed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).\n\nThe PFAS Accountability Act would allow victims of significant PFAS exposure to sue PFAS manufacturers, and it would make it easier for courts to award medical monitoringfor early detection and treatment of adverse health conditions related to the exposure. The legislation would also incentivize funding for PFAS safety research. The PFAS Accountability Act is led by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), along with Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) in the House. This legislation is endorsed by Waterkeeper Alliance, American Association for Justice, Buxmont Coalition for Safe Water, Environmental Working Group, Green Science Policy Institute, National PFAS Contamination Coalition, Southern Environmental Law Center, NRDC, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.\n\nA leader in the fight against PFAS, Senator Gillibrand has long advocated for and championed legislation to protect the public from dangerous PFAS chemicals. In July, she introduced the bipartisan DOD PFAS Discharge Prevention Act, which would reduce drinking water pollution and exposure to toxic forever chemicals for firefighters, service members, and communities by facilitating better monitoring and implementing best management practices of PFAS at Department of Defense (DOD) installations. In previous years, she successfully pushed to phase out DOD\u2019s use of firefighting foam containing PFAS, and she passed legislation to expedite the testing, cleanup, and remediation of PFAS at some of the most contaminated U.S. military installations.\n\nThe text of the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act can be found here.\n\nThe text of the PFAS Accountability Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-meng-lead-effort-to-preserve-new-yorks-ability-to-use-broadband-infrastructure-funds-to-support-broadband-adoption-and-digital-inclusion-projects/", "Gillibrand, Schumer, Meng Lead Effort To Preserve New York\u2019s Ability To Use Broadband Infrastructure Funds To Support Broadband Adoption And Digital Inclusion Projects", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, along with Congresswoman Grace Meng, raised concerns about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration\u2019s (NTIA) potential reclamation of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) non-deployment funds. If the NTIA unlawfully withholds these funds, New York stands to lose at least $273.52 million in funding to support broadband adoption and digital inclusion efforts.\n\nThe BEAD program is a $42.45 billion federal grant program that aims to connect every American to high-speed internet by funding partnerships to build broadband infrastructure. BEAD non-deployment funds refer to the funding left over after a state meets BEAD\u2019s infrastructure deployment requirements. In May 2022, the NTIA outlined acceptable uses for these funds, clarifying that states may be able to use BEAD non-deployment funds to support digital inclusion projects, including expanding access to affordable broadband internet services, internet-enabled devices, digital literacy programming, telehealth services, and cybersecurity education initiatives.\n\nHowever, the NTIA\u2019s June 2025 BEAD restructuring policy notice rescinds states\u2019 flexibility to use these funds as Congress intended. As of today, the NTIA has yet to clarify whether states will be able to retain these funds at all, creating uncertainty that could result in the loss of federal support for increasing broadband adoption across New York State.\n\nThe members emphasized that \u201cBEAD non-deployment funds would benefit many more households than the one percent of households eligible for deployment funds and would help close the digital access divide for K-12 students, veterans, aging adults, rural communities, and families across the state. To fully ensure that all New Yorkers can participate in an increasingly digital era, they not only need access to broadband, but also access to affordable broadband, internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy programming to maximize internet connectivity.\u201d\n\n\u201cBEAD non-deployment funds are meant to complement BEAD\u2019s universal connectivity goals, and federal statute explicitly authorizes these funds for a broad range of non-deployment activities, including accessibility, affordability, and digital readiness. If the NTIA restricts or reclaims these funds, broadband infrastructure investments risk creating a two-tiered system where broadband availability exists but remains out of reach for those who need it most,\u201d the lawmakers stressed.\n\nThe members continued to underscore the importance of broadband access in an increasingly digital era, stating that \u201cEvery New Yorker deserves affordable, high-speed internet, regardless of where they live. Broadband adoption projects play a crucial role in ensuring full participation in the digital economy. This is necessary because long-term American economic competitiveness relies on a digitally connected and skilled workforce.\u201d\n\nThe members closed the letter by highlighting that \u201cWorkforce development, employment, digital safety education, support for remote learning, telehealth, and the other non-deployment activities approved under the NTIA\u2019s original 2022 guidance are foundational to delivering high-speed reliable internet to New York\u2019s most underserved communities.\u201d\n\nThe members urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth to \u201cpreserve the flexibility states retained prior to the issuance of the NTIA\u2019s June 2025 restructuring notice and allow states to use BEAD non-deployment funds for digital inclusion efforts.\u201d\n\nAlong with Senators Gillibrand and Schumer and Congresswoman Meng, the letter was cosigned by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY-07), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-5), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), and Paul Tonko (D-NY-20).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-espaillat-gains-access-ice-facilities-26-federal-plaza-after-suing-trump", "Rep. Espaillat Gains Access to ICE Facilities at 26 Federal Plaza After Suing Trump Administration", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Adriano Espaillat", "E000297", "espaillat.house.gov", "espaillat", "https://espaillat.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "[Video of the Press Conference Can Be Viewed Here]\n\nNEW YORK, NY \u2013 Today U.S. Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Dan Goldman (NY-10) gained access to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza to conduct their congressional oversight duties. The oversight visit marks the first time under the Trump Administration that Members of Congress have been allowed access to these facilities in order to exercise their lawful congressional duties of inspecting immigration detention facilities to ensure the safety of detained individuals and compliance with federal law.\n\n\u201cToday, we saw people housed for as long as three days or more in cells without access to showers, limited toilets, no real beds \u2013 an administrative building is simply not equipped to hold detainees. The Trump administration's obsession with hitting an arbitrary \u2013 and unrealistic \u2013 number of deportations is creating a humanitarian crisis,\u201d said CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat. \u201cThe courts reaffirmed our right to inspect detention centers and we exercised that right immediately -- that's the good news. The bad news is we saw what we already knew to be true: The White House's unhinged expectations are forcing DHS officials to cut corners. This is not how America should enforce its laws.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, after months of being blocked from entry, Rep. Espaillat and I finally gained access to 26 Federal Plaza to exercise our oversight responsibility of the ICE facilities there,\u201d said Rep. Goldman. \u201cWhat we saw today only reaffirms the clear violations of both law and American values by the Trump Administration\u2019s immigration dragnet. Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants are still kept for up to three days without showers or beds and often no way to contact their families or lawyers. I have no doubt that this week\u2019s court order to allow congressional access into 26 Federal Plaza and other ICE detention facilities around the country forced ICE to improve conditions here. But Members of Congress should not have needed to seek a court order to conduct oversight. I will continue to use every tool available, including returning here to conduct oversight unannounced, to hold ICE and the Trump Administration accountable.\u201d\n\nThe Members have been previously denied access to the ICE facilities at 26 Federal Plaza and the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York Field Office at the same location. However, on December 17, a U.S. District Court ruled in favor of twelve members of Congress, including Reps. Goldman and Espaillat, who sued the Trump Administration in an effort to halt ICE\u2019s policy of blocking Members of Congress from conducting unannounced oversight visits to ICE facilities, including field offices. The District Court\u2019s opinion temporarily restored the Members\u2019 lawful duties of inspecting immigration detention facilities to oversee compliance with federal law.\n\nFederal law (Sec. 527, FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act) allows Members of Congress to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites where noncitizens are detained without having to provide prior notice. But over the course of this year, many Members of Congress have been stopped from their attempts to conduct oversight at these facilities. In response to questions about this, ICE officials announced a new policy requiring a seven-day waiting period and preventing entry to ICE field offices.\n\nOn July 30, CHC Chair Espaillat, Rep. Goldman, and ten other individual Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sued the Trump\u2013Vance administration, challenging the policy as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by counsel Democracy Forward and American Oversight, demanded that the administration comply with a federal law that guarantees Members of Congress the right to conduct oversight visits to any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities - including field offices - where noncitizens are detained, without prior notice. The U.S. District Court opinion issued on December 17 temporarily halted ICE\u2019s unlawful policy of blocking members of Congress from conducting unannounced oversight visits to ICE facilities, including field offices.\n\nEarlier this month, Espaillat and Goldman, along with Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-7) and House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (CA-42), introduced the Immigration Court Due Process Protection Act, new legislation that aims to protect immigrants who are pursuing lawful pathways to migrate to the United States and attending their court-ordered appearances from being targeted for arrests by the Trump Administration. The legislation would prohibit U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers or agents from arresting or detaining an individual that is physically present at an Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) immigration court facility for the purpose of attending or participating in a hearing, except pursuant to a judicial warrant. These protections would extend to individuals whose immigration case is still active and has not resulted in a final order of removal.\n\n# # #\n\nRepresentative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government\u2019s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.\n\nMedia inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://lalota.house.gov/media/press-releases/lalota-small-business-administration-urge-local-businesses-apply-national", "LaLota & Small Business Administration Urge Local Businesses to Apply for National Small Business Week Awards by Monday, December 22", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nick LaLota", "L000598", "lalota.house.gov", "lalota", "https://lalota.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Hauppauge, N.Y \u2014 Congressman Nick LaLota, a Member of the House Committee on Small Business, is urging Suffolk County entrepreneurs and small business owners to submit their nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards before the fast-approaching Monday, December 22 deadline.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of Suffolk County\u2019s economy. They\u2019re the innovators, risk-takers, and job creators who strengthen our local communities. As someone fighting every day on the House Small Business Committee to cut red tape and expand opportunities, I want to make sure our local business leaders are recognized on the national stage,\u201d said LaLota. \u201cIf you know a deserving entrepreneur, or if you\u2019re one yourself, I encourage you to apply before the December 22 deadline. And if you need help navigating the SBA or other federal programs, my office stands ready to assist.\u201d\n\n\u201cNational Small Business Week is a time to honor the incredible achievements of America\u2019s entrepreneurs - the innovators, risk-takers, and job creators who drive our economy forward. Long Island is lucky to have Rep. LaLota on the House\u2019s Small Business Committee, where he sees the positive impact that the SBA makes to Main Street entrepreneurs and small business owners.\n\n\u201cWe both know first-hand that outstanding small businesses should be recognized for the hard work, perseverance, resiliency, and impact in their communities. That\u2019s why we are encouraging individuals, organizations, and small businesses themselves to submit nominations so that the Long Island community - and all of New York State and the nation - can celebrate their stories,\u201dsaid SBA Atlantic Regional Administrator Matt Coleman, who oversees the federal agency\u2019s operations throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\n\nBackground:\n\nEach year, as part of National Small Business Week, the SBA honors outstanding entrepreneurs from all 50 states and U.S. territories. These awards spotlight the leaders behind America\u2019s 36 million small businesses, which make up 99% of all U.S. businesses, create two out of every three new jobs, and employ about half of the nation\u2019s workforce.\n\nNational Small Business Week will take place May 3\u20139, 2026.\n\nThe SBA will select a Small Business Person of the Year from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. State winners then compete for the 2026 National Small Business Person of the Year, the SBA\u2019s signature award.\n\nAdditional award categories include:\n\nSmall Business Exporting Awards\n\nDisaster Recovery Awards\n\nFederal Procurement Awards\n\nAnd others", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-colleagues-demand-secretary-kennedy-to-address-the-black-maternal-health-crisis/", "CLARKE, COLLEAGUES DEMAND SECRETARY KENNEDY TO ADDRESS THE BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 18, 2025\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Robin Kelly (IL-02) led a letter signed by 49 of their colleagues to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services demanding immediate action to address the Black maternal health crisis, which has only grown more severe under the second Trump Administration:\n\n\u201cNo woman in this country should face preventable harm while giving birth, yet the evidence shows that Black mothers face disproportionate, avoidable, and increasingly heightened risks. We demand that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) investigate these failures and outline the steps it will take to ensure that hospitals provide safe, timely, and equitable care to all patients. In the United States, Black women die from pregnancy-related causes at more than three times the rate of white women. This stark disparity persists across income, education, insurance status, and geography\u2014reflecting longstanding inequities in access, treatment, and responsiveness within maternal health care that warrant serious federal attention and oversight.\u201d The Members continued, \u201cBlack women deserve to enter labor and delivery units with confidence that their symptoms will be taken seriously and that their care will align with established medical standards. The maternal health crisis facing Black women demands urgent attention, stronger oversight, and meaningful accountability throughout the health care system.\u201d\n\nThe letter was signed by 51 Members of Congress: Becca Balint, Nanette Barrag\u00e1n, Joyce Beatty, Wesley Bell, Shontel Brown, Nikki Budzinski, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Kathy Castor, Joaquin Castro, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette D. Clarke, Herbert Conaway, Jasmine Crockett, Madeleine Dean, Suzan DelBene, Veronica Escobar, Dwight Evans, Valerie Foushee, Maxwell Frost, Steven Horsford, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Summer Lee, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, April McClain Delaney, LaMonica McIver, Gregory Meeks, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stacey Plaskett, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Marilyn Strickland, Bennie Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases/garbarino-himes-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-prevent-veteran-suicide", "Garbarino, Himes Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Veteran Suicide", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Andrew R. Garbarino", "G000597", "garbarino.house.gov", "garbarino", "https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) and Congressman James Himes (D-CT-04) reintroduced the Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, legislation that directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive review of veteran suicides and identify gaps in care, prescribing practices, and data reporting. The bill aims to improve transparency, strengthen oversight, and ensure the VA can better support veterans in crisis.\n\nRecent independent reviews have raised concerns that veteran suicide deaths may be significantly undercounted due to misclassified self-injury and overdose deaths. These discrepancies underscore the urgent need for accurate data to fully understand the scope of the crisis and take meaningful action to save lives.\n\nUnder this bill, the VA would be required to complete a detailed, publicly available review of suicide deaths among veterans who received VA care within the five years preceding their death. The review would assess medical histories, prescribed medications, facility-level prescribing patterns, diagnoses, and demographic information.\n\n\u201cToo many of our nation\u2019s heroes have been lost to suicide, and every one of those lives is a call to action,\u201d said Congressman Garbarino. \u201cThis crucial legislation gives us the transparency and information needed to strengthen oversight and ensure veterans receive the support they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform deserve the very best when they return home, but the tragically high rate of suicide is a clear sign that we are failing to live up to that standard. This important piece of bipartisan legislation will ensure that we better understand how best to support our veterans as they readjust to life after service,\u201dsaid Congressman Himes.\n\n\u201cAccurate data saves lives. America\u2019s Warrior Partnership strongly supports this bipartisan effort to bring greater transparency to veteran suicide and ensure every community has the information needed to prevent these tragic losses.\u201d - Jim Lorraine, President & CEO of America's Warrior Partnership\n\nAdditional original cosponsors of the Veteran Suicide Prevention Act include Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02 ), Don Davis (D-NC-01), and Thomas Kean (R-NJ-07).\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve more than gratitude \u2013 they deserve a system that supports them as they readjust to life after service and one that intervenes before it\u2019s too late,\u201dsaid Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. \u201cBy requiring a comprehensive review of veteran suicides, this legislation will help us better understand the scope of the crisis, identify gaps in care, and most importantly, save lives. I am joining this bipartisan effort to ensure that our nation\u2019s heroes receive effective, timely support and that none are left behind.\u201d\n\n\u201cImproving the quality and accessibility of treatment for our veterans must be central in our effort to equip them for life after their honorable service to our nation. And I\u2019m proud to join Representatives Garbarino and Himes in introducing a bill to ensure we have the data and oversight necessary to provide every veteran with the care and support they deserve,\u201d said Congressman Neguse.\n\nUnder the Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, the VAreview would include:\n\n\u25cf The total number of veterans who died by suicide during the five years;\n\n\u25cf A summary that includes age, gender, and race;\n\n\u25cf A list of the medications prescribed to, and found in the systems of, such veterans at the time of their deaths, and a summary of medical diagnoses by VA physicians that led to the prescribing of such medications;\n\n\u25cf The number of instances in which the veteran was concurrently on multiple medications prescribed by VA physicians;\n\n\u25cf The percentage of veterans who were not taking any medication prescribed by a VA physician;\n\n\u25cf The percentage of veterans with combat experience or trauma;\n\n\u25cf Veterans Health Administration facilities with markedly high prescription and patient suicide rates;\n\n\u25cf A description of VA policies governing the prescribing of medications; and\n\n\u25cf Recommendations to improve the safety and well-being of veterans.\n\nVeterans in need of support can visitwww.veteranscrisisline.net, dial The Veterans Crisis Line at 988 then Press 1, or text 838255.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-29T06:03:53Z", "2026-04-29T06:05:09Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/18/leader-jeffries-costs-havent-gone-down-in-the-united-states-of-america-and-everybody-knows-it/", "LEADER JEFFRIES: \u201cCOSTS HAVEN\u2019T GONE DOWN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT\u201d", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that as Congress ends the legislative year, President Trump and House Republicans have failed to deliver on their promises to lower costs for everyday Americans, while House Democrats remain committed to driving down the high cost of living.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We started the year, and Donald Trump promised that this would be the golden age in America. We\u2019re ending the year, and the overwhelming majority of the American people, including many so-called Trump supporters, know that this year has been a disaster for the American people. Last night, Donald Trump once again made it clear to the American people that he apparently still believes that the affordability crisis in this country is a hoax. It is not a hoax. The affordability crisis is very real. And one of the reasons why this year has been such a disaster for everyday Americans under complete Republican control of government\u2014they have the House, the Senate, and the presidency. They\u2019ve had all year, they\u2019ve had complete control of government and they\u2019ve done nothing to lower the high cost of living in this country.\n\nNow, Donald Trump and Mike Johnson and John Thune and House Republicans and Senate Republicans repeatedly promised to the American people last year that they were going to lower the high cost of living. In fact, they said that costs would go down on day one. They lied to the American people.Costs haven\u2019t gone down in the United States of America, and everybody knows it.Costs have gone up. Housing costs are out of control. Grocery costs are outta control. Electricity bills are outta control. Child care costs are outta control and healthcare costs are out of control and about to get worse because of the Republican healthcare crisis that has been devastating everyday Americans throughout this year.\n\nWhy is Mike Johnson and House Republicans leaving town when there is legislation supported by a bipartisan majority of the House that would extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years? We should pass that bill and then send it over to the Senate before the end of the year, before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, so that tens of millions of Americans during the holiday season are threatened with their health insurance premiums, copays and deductibles dramatically increasing, including the reality that many of these working class Americans will experience premium increases of $1,000 or $2,000 per month. That is unacceptable. That\u2019s why House Democrats successfully launched a discharge petition that secured 218 bipartisan signatures. And there\u2019s no reason why Mike Johnson can\u2019t bring that bill to the Floor immediately.\n\nHouse Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown, and that\u2019s a shame. All they\u2019ve done is reinforce the fact that their sole objective in this Congress, the sole objective of Donald Trump, the sole objective of the House Republican majority is to enact massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors while jamming their extreme right-wing ideology down the throats of the American people and doing nothing, nothing at all, zip-zero, nothing at all to make life better for the American people. It\u2019s extraordinary to us. I don\u2019t think these people want to win any more elections because they\u2019ve literally done nothing to make life better for the American people. House Democrats, as we\u2019ve repeatedly made clear, are in this fight until we win this fight. We\u2019re going to continue to work hard to drive down the high cost of living in this country. We\u2019re going to continue to work hard to fix our broken healthcare system. And we\u2019re going to continue to work hard to clean up corruption and deliver a country of the people, by the people and for the people.\n\nFull press conference can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/18/leader-jeffries-on-squawk-box-we-are-working-hard-to-decisively-confront-this-republican-healthcare-crisis/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON SQUAWK BOX: \u201cWE ARE WORKING HARD TO DECISIVELY CONFRONT THIS REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS\u201d", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNBC\u2019s Squawk Box, where he emphasized that a majority of the House has signed onto the Democratic bill to extend the ACA tax credits, and Mike Johnson must bring it up for a vote immediately.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Joining us right now is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Good morning to you. You heard the President last night. He says the Democrats are in the pockets of the insurance companies and that the price of your healthcare is actually going to go down under his plan. What say you?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good morning, great to be with you. The Republican healthcare crisis is devastating the American people and Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of healthcare. This is the party that has enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history in the same bill where they enacted massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors because of Republican policies in the One Big Ugly Bill. We know that hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country, including in rural America. Republicans have launched an all-out assault on the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, on vaccine availability for children and now Republicans are refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which means that tens of millions of Americans, working-class Americans, are about to experience dramatically increased health insurance premiums. We are working hard to decisively confront this Republican healthcare crisis and fix our broken healthcare system.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader, let me ask you this, and I recognize the complications and costs to the American public. There is a question, and maybe you\u2019d say it\u2019s a longer-term question that has to be dealt with later, but the true question ultimately underneath all this is how we\u2019re going to actually lower the cost of healthcare in America. And when I say lower the cost, not just lower the cost for individuals, meaning in the moment subsidize it, but how we actually change the market dynamic at play and whether what you have proposed even tries to address that at all or frankly exacerbates it.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: What we\u2019ve proposed at the moment relates to the fact that the Affordable Care Act tax credits are going to expire on December 31 and no one disputes that, if that happens, tens of millions of Americans are going to experience skyrocketing health insurance premiums, in some cases increasing by $1,000 or $2,000 per month. And 90% of the people who rely on the Affordable Care Act tax credits make around $63,000 per year. These are working-class Americans, everyday Americans and middle-class Americans. And so, we\u2019ve got to make sure that we don\u2019t allow these tax credits to expire. At the same time, you raise a very good point, Andrew, that the healthcare system is broken and we need to fix it. We want to fix it in a comprehensive way, in a bipartisan way. But that actually requires Republicans deciding to abandon their my-way-or-the-highway approach to everything, which is what has led to the extremism that they\u2019re jamming down the throats of the American people and the fact that everyday Americans, voters, are rejecting that extremism as we saw in the off-year elections last November.\n\nMICHAEL SANTOLI: Leader Jeffries, you mentioned that the vast majority of those who use the supplemental subsidies for the ACA are well below the wealthy thresholds that the Republicans are talking about, which is four times the poverty line. Is that in play in terms of a negotiated agreement here? They keep talking about that as maybe a sticking point. How does your party feel about simply having an income cap for these subsidies?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: We have a bipartisan coalition right now that supports, in the House of Representatives\u2014that\u2019s every single House Democrat and at least four House Republicans\u2014supports a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Time has run out. Republicans have had all year to deal with this issue and have chosen not to do it because they were focused on passing their One Big Ugly Bill, which they enacted with great urgency months ago. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history, the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history. They literally ripped $186 billion away from SNAP. That\u2019s food from hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors. And why did they do all of that? So they can enact massive tax breaks that they made permanent for their billionaire donors, and skyrocketed the debt by over $3 trillion, and now at the 11th hour, time has run out, and we\u2019ve got the votes to pass a straightforward extension and send it over to the Senate. Mike Johnson needs to make sure we vote on this legislation today. The House should not recess or adjourn until this issue has been dealt with.\n\nMICHAEL SANTOLI: What is your expectation? You say you have the votes. You\u2019ve mentioned the four Republicans that have come on over to join you, and then the Senate seems like it\u2019s kind of a no-go no matter what. So, I mean, what are we looking at come next week?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what\u2019s interesting about the Senate is that there are a majority of U.S. Senators, Democrats and Republicans, who\u2019ve already supported, in the vote that took place a few weeks ago, a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And so once we send the bill from the House over to the Senate, then the Senate can negotiate a path forward that enables them, hopefully, to break the filibuster and get something done for the American people. We can work on this issue in a bipartisan way, as has now been demonstrated in the House of Representatives. We do need some presidential leadership. Part of the issue is that Donald Trump still seems to believe that the affordability crisis is a hoax. In fact, he said that repeatedly. Costs haven\u2019t gone down in this country. Costs have gone up, despite the fact that Donald Trump did promise his words, not mine, that costs would go down on day one. Housing costs out of control, grocery costs out of control, electricity bills out of control, healthcare costs out of control. Action needs to be taken in all of these areas. We\u2019re prepared to work with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. We just need good faith and Republican leadership.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Talk about costs getting out of control. You mentioned healthcare. Interestingly, you look at employment in America over the past year, and actually, it is the healthcare industry where so much of the employment has come from. What do you make of that?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, I think we\u2019ve got to take a look at the economy as a whole and all of the individual sectors. In this country fundamentally here\u2019s our belief: you work hard, you play by the rules you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life, live the good life. And to me that\u2019s a good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education and a good retirement, which means the extremists need to keep their hands off Social Security and Medicare. That should not be too much to ask for in this great country of ours, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. So, you know, listen, we support the notion that economic growth that moves in a positive direction is good for everyone. But we\u2019ve got to make sure that this fundamental principle, hard work paying off, playing by the rules paying off and the American dream being brought to life, is actually realized and revived because far too many people understandably have concluded, I\u2019m talking about working-class folks, middle-class folks, that the American dream is out of reach as we approach our 250th birthday. That\u2019s a shame.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader Jeffries, I have maybe a curveball of a question, but we just talked to Jamieson Greer, and it\u2019s something that I think is on the mind of a lot of folks who are watching this broadcast now as it relates to tariffs, a lot folks waiting to find out what the Supreme Court has to say about the tariffs that have been implemented by the President. I believe you have come out strongly against those tariffs. There\u2019s a real question, though, about whether, if they were struck down, whether the court could force, effectively, the U.S. Government to give back the $200 billion that has been collected in tariffs and how that could rescramble the economy. And I\u2019m curious what the sort of Democratic position would be on something like that.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the implications of the Supreme Court striking down those tariffs, I think, have to be evaluated. Our view, as you indicated, Andrew, from the very beginning, is that the President has violated his authority. He doesn\u2019t have the emergency authority to implement this random, massive tariff scheme that\u2019s imposing thousands of dollars of additional cost on everyday Americans, which is why the American people reject these tariffs. I think that if the Supreme Court strikes down these tariffs, then Congress should come together in a bipartisan way and figure out the path forward, anchored in the reality is what\u2019s best for the American people? What\u2019s best for our companies and our corporations? What\u2019s best for the economy to ensure that we can continue to see American exceptionalism prevail?\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Leader Jeffries, we want to thank you for joining us this morning. We want to wish you happy holidays if we don\u2019t see you before the break next week. Thank you.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Happy holidays, thank you.\n\nANDREW ROSS SORKIN: You bet.\n\nFull interview can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/18/statement-from-kennedy-center-ex-officio-board-members-on-trumps-illegal-effort-to-rename-arts-institution/", "STATEMENT FROM KENNEDY CENTER EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS ON TRUMP\u2019S ILLEGAL EFFORT TO RENAME ARTS INSTITUTION", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Know Your Immigration Rights\n\nIf you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.\n\nAsk for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.\n\nYour right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.\n\nAlways consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.\n\nThe New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor\u2019s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say \u201cAction NYC,\u201d call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5210", "Reps. Lawler and Ryan Demand HUD Disburse CoC Funds, Ensure That Hudson Valley Families and Veterans Stay Housed", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 12/18/25\u2026 Today, Congressmen Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Pat Ryan (NY-18) urged the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure that funding already appropriated by Congress is distributed promptly to supportive housing organizations across the Hudson Valley. Supportive housing organizations in the region play a critical role in keeping families, seniors, and veterans housed. Recently, HUD notified these organizations of mid-cycle changes to program eligibility, creating potential delays for funds that Congress has already approved through 2026.\n\nThe lawmakers are calling on HUD to provide clear guidance and ensure that allocated funds continue to flow uninterrupted. These funds are administered locally through HUD\u2019s Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which is designed to provide predictable, multi-year support so housing providers can maintain stability for families, seniors, and veterans.\n\n\u201cHousing is a basic human need, and when the federal government fails to deliver on funds that Congress has already allocated, it puts lives at risk. The residents of the Hudson Valley, including those in supportive housing, deserve stability, not uncertainty. We cannot allow policy changes to jeopardize the homes and security of families in our district. HUD must fulfill its obligations and ensure the necessary funding continues to flow to those who need it most,\u201d said Congressman Mike Lawler.\n\n\u201cKeeping Hudson Valley kids, families, seniors and veterans in their homes isn\u2019t a partisan issue \u2013 it\u2019s a fundamental question of who we are as a country. I know the country I risked my life to defend wouldn\u2019t kick kids and veterans out of their homes,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cNobody in our community deserves to have the rug pulled out from under them. We\u2019re rallying our communities and people on the frontlines of the housing crisis with a clear, strong message: do not leave Hudson Valley families out in the cold. Provide the funding that has already been promised. Do not make program changes at the expense of children staying warm this winter. We need everyone in the community to raise their voices and join the fight. Our Hudson Valley community cannot and will not let this stand.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the judge hearing the legal challenges to HUD\u2019s NOFO noted when the plan was suddenly withdrawn at the last minute, this feels like \u2018intentional chaos,\u2019\u201d said Michelle Sandoz-Dennis, CEO of CARES of New York, Inc. \u201cThis is not a partisan issue. HUD\u2019s actions are destabilizing the lives of real families and individuals whose health and safety are at risk, and we urge members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to work to restore funding stability and protect vulnerable communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf this funding disappears, vulnerable families with profoundly disabled children and chronically homeless adults will face immediate housing instability,\u201d said Michael Berg, Executive Director of Family of Woodstock, Inc. \u201cBipartisan engagement from Congress is essential to ensure programs proven to reduce chronic homelessness are not dismantled.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf secure CoC funding is not restored, we will have no choice but to increase rents and reduce staffing,\u201d said Christa Hines, CEO of Hudson River Housing. \u201cCongressional collaboration is critical to guarantee the services that help our residents remain employed and working towards greater independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to work together to safeguard housing stability,\u201d said Mike Erwin, LCSW-R, CASAC, Program Director of Permanent Supportive Housing at Mental Health America of Dutchess County. \u201cWhen these programs are thrown into uncertainty, it destabilizes residents\u2019 health, safety, and recovery.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe lack of clarity around housing awards and contract renewals has left us in an untenable position,\u201d said Chris Molinelli, Executive Director of HONOR. \u201cWe are being asked to overhaul critical programs without knowing whether the new funding structure will adequately support those already housed. This is a nonpartisan issue that demands clear, bipartisan action from Congress to ensure continuity of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cCuts to HUD Continuum of Care funding for permanent housing will increase homelessness across the entire community. People will remain in shelters longer, emergency systems will become overwhelmed, and more individuals and families will cycle in and out of homelessness. In Rockland County, where affordable housing and shelter capacity are already limited, even modest reductions in permanent housing funding can lead to higher shelter utilization, longer lengths of stay, and increased pressure on healthcare, education, and public safety systems. Victims and survivors of domestic violence need consistency, safety, and long-term housing options\u2014not uncertainty driven by shifting federal guidance. Twelve-month renewal language is critical to maintaining continuity of care and ensuring that life-saving housing programs remain intact. We know that Congressman Mike Lawler understands the importance of continuing to support victims and survivors by opposing this cap, and we urge him to continue this leadership and work with his colleagues to ensure others join him in opposing policies that would reduce housing options for victims and survivors of domestic violence,\u201d said Elizabeth Santiago, CEO of the Center for Safety & Change.\n\nCongressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/malliotakis-congratulates-cardinal-dolan-years-service-archdiocese-new-york", "Malliotakis Congratulates Cardinal Dolan on Years of Service to the Archdiocese of New York, Welcomes Archbishop Hicks", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicole Malliotakis", "M000317", "malliotakis.house.gov", "malliotakis", "https://malliotakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(NEW YORK, NY) \u2013 Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis released the following statement after Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolanas Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 earlier this year. Malliotakis also welcomed the newly appointed Archbishop Ronald Hicks as his successor.\n\n\u201cI congratulate Cardinal Timothy Dolan as he begins this next chapter after 16 years of faithful service to the Archdiocese of New York. Over the years, I\u2019ve come to know Cardinal Dolan well. All who have been in his presence know what a positive, joyful, faithful individual he is. My Catholic constituents and I will miss his guidance and good humor, and I am grateful for his leadership and commitment to New Yorkers. I wish him well in his retirement and look forward to working with Archbishop Ronald Hicks as he assumes leadership of the Archdiocese of New York, serving 2.5 million Catholic New Yorkers.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-honors-chuck-mangione-house-representatives", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE HONORS CHUCK MANGIONE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2014Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced he delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in honor of Charles \u201cChuck\u201d Mangione\u2014a son of Rochester, world-renowned trumpet and flugelhorn player, and an American jazz icon\u2014who passed away recently at the age of 84. His remarks, available below, will appear in the Congressional Record.\n\n\u201cI rise today to honor the life and legacy of Rochester\u2019s own Chuck Mangione\u2014a world-class musician whose unique sound carried our city\u2019s spirit to every corner of the globe.\n\nBorn and raised in Rochester, Chuck never forgot where he came from. From his early days playing alongside his brother Gap as \u201cThe Jazz Brothers,\u201d to studying at, and later leading, the Eastman School of Music\u2019s jazz program, Chuck\u2019s commitment to Rochester never wavered.\n\nHis flugelhorn gave us classics like 'Feels So Good,' earned Grammy awards, and became the soundtrack to unforgettable moments.\n\nHere in Rochester, we remember Chuck not just for his fame, but for his generosity, joy, and the pride he shared in our community.\n\nHe leaves a legacy that will keep our city swinging for generations. May we honor him by celebrating our hometown music the way Chuck always did.\u201d\n\nVideo footage is available and can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://nadler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397428", "Nadler, DeLauro, Balint, Frost Introduce Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Jerrold Nadler", "N000002", "nadler.house.gov", "nadler", "https://nadler.house.gov/news", "scraper", "In the wake of the horrific antisemitic attack in Sydney killing 15 Jews, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) introduced the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act (ARPA).\n\nThis comprehensive approach to combating antisemitism supports the Biden Administration\u2019s landmark US National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, including its approach to defining antisemitism. ARPA also fully funds the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education, undoes the Trump closure of regional offices, prevents regional offices from being closed in the future, and creates greater Congressional oversight into the work of the Department. Additionally, ARPA mandates the designation of a Title VI coordinator on every college campus in order to provide students with additional resources in hopes of preventing antisemitism and other hate on campus. Doing so also would provide on-campus resources to directly report any such incidents, should they occur.\n\nThe bill notably creates a Hate Crime Reporting Center and provides additional resources to record, track, index, report, and publish data related to every hate crime committed in the United States. The bill also creates a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism to spearhead a whole-of-government response to the antisemitism crisis in America. ARPA fully funds the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to harden security and protect religious communities and nonprofits, and ensures that recipients cannot be discriminated against based on partisan political ideologies.\n\nARPA clearly states that it is against the policy of the United States to use antisemitism as grounds to pursue ulterior political agendas, including attacks on educational institutions, suppressing constitutionally protected speech, or any other enforcement of ideological conformity. ARPA affirms that criticism of Israeli government policy is a form of political speech protected by the First Amendment, and requires reports to Congress by the Executive Branch on the propagation of extremist ideologies in the U.S. and an assessment of the sources of all domestic terror threats.\n\n\u201cWe all witnessed in horror the antisemitic attack that took place this week in Sydney, Australia. In the wake of this tragedy, I am proud to lead this comprehensive, progressive, and critically important piece of legislation to combat the rising antisemitism in this country,\u201d said Representative Nadler. \u201cThis bill shows that moderates and those aligned with the current Israeli government do not enjoy a monopoly over the fight against antisemitism and hate. I am proud to introduce, with my cherished colleagues, the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act, which embodies a comprehensive and principled framework\u2014one that steadfastly upholds and celebrates progressive values without compromise, diminution, or equivocation.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to co-lead the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act of 2025, which lays out a national strategy for combating the rising threat of antisemitism while protecting freedom of speech, and calls out the Trump Administration's co-opting of antisemitism for its own political agenda,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cThe horrific attacks in Australia on a Hannukah market demonstrate that unchecked antisemitic hatred has deadly consequences, and we must do everything in our power to prevent attacks like this in the future. That includes reopening the regional Offices of Civil Rights within the Department of Education that President Trump has closed, and funding nonprofit security grants to protect religious buildings and community centers. We must not stand by while hatred and extremism takes root in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe terrorist attack against Jewish families in Sydney is a tragic example of how antisemitism is on the rise. As the grandchild of a man killed in the Holocaust, I personally know how attacks like this threaten our identity and community, said Representative Balint. \u201cI am proud to co-lead this legislation to combat antisemitism in our country. This bill would provide resources to prevent and combat antisemitism in our communities and on college campuses. It will also ensure strong Congressional oversight and guardrails to prevent any administration from politicizing antisemitism to further attack their opponents. Antisemitism is not just an attack on Jewish people\u2014it is a threat to democracy and the safety of all communities.\u201d\n\n\"What we witnessed in Bondi on the first night of Hanukkah, and the growing rise of antisemitism in our country and across the world, is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. Standing up to antisemitism is about protecting our neighbors and the democracy we share, which is why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act. The legislation creates a coordinated, whole-of-government response to confront antisemitism wherever it appears in our communities. Unity is our greatest strength, and when we act together, hate has nowhere to take hold,\u201d said Congressman Frost.\n\nThe bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-community-wide-effort-bipartisan-congressmen-pat-ryan-and-mike-lawler", "AMID COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT, BIPARTISAN CONGRESSMEN PAT RYAN AND MIKE LAWLER DEMAND HUD SECRETARY DISBURSE COC FUNDS; ENSURE THAT HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES AND VETERANS STAY HOUSED", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Supportive housing organizations in the region play a critical role in keeping families, seniors, and veterans housed. Recently, HUD notified these organizations of mid-cycle changes to program eligibility, creating potential delays for funds that Congress has already approved through 2026.\n\nHudson Valley housing nonprofits sounded the alarm on the funding changes, stating their residents faced a \u201creturn to homelessness\u201d and total \u201cchaos and uncertainty\u201d due to the abrupt policy changes\n\nMultiple states, including New York, sued HUD over the initial notice, which the agency subsequently rescinded. HUD has indicated it may reissue a proposal after making modifications, creating continued uncertainty for program administrators.\n\nCongressmen Ryan and Lawler are calling on HUD to provide clear guidance and ensure that allocated funds continue to flow uninterrupted. These funds are administered locally through HUD\u2019s Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which is designed to provide predictable, multi-year support so housing providers can maintain stability for families, seniors, and veterans.\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressmen Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) called on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure that funding already appropriated by Congress is distributed promptly to supportive housing organizations across the Hudson Valley.\n\nSupportive housing organizations in the region play a critical role in keeping families, seniors, and veterans housed. Recently, HUD notified these organizations of mid-cycle changes to program eligibility, creating potential delays for funds that Congress has already approved through 2026.\n\nHudson Valley housing nonprofits sounded the alarm on the funding changes, stating their residents faced a \u201creturn to homelessness\u201d and total \u201cchaos and uncertainty\u201d due to the abrupt policy changes.\n\nMultiple states, including New York, sued HUD over the initial notice, which the agency subsequently rescinded. HUD has indicated it may reissue a proposal after making modifications, creating continued uncertainty for program administrators.\n\nCongressmen Ryan and Lawler are calling on HUD to provide clear guidance and ensure that allocated funds continue to flow uninterrupted. These funds are administered locally through HUD\u2019s Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which is designed to provide predictable, multi-year support so housing providers can maintain stability for families, seniors, and veterans.\n\n\u201cKeeping Hudson Valley kids, families, seniors and veterans in their homes isn\u2019t a partisan issue \u2013 it\u2019s a fundamental question of who we are as a country. I know the country I risked my life to defend wouldn\u2019t kick kids and veterans out of their homes,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cNobody in our community deserves to have the rug pulled out from under them. We\u2019re rallying our communities and people on the frontlines of the housing crisis with a clear, strong message: do not leave Hudson Valley families out in the cold. Provide the funding that has already been promised. Do not make program changes at the expense of children staying warm this winter. We need everyone in the community to raise their voices and join the fight. Our Hudson Valley community cannot and will not let this stand.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing is a basic human need, and when the federal government fails to deliver on funds that Congress has already allocated, it puts lives at risk. The residents of the Hudson Valley, including those in supportive housing, deserve stability, not uncertainty. We cannot allow policy changes to jeopardize the homes and security of families in our district. HUD must fulfill its obligations and ensure the necessary funding continues to flow to those who need it most,\u201d said Congressman Mike Lawler.\n\n\u201cAs the judge hearing the legal challenges to HUD\u2019s NOFO noted when the plan was suddenly withdrawn at the last minute, this feels like \u2018intentional chaos,\u2019\u201d said Michelle Sandoz-Dennis, CEO of CARES of New York, Inc. \u201cThis is not a partisan issue. HUD\u2019s actions are destabilizing the lives of real families and individuals whose health and safety are at risk, and we urge members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to work to restore funding stability and protect vulnerable communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf this funding disappears, vulnerable families with profoundly disabled children and chronically homeless adults will face immediate housing instability,\u201d said Michael Berg, Executive Director of Family of Woodstock, Inc. \u201cBipartisan engagement from Congress is essential to ensure programs proven to reduce chronic homelessness are not dismantled.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf secure CoC funding is not restored, we will have no choice but to increase rents and reduce staffing,\u201d said Christa Hines, CEO of Hudson River Housing. \u201cCongressional collaboration is critical to guarantee the services that help our residents remain employed and working towards greater independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to work together to safeguard housing stability,\u201d said Mike Erwin, LCSW-R, CASAC, Program Director of Permanent Supportive Housing at Mental Health America of Dutchess County. \u201cWhen these programs are thrown into uncertainty, it destabilizes residents\u2019 health, safety, and recovery.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe lack of clarity around housing awards and contract renewals has left us in an untenable position,\u201d said Chris Molinelli, Executive Director of HONOR. \u201cWe are being asked to overhaul critical programs without knowing whether the new funding structure will adequately support those already housed. This is a nonpartisan issue that demands clear, bipartisan action from Congress to ensure continuity of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cCuts to HUD Continuum of Care funding for permanent housing will increase homelessness across the entire community. People will remain in shelters longer, emergency systems will become overwhelmed, and more individuals and families will cycle in and out of homelessness. In Rockland County, where affordable housing and shelter capacity are already limited, even modest reductions in permanent housing funding can lead to higher shelter utilization, longer lengths of stay, and increased pressure on healthcare, education, and public safety systems. Victims and survivors of domestic violence need consistency, safety, and long-term housing options\u2014not uncertainty driven by shifting federal guidance Twelve-month renewal language is critical to maintaining continuity of care and ensuring that life-saving housing programs remain intact. We know that Congressman Mike Lawler understands the importance of continuing to support victims and survivors by opposing this cap, and we urge him to continue this leadership and work with his colleagues to ensure others join him in opposing policies that would reduce housing options for victims and survivors of domestic violence,\u201d said Elizabeth Santiago, CEO of the Center for Safety & Change.\n\nCongressman Ryan introduced his \u201cAffordability Agenda\u201d as his first legislation of the new Congress. The plan elevates an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackling the affordability crisis head-on, and includes the Congressman\u2019s comprehensive Bold Housing Agenda aimed specifically at bringing down the cost of housing and improving housing accessibility. The bills included in the agenda are:\n\nThe Working Families Housing Tax Credit Act incentivizes developers to build more equitable housing by authorizing below market rate loans and creating a new tax credit for developers building affordable housing utilizing union labor.\n\nThe PRO Housing Act provides funding for municipalities to convert or rehab existing housing, commercial spaces, and industrial centers in addition to \u201cfrom scratch\u201d developments. There will also be an emphasis placed on building near transit centers, and the establishment of a pilot program for the General Services Administration (GSA) to transfer unused federal land for development; thus eliminating government waste and increasing housing options.\n\nThe Deliver Housing Now Act cuts through the bureaucratic red tape to allow municipalities to use federal dollars according to local priorities. If passed it would allow municipalities to utilize federal dollars in whichever category of housing is most impactful to the people they serve.\n\nThe Mortgage Rate Reduction Act simplifies the federal loan assumption process, so that more than 11.3 million houses financed at lower interest rates through VA, USDA, or FHA loans are available to home-buyers.\n\nRyan has consistently pushed back against harmful policies from Trump\u2019s HUD. Earlier this year, following reports that massive cuts at the Department would put Hudson Valley families \u2013 including veterans \u2013 on the street, Ryan rallied the local community and got the majority of funds restored.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-leads-letter-urging-treasury-review-spains-israel-boycott", "Congresswoman Tenney Leads Letter Urging Treasury Review of Spain\u2019s Israel Boycott Laws", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today led a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging a formal review of Spain\u2019s recent anti-Israel boycott laws under Section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code, which governs foreign participation in unsanctioned international boycotts.\n\nThis letter was signed by Representatives: Sheri Biggs (R-SC) Earl L. \"Buddy\" Carter (R-GA), C. Scott Franklin (R-FL), Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY), Brian Jack (R-GA), Nicholas A. Langworthy (R-NY), Michael V. Lawler (R-NY), Barry Moore (R-AL), Andy Ogles (R-TN), John Rose (R-TN), Derek, Schmidt (R-KS), Keith Self (R-TX), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Rudy Yakym III (R-IN)\n\nSpain enacted sweeping restrictions in October that prohibit arms trade with Israel and ban advertising of products originating from Judea and Samaria. These measures align with the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and risk discriminating against Israel while creating serious legal and economic consequences for U.S. companies operating abroad. Under Section 999, the Treasury Department is required to maintain a list of countries that require or encourage participation in international boycotts not sanctioned by the United States. Inclusion on this list triggers specific reporting requirements and safeguards U.S. businesses from unknowingly complying with discriminatory foreign laws. The letter urges the Treasury to evaluate whether Spain\u2019s actions meet the statutory criteria for inclusion and to ensure U.S. law is enforced as intended.\n\n\u201cSpain\u2019s actions go beyond rhetoric and cross into formal economic discrimination against one of America\u2019s closest allies,\u201d said Congresswoman Tenney. \u201cU.S. law mandates foreign governments that participate in or promote unsanctioned boycotts against Israel must be reviewed and held accountable. Section 999 exists to protect American businesses from being coerced into compliance with discriminatory policies and to ensure transparency when our allies are targeted. The Treasury must conduct a thorough review and enforce the law as written. The United States cannot turn a blind eye when foreign governments attempt to economically isolate Israel or undermine American companies in the process.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-hyde-smith-applaud-senate-passage-of-their-bill-to-support-victims-of-human-trafficking-urge-president-trump-to-promptly-sign-it-into-law/", "Gillibrand, Hyde-Smith Applaud Senate Passage Of Their Bill To Support Victims Of Human Trafficking, Urge President Trump To Promptly Sign It Into Law", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) lauded the Senate\u2019s unanimous passage of their Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which would enable survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent offenses that they were forced to commit vacated and expunged. The legislation also unanimously passed the House earlier this month and now goes to President Trump for his signature. Senator Gillibrand fought for this bill for nearly a decade.\n\n\u201cThe passage of my Trafficking Survivors Relief Act through Congress is an enormous milestone in the effort to support victims of human trafficking and help them reestablish their lives,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThis legislation will help shield trafficking survivors from further undue harm, protecting them from the threat of criminalization, prison sentences, and subsequent problems finding jobs and housing because of nonviolent offenses they committed under duress. I have been working to get this bill through Congress for almost ten years, and I am thrilled that it has now passed the House and Senate. I urge President Trump to sign it into law as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cHuman trafficking touches every corner of our country, often leaving survivors facing ongoing hardships even after escaping exploitation. The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act gives survivors a chance to clear their records of the non-violent federal offenses they were forced to commit as a direct result of being trafficked. Survivors should not spend the rest of their lives being punished for crimes that were tied to their exploitation,\u201d Senator Hyde-Smith said. \u201cProviding true relief and a fresh start is essential to long-term healing, and I\u2019m thrilled this legislation is on course to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nSenator Gillibrand first introduced the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act with a bipartisan group of colleagues in 2016. She reintroduced it in every subsequent Congress, most recently with Senator Hyde-Smith in July 2025.\n\nIn addition to allowing survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent criminal convictions or arrest records they incurred while being trafficked vacated and expunged, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act would also:\n\nAllow for an individual\u2019s status as a victim of trafficking to be a mitigating factor for courts to consider when imposing a prison sentence for violent crimes.\n\nRequire U.S. attorneys to submit a report one year after enactment detailing the number of motions filed under the law.\n\nEnsure that DOJ Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women grant funding can be used for legal representation for post-conviction relief activities.\n\nFor a full list of endorsing organizations, please click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-introduces-legislation-to-better-protect-consumers-and-crack-down-on-abusive-practices-in-the-buy-now-pay-later-industry/", "Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To Better Protect Consumers And Crack Down On Abusive Practices In The Buy Now, Pay Later Industry", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Legislation follows record Buy Now, Pay Later spending during this year\u2019s Black Friday\u2013to\u2013Cyber Monday shopping period, which surpassed $1 billion\n\nThis holiday season, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading the charge to protect consumers from abusive practices in the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry.\n\nToday, Senators Gillibrand, Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced commonsense legislation that would make key updates to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and extend many key consumer protections for traditional credit cards to \u201cpay-in-four\u201d BNPL loans. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nAs shopping gets more convenient for consumers online and on their phones, BNPL loans have continued on a path of explosive growth. While BNPL allows consumers wary of credit cards to split up their purchases over time, it is crucial to ensure that the rulebook for BNPL products keeps pace with how they have become embedded in the shopping experience for many consumers\u2014especially younger borrowers.\n\nThe Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act would update TILA so that when BNPL functions like a credit card, it carries the same core protections: commonsense parity for consumers and a level playing field for responsible providers.\n\nBNPL products have surged in popularity as an easy, convenient way to split purchases into interest-free installments at the click of a button. If they are well-designed, transparent, accountable, and supervised, BNPL products can legitimately serve an important role in meeting the needs of consumers who may be wary of credit cards.\n\nAs costs rise and usage of BPNL products increases across the nation, basic protections are needed to prevent predatory practices like hidden fees, failure to provide timely refunds, and pushing consumers to rack up unsustainable debt. These protections\u2014which currently exist for credit cards\u2014include standardized periodic statements, clear dispute and refund rights, and consistent billing-error procedures. Existing laws were not drafted with BNPL products in mind, resulting in gaps and uncertainty for BNPL users.\n\n\u201cAs prices continue to skyrocket, Buy Now, Pay Later options can be a helpful tool for families, especially during the holiday season. But as these loans have become more popular, we\u2019ve seen predatory companies exploit a lack of regulation by charging hidden fees and trapping families into paying more than they bargained for,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cOur legislation will protect consumers, establish clear rules of the road, shine a light on the true cost of these products, and strengthen the rights of New Yorkers and families across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cResponsible Buy Now, Pay Later options can be helpful to consumers. As they grow in popularity, we must take proactive steps to prevent unsuspecting risks to consumers,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThe Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act will set up real guardrails to better protect consumers and ensure that fees and terms are transparent and easy to understand.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when prices are rising, Buy Now, Pay Later is a useful tool for many households, especially around the holidays. Unfortunately, these services are increasingly engaging in predatory practices, charging hidden fees and locking working Americans into inescapable cycles of debt,\u201d said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. \u201cCongress needs to put consumers first. That\u2019s why we\u2019re introducing the Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act, which will ensure consumers have the options and information they need to make informed decisions.\u201d\n\nKey provisions of the bill include:\n\nDisclosures: Clear information on due dates, fees, and information on how consumers can dispute charges.\n\nRight to Periodic Statements: BNPL providers must issue periodic billing statements, similar to credit cards, so consumers can track their spending and balances.\n\nChargeback Rights: When customers are the victims of payment fraud or deceptive practices, they have the right to seek a chargeback.\n\nBilling Error Resolution: Provides timelines and procedures for investigating billing disputes and restricts adverse credit reporting or collection on transactions under active dispute.\n\nNo Surprise Fees: Providers can\u2019t jack up interest, fees, or other charges on an existing BNPL balance midway through repayment and can only apply fees that were disclosed up front.\n\nSupervision: Provides the CFPB with authority to supervise BNPL lenders to spot violations before they spiral out of control.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, and the Consumer Federation of America.\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-highlight-31-million-authorization-for-fort-hamilton-child-development-center-in-fiscal-year-2026-defense-bill/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Highlight $31 Million Authorization For Fort Hamilton Child Development Center In Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that secured a $31 million authorization for the Fort Hamilton Child Development Center in Brooklyn in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA is a win for service members, New Yorkers, and all Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI was especially proud to fight for and secure this authorization for the Fort Hamilton Child Development Center in Brooklyn. Protecting our troops and our national security is of the utmost importance, and a key part of that is also helping the families and children of service members. I am glad to see Democrats and Republicans work together to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have secured $31 million for the Fort Hamilton Child Development Center in Brooklyn so soldiers and their families have access to a consistent, safe, and nurturing environment for their children,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThese much-needed services improve quality of life for our brave soldiers and their families and I will continue fighting to deliver more resources to those who put themselves on the line to protect our freedom and safety.\u201d\n\nThis project received full funding in the FY26 Military Construction Appropriations law. Other highlights of the FY26 NDAA bill include a pay raise for service members, as well as over $240 million in total authorizations for New York State projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-welcoming-new-archbishop-to-new-york/", "Gillibrand Statement Welcoming New Archbishop To New York", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement welcoming Bishop Ronald A. Hicks to New York:\n\n\u201cI welcome Bishop Hicks to New York. I look forward to working with him as he begins his tenure, and I am confident he will continue to serve with great compassion and care. Bishop Hicks\u2019 appointment is a blessing, bringing a thoughtful and dedicated leader to our state. This holiday season underscores the important role the Archbishop of New York can play in uniting our communities and ensuring the most vulnerable are supported.\n\nI am also deeply grateful to Cardinal Dolan for his years of service and leadership, and I thank him for his lasting contributions to our community. I wish him all the best in the years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-goldman-members-congress-win-relief-lawsuit-demanding-trump-administration", "Rep. Goldman, Members Of Congress Win Relief in Lawsuit Demanding Trump Administration Allow Access to Immigration Detention Facilities", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "COURT DECISION PAVES WAY FOR GOLDMAN TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT VISITS AT 26 FEDERAL PLAZA\n\nWashington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10) announced that he and 11 colleagues have successfully halted ICE\u2019s unlawful policy of blocking members of Congress from conducting unannounced oversight visits to ICE facilities, including field offices. Members can now return to their lawful duties of inspecting immigration detention facilities to ensure the safety of detained individuals and compliance with federal law. The District Court opinion is a major win for the rule of law, Congress\u2019s statutorily authorized oversight powers, and the protection of our immigrant communities.\n\n\u201cFor months, masked, unidentified ICE agents have detained law-abiding immigrants in inhumane and unconstitutional conditions, while DHS has repeatedly and unlawfully blocked me and other Members of Congress from inspecting these facilities, including in my district in New York City, I am pleased that the district court issued a sweeping ruling confirming our statutory right to conduct oversight,\u201d said Rep. Goldman. \u201cThe fight to hold this administration accountable for its lawless immigration dragnet continues, but this is a step in the right direction. I will continue to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and stop the Trump Administration from terrorizing our friends and neighbors.\u201d\n\nFederal law (Sec. 527, FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act) allows Members of Congress to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites where noncitizens are detained without having to provide prior notice. But over the course of this year, many Members of Congress have been stopped from their attempts to conduct oversight at these facilities. In response to questions about this, ICE officials announced a new policy requiring a seven-day waiting period and preventing entry to ICE field offices.\n\nOn July 30, Rep. Goldman and eleven other individual Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sued the Trump\u2013Vance administration, challenging the policy as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia demanded that the administration comply with a federal law that guarantees Members of Congress the right to conduct oversight visits to any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities - including field offices - where noncitizens are detained, without prior notice.\n\nThe plaintiffs include Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse; Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat; Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson; Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin; House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia; House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Ranking Member Rep. J. Luis Correa; Rep. Jason Crow; Rep. Veronica Escobar; Rep. Dan Goldman; Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Rep. Raul Ruiz; and Rep. Norma Torres.\n\nThe congressional leaders are represented by Democracy Forward Foundation and American Oversight.\n\nThe case is Joe Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/17/leader-jeffries-ahead-of-vote-on-gop-healthcare-bill-republicans-need-to-bring-the-affordable-care-act-tax-credit-extension-bill-to-the-floor-today/", "LEADER JEFFRIES AHEAD OF VOTE ON GOP HEALTHCARE BILL: \u201cREPUBLICANS NEED TO BRING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDIT EXTENSION BILL TO THE FLOOR TODAY\u201d", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor, emphasizing that House Republicans have a responsibility to join House Democrats in protecting Americans\u2019 healthcare after he received 218 signatures on his discharge petition to extend the ACA tax credits for three years.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: For months now, Democrats have made clear that we have a broken healthcare system that Republicans continue to destroy.They\u2019ve exacerbated our healthcare crisis month after month after month, including with the One Big Ugly Bill, largest cut to Medicaid in American history, ripping healthcare away from 14 million Americans. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country, including in rural America, because of the Republican healthcare crisis. Republicans, Mr. Speaker, continue to attack the National Institute of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the FDA and vaccine availability. Republicans have launched an all-out assault on the healthcare of the American people, and it continues today with this toxic piece of legislation that will rip healthcare away from an additional four million people and jam junk health insurance plans down the throats of the American people.\n\nDemocrats are strongly opposed to this legislation, and the American people know Republicans have zero credibility on fighting to protect their healthcare. In this great country of ours, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, it should be the case, we believe, that access to high-quality healthcare should not simply be a privilege, available only to the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Access to high-quality healthcare should be a right available to every single American, and that\u2019s what House Democrats are continuing to fight hard to achieve.And one of the ways we can make sure that we strive to achieve that principle is to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are scheduled to expire in 15 days. And that means that tens of millions of Americans, working class Americans, middle class Americans, people in urban America, rural America, small town America, suburban America, the heartland of America, Black and brown communities all throughout America, tens of millions of people, Americans of every stripe, in every region, are about to experience their health insurance premiums increase, in some instances by a thousand or two thousand dollars per month. That is unacceptable. And now we have a bipartisan coalition here in the House of Representatives, at least 218 votes, to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years to provide everyday Americans with the certainty that they deserve in terms of being able to afford to go see a doctor when they need one.\n\nMr. Speaker, Republicans need to bring the Affordable Care Act tax credit extension bill to the Floor today. Under no circumstances should we leave this Capitol this week before voting on an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credit bill that we know will pass, that the votes exist in a bipartisan way to protect the healthcare of everyday Americans. House Democrats have made clear we are in this fight until we win this fight to cancel the cuts, lower the cost, save healthcare and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.\n\nFull Floor remarks can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/17/leader-jeffries-statement-on-historic-lawsuit-ruling/", "LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON HISTORIC LAWSUIT RULING", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Know Your Immigration Rights\n\nIf you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.\n\nAsk for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.\n\nYour right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.\n\nAlways consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.\n\nThe New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor\u2019s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say \u201cAction NYC,\u201d call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5208", "Lawler Signs Additional Discharge Petition to Force Vote on Enhanced Premium Tax Credits", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - 12/17/25\u2026 Today Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), released the following statement after signing a third discharge petition to force a vote on the House floor to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits.\n\n\u201cWith House leadership refusing to bring any proposal to the floor, I am signing another discharge petition to force a vote and prevent higher health care costs for families in the Hudson Valley. Allowing the enhanced premium tax credits to expire would mean immediate premium hikes for working families, seniors, and small business owners in NY-17.\n\nThis procedural step is not an endorsement of the bill written. I continue to believe any extension should be targeted, fiscally responsible, and include income eligibility limits and safeguards against fraud, similar to the bipartisan discussions underway in the Senate. But when leadership blocks action entirely, Congress has a responsibility to act. My priority is ensuring Hudson Valley families aren\u2019t caught in the gridlock.\u201d\n\nCongressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5209", "Congressman Lawler Expands Definition of Professional Degrees in New Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - 12/17/25\u2026 Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Professional Student Degree Act, a bill that amends the Higher Education Act to define \u201cprofessional degree\u201d and lists the graduate programs which meet the criteria.\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cut legislation modified the annual federal student loan caps for students in graduate programs. The law caps traditional graduate education at $20,500 per year and $100,000 overall. But for graduate students seeking professional degrees, this limit is raised to $50,000 per year and $200,000 overall. It refers to an existing regulatory definition of \u201cprofessional degree\u201d to determine which programs qualify for which cap.\n\nTo further clarify congressional intent, the Professional Student Degree Act, codifies the definition currently in regulation. It then adds to the existing list of examples to enumerate more programs that meet the standards set in the definition. In addition to programs already identified, the bill lists nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ministry, social work, audiology, physician assistant, public health, business administration and management, accounting, architecture, secondary education, and special education.\n\n\u201cAny degree that fits the specified criteria in the \u2018professional degree\u2019 definition should qualify for higher loan limits. For so many essential workers that need advanced degrees and licenses to simply do their job, it will make all the difference. The Professional Student Degree Act will ensure that students pursuing essential degrees such as nursing, social work, physical therapy, and more are able to access the full range of federal student loan benefits, just as their peers in other professional fields,\u201d said Congressman Lawler.\n\nEndorsing organizations include: American Academy of Audiology, American Academy of Physician Associates, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, American Institute of Architects, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, American Institute of Architecture Students, American Physical Therapy Association, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Association of Public Land-grant Universities, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, Columbia University, Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities, Dominican University New York, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, National Architectural Accrediting Board, National Coalition for Predominantly Black Institutions, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, National Organization of Minority Architects, New York Medical College, OCA\u2013Asian Pacific American Advocates, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Physician Assistant Education Association, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Yale University, UNCF, and Architecture Organizations Alliance.\n\n\u201cThe American Council on Education is proud to endorse H.R. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act. This bill would ensure that students in numerous academic programs that prepare them for highly-skilled, in-demand professions have the federal financial aid they need to earn their degrees. Expanding the definition of professional student will ensure that students can enter critical fields such as nursing, education and social work, among others. We thank Rep. Lawler and his colleagues for this bill and encourage Congress to pass it quickly,\u201d said the American Council on Education.\n\n\u201cAAPA applauds Congressman Lawler for stepping up to introduce this legislation and ensure the final rule issued by ED reflects the legislative language and intent of what Congress enacted,\u201d said AAPA President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO. \u201cPeople who are going into healthcare should be able to have access to the loans they need so they can afford to complete their professional studies and take care of patients. That is the standard we should be working toward. If we fail to protect access to healthcare education today, we will feel the consequences in every clinic and every community tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) supports H.R.6718, also known as the \u201cProfessional Student Degree Act.\u201d This legislation amends The Higher Education Act of 1965 by codifying the definition of \u201cprofessional degree\u201d and enumerates a broad set of programs that qualify for this distinction. By embedding the definition in statute, H.R. 6718 eliminates ambiguity and ensures consistent interpretation across administrations. This clarity of the definition is critical for institutions and students planning long-term education and financial decisions. More than half of all students in New York in professional programs study at an independent college or university. Without this safeguard, many students will find their prospects for success sharply diminished, and New York\u2019s higher education ecosystem will suffer significant economic harm. Representing more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State who educate almost 500,000 students annually, CICU supports and urges the swift passage of H.R. 6718,\u201d said Lola Brabham, President of The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York.\n\n\u201cThe contributions and societal value of these graduates to their local communities are often overlooked or forgotten by policymakers, who focus on comparing debt-to-earnings ratios or amortization schedules. For these reasons, AASCU is proud to endorse H.R. 6718 and greatly appreciates your leadership on behalf of our nation\u2019s postsecondary institutions and students. Thank you for your advocacy and recognition of the important role professional degree attainment plays in strengthening our national economy and local communities,\u201d said Dr. Charles L. Welch, President and CEO of American Association of State Colleges and Universities.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the 100,000+ registered nurses dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, research, and administration in oncology nursing, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) thanks you for your introduction of the Professional Student Degree Act. This important legislation would codify the definition of \u201cprofessional degree\u201d and clarify which graduate programs meet the criteria. ONS thanks you for your leadership and stands ready to work with you and your staff to ensure equitable access to federal loans for nursing students,\u201d said The Oncology Nursing Society.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the American Academy of Audiology, the largest organization of, by, and for audiologists, dedicated to advancing quality hearing and balance care through professional development, education, research, and public awareness, I am writing to express our strong support for the HR. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act, and to thank you for your leadership in introducing this important legislation,\u201d said Patrick Gallagher, Executive Director of American Academy of Audiology.\n\n\u201cWithout the relief offered by your legislation, students already facing the loss of Grad PLUS loans and the imposition of newly implemented loan limits could be forced to abandon plans to attain a professional degree or switch areas of study entirely. This concern is especially prevalent among students seeking continued education in the health care and education fields. Originally charged by their state legislatures and communities with the education of vital nurses and teachers, RPUs continue to graduate most of the nation\u2019s nurses, educators, social workers, and public health professionals. The contributions and societal value of these graduates to their local communities are often overlooked or forgotten by policymakers, who focus on comparing debt-to-earnings ratios or amortization schedules,\u201d said Dr. Charles L. Welch, President and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.\n\n\u201cH.R. 6718 is a critical and constructive step toward mitigating these impacts and preserving access to professional education that supports the nation\u2019s workforce needs. We appreciate your leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to advance this bill and on future e\ufb00orts to and strengthen graduate and professional education pathways,\u201d said Kristen F. Soares President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.\n\n\u201cMany of these professions, in health and teaching fields, to name just a few, also happen to be in fields that bring value to communities, but are also facing shortages. In the new proposed regulatory language from the U.S. Department of Education, which defines a narrow list of professional degree programs, many professional career pathways would exclude students with economic need. Your legislation provides a reasonable, balanced solution to this problem by expanding the list of professional programs so that students pursuing service-oriented career paths have access to federal student loans. We are grateful for your leadership and look forward to working closely with your office to advance this important legislation,\u201d said Jenny Smulson, Interim Executive Director and Vice President for Government Relations of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.\n\n\"America\u2019s economy depends on skilled professionals who turn private investment and community development goals into real projects that create jobs, housing, and stronger local economies. By restoring access to reasonable federal loan options for students in accredited professional programs, your bill helps ensure a steady pipeline of licensed architects who can keep projects moving without costly delays,\" said Architecture Organizations Alliance.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\nFull letters of support from various endorsing organizations can be found below:\n\nAAPA Letter of Support\n\nAmerican Academy of Audiology Letter of Support\n\nCommission on Independent Colleges & Universities Letter of Support\n\nAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities Letter of Support\n\nThe Oncology Nursing Society Letter of Support\n\nThe AICCU Letter of Support\n\nAJCU Letter of Support\n\nCoalition of Architectural Organizations Letter of Support\n\nCongressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-honors-lucien-morin-house-representatives", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE HONORS LUCIEN MORIN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2014Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced he delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in honor of Lucien Morin\u2014an Army Veteran, Monroe County\u2019s first elected county executive, a transformational leader for our community\u2014who passed away in September at the age of 104. His remarks, available below, will appear in the Congressional Record.\n\n\u201cI rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Lucien A Morin who passed this year at age 104.\n\nBetter known as Lou, he was a proud World War II veteran and the first elected Monroe County Executive.\n\nLou was a Henrietta Town Justice who literally held court in his own home, served in the very first Monroe County Legislature, and as Monroe County Manager, and spent his entire life answering the call to serve.\n\nHe brought practical wisdom and fairness to each role he took on and led with a spirit of collaboration and a belief that public service should uplift everyone.\n\nThis was evident in his landmark Morin/Ryan legislation which strengthened the finances of Monroe County.\n\nLou Morin leaves us a legacy of integrity and a deep faith in our community. It was an honor to know him and work with him. May we continue to carry his example forward.\u201d\n\nVideo footage is available and can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-calls-out-pattern-corruption-behind-trump-and-republican-efforts", "Ocasio-Cortez Calls Out Pattern of Corruption Behind Trump and Republican Efforts to Ban States from Regulating AI", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, during a hearing in the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) highlighted the pattern of corruption behind both Republicans\u2019 efforts to pass a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation and Trump\u2019s Executive Order to block state-level AI legislation.\n\nFind Representative Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s remarks as delivered below:\n\nThank you, Mr. Chair and Ranking Member Clarke, and I want to thank our witnesses for offering their expertise today.\n\nNow, this is the seventh hearing we've had this year on the threats of AI.\n\nYet our Congress has passed zero pieces of legislation to address the many, many legitimate concerns that have been raised regarding this issue.\n\nAnd, in fact, the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress this year are actually pushing the opposite.\n\nInstead of legislation regarding artificial intelligence, they have been trying multiple times to pass legislation that would actually end any regulation or rulemaking, particularly on the state level, to limit any oversight of AI at all.\n\nAnd because Republicans couldn't pass their ten-year ban on state AI regulations, Trump then went around and skirted Congress with his own executive order, trying to ban states from imposing any AI regulations at all, not just on biological activity, but, you know, through children's safety, through all sorts of different measures.\n\nAnd in fact, this is happening as AI chatbots are causing children to take their own lives, as AI data centers are skyrocketing electricity costs and polluting local communities.\n\nAnd as an overwhelming majority of Americans now worry that AI will take their jobs and leave them permanently unemployed.\n\nDoctor Havers, as a public health expert, is it safe to say that there are public health consequences of failing to regulate AI?\n\nAbsolutely. I mean, we've heard from these three witnesses of the threat that failing to regulate AI has for generating novel, emerging pathogenic threats that could cause the next pandemic. I mean, I think in addition, there are a lot of concerns in the public health community about patient data privacy. I also think that AI can be used to spread misinformation about, you know, treatments and vaccines, for example. And I think failing to regulate AI if it's not done at the federal level, I think states probably do need to be empowered to protect their own patients, people living in their jurisdictions' privacy.\n\nAnd so, we have, as an expert witness testified today, you have stated and are stating as well as several others that there are real public health consequences for the continued failure of regulating or there being congressional action in the AI space.\n\nAnd so, it begs the question, why is the federal government trying to prevent any state regulation of AI and protecting the American people?\n\nAnd I think it's pretty plain to say that it's because this is a story of corruption.\n\nAI giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have poured millions of dollars into Donald Trump's privately funded white house ballroom.\n\nTech CEOs have been on Capitol Hill in recent weeks to talk with Speaker Johnson, who is conveniently getting a nearly $30 billion Meta data center built in his state, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have disclosed stock purchases of top AI companies.\n\nIn fact, four U.S. Senators have purchased stocks while they were negotiating a massive deregulation of this industry.\n\nAnd on top of that, AI industry executives and investors are working to raise $100 million to influence the upcoming midterm elections.\n\nAnd the reason that these AI tech giants are lobbying for a ban on state-level regulations is because they know that they don't want to fight these regulations in all 50 states.\n\nIt's far more expensive to lobby 50 statehouses than it is to try to centralize your operations and lobby in Congress and the president of the United States and the White House. So that's what's going on here.\n\nAnd it is very important that the American people understand that President Trump's executive order to try to prevent any of this action to protect people is endangering their lives. It is endangering public health, and it is endangering the integrity of our public institutions.\n\nAnd with that, I yield back.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-releases-initial-survey-results-impacts-trumps-massive", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN RELEASES INITIAL SURVEY RESULTS ON IMPACTS OF TRUMP\u2019S MASSIVE HEALTH CARE CUTS ON HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES, ESCALATES FIGHT TO EXTEND LIFE-SAVING ACA TAX CREDITS", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Because of Trump and Congressional Republicans\u2019 refusal to extend the ACA tax credits, families across the region are on track to get hit with a 185% increase in their insurance bills\n\nIn October, Congressman Ryan launched a community survey asking Hudson Valley families if they\u2019d received notice that their health insurance bills would be increasing; a whopping 77% answered \u201cYes\u201d; more than half of those who cited a specific increase reported their bills were going up over 100%\n\nRyan has been sounding the alarm on Trump\u2019s massive cuts impacting Medicaid and the ACA, which are projected to kick 17 million Americans off their insurance and have already ripped coverage from more than 17,000 people in the Hudson Valley\n\nThe release comes amid a looming ACA extension deadline and a refusal by the President or Republican leaders in either Congressional chamber to articulate a health care plan\n\nKINGSTON, NY \u2013 Today, Congressman Pat Ryan is releasing the results of his community survey focusing on the on-the-ground impacts of Trump and Congressional Republicans\u2019 massive cuts to health care in the Hudson Valley.\n\nOf the nearly 1,000 respondents, 77% reported they\u2019d already received notice that their health insurance bills would be increasing. Additionally, more than half of the respondents who provided specifics are seeing their bill double. Especially as the ACA extension deadline continues to approach and Republican leaders in the House, Senate, and White House refuse to articulate a health care plan, Ryan will be taking the community input directly to Washington to fight for the high quality, affordable health care Hudson Valley families deserve.\n\nSince the passage of President Trump\u2019s so-called \u201cBig, Beautiful Bill,\u201d Ryan has been speaking out about massive cuts impacting Medicaid and the ACA, kicking 17 million Americans off their insurance \u2013 including up to 240,000 in the Hudson Valley \u2013 and causing premiums to skyrocket. Hardworking people across the Hudson Valley are starting down the barrel of a 185% price hike \u2013 a $1,000/month increase for an average 60-year-old couple on ACA insurance.\n\n\u201cFrom day one of this Administration, the Hudson Valley has been hit by massive cost increases across the board \u2013 especially when it comes to health care. I asked to hear from YOU, to hear about YOUR experiences, because there is so much power in our community. We need all-hands-on-deck to fight Trump\u2019s price hikes and extend these life-saving tax credits, \u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cThe results here don\u2019t lie \u2013 on top of the immense financial pressure hardworking families in our community are already feeling, 77% of people who responded to the survey are being hit with massive increases to their health insurance bills. More than half of those who reported their specific increase will have their bill double \u2013 and of the folks who said their premiums weren\u2019t increasing, for many of them it\u2019s because they\u2019re losing coverage altogether. 17,000 of our neighbors \u2013 seniors, veterans, and single parents \u2013 have already lost coverage. Nearly half of them are kids. That\u2019s a burden that our community simply cannot afford \u2013 and they shouldn\u2019t have to. I\u2019m taking every single story with me to Washington, because I\u2019ll never stop fighting for the high quality health care you deserve at a price you can afford.\u201d\n\nOf the nearly 1,000 responses to Ryan\u2019s survey, 77% reported that they\u2019ve already received notice their premiums will increase. Of the folks who provided specifics on how much their bills are going up by, more than half are facing 100% increases \u2013 a doubling of their monthly bills.\n\nIn order, the other most common responses included:\n\nPeople having to cancel their plans due to cost increases\n\nPeople having to switch over to lower-cost plans with higher co-pays\n\nPeople losing coverage altogether without recourse, including former Essential Plan enrollees \u2013 17,000 of whom have already lost coverage in NY-18\n\n\u201cThe Aetna plan that I had is being eliminated and now my deductible is increasing, going from $0 to $1,000,\u201d said Judy, a constituent in Saugerties. \u201cI should be able to manage it financially \u2013 as long as I don\u2019t get sick.\u201d\n\n\u201cI currently qualify for the Essential plan and will lose my health insurance with these cuts coming,\u201d said Susan S., a constituent in Monroe. \u201cMy employer offers health insurance, but it would cost me $8,900 a year before they pay for anything. I cannot afford that when I\u2019m making $18.10 per hour. But I am the caretaker for a family member who can\u2019t be left alone \u2013 I have no choice. What will I have to give up to have health insurance in order to pay for my medications for my chronic illnesses?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe increase in premium cost I\u2019m facing will stress my fixed income,\u201d said Valarie Losey of Hyde Park. \u201cI am a paraplegic and require constant medical attention and supplies \u2013 losing health care coverage isn\u2019t an option for me.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we stay with the same coverage our premiums will go from $1,860 per month to $3,275 per month,\u201d said Michael Berta of Poughkeepsie. \u201cThe additional cost for the insurance plus the rising cost in basic overhead has me considering closing my practice down. Then if you add in the additional cost due the tariffs for food, clothing, and basic necessities it's becoming impossible to make ends meet.\u201d\n\n\u201cI get my ACA plan through Anthem BlueCross- the basic plan Bronze. In October, they sent a letter stating that the premium would increase, but that they weren\u2019t sure by how much. I\u2019ve since received notice that it is increasing to $837 per month,\u201d said Mitch R., a constituent in Cornwall. \u201cI am also required to get my doctor\u2019s permission before seeing any specialist. They should be ashamed \u2013 this isn\u2019t healthcare, it\u2019s insurance care and it\u2019s so UN-American.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am retired and my husband has to continue to work at age 75 due to the constant increases in the cost of living,\u201d said Susan, a constituent in Stanfordville. \u201cOur UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan\u2019s premium increased from $156 to $287 per person per month. We can\u2019t afford that increase and will be forced to switch plans and pay more out of pocket in 2026.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy insurance premium is doubling in 2026, with less coverage, too,\u201d said Geraldine, a constituent in Dutchess County. \u201cAs a retiree, I\u2019m concerned about how much it will continue to increase, as well as how others can afford these rising premiums and health care costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot only is my premium increasing, but my deductible has also almost doubled,\u201d said Michelle, a constituent in Wappingers Falls. \u201cI already live almost paycheck-to-paycheck. This increase will absolutely hurt my budget, but I have health conditions that have to be monitored by doctors \u2013 I have no choice, but to figure out how to pay for my health insurance.\u201d\n\n\u201cI rely on my Social Security and am not sure if I\u2019ll be able to afford the increase in my health insurance premium,\u201d said Donna Gaudio of Kingston. \u201cI\u2019m a cancer survivor and have ongoing chronic conditions that require constant treatment and monitoring, so I don\u2019t have a choice and will have to cut expenses elsewhere so I can afford proper healthcare.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy husband and I had a UnitedHealthcare AARP plan and the premium went up from $300 to $500,\u201d said Donna Morrison of Pawling. \u201cWe had to cancel that plan and are now looking for something more affordable.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur insurance premium is increasing by 100% for 2026,\u201d said a constituent in Chester. \u201cWe needed a new car, and this increase is about the same as the monthly car payments would have been. Now that money will be paying for the premium increase instead.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy premium increased another $114 per month,\u201d said Jean, a constituent in Montgomery. \u201cI will have to be able to afford it, but at 72 years old, I do not feel like I can retire with these increasing costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the increasing cost of health insurance, my husband and I are going to have less savings,\u201d said a constituent in Unionville. \u201cWe wanted to purchase a home, but now an extra $500 per month will be going to our insurance premiums instead.\u201d\n\nCongressman Ryan was an early, strong critic of President Trump domestic spending agenda \u2013 calling it a \u201cBig, Ugly Betrayal\u201d of the American people. Trump\u2019s agenda rips health care coverage away from more than 17 million Americans, is set to cause a massive hike in insurance premiums for millions, and has already closed, significantly reduced services, or forced mass layoffs at countless hospitals nationwide.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-reintroduces-bipartisan-essential-caregivers-act-protect", "Congresswoman Tenney Reintroduces Bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act to Protect Long-Term Care Residents", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) reintroduced the House companion to the bipartisan, bicameral Essential Caregivers Act alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), ensuring residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities are never again cut off from their loved ones during a public health emergency.\n\nThis legislation is cosponsored in the House by Representatives: Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), John Larson (D-CT), Susie Lee (D-NV), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Cory Mills (R-FL), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).\n\nThe Essential Caregivers Act guarantees that residents of long-term care facilities retain the right to in-person access to a designated essential caregiver even when visitation is otherwise restricted by emergency orders. The legislation responds directly to the devastating isolation experienced by seniors and individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, when families were barred from providing basic care, advocacy, and emotional support. The bill also directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish clear, uniform safety guidelines so essential caregivers can continue providing care while protecting residents and staff.\n\n\u201cDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced how dangerous and inhumane it is to isolate seniors and vulnerable patients from the people who care for them the most,\u201d said Congresswoman Tenney. \u201cFamilies were locked out, residents declined rapidly, and far too many suffered alone. The Essential Caregivers Act ensures that never happens again. Loved ones are not visitors. They are caregivers, advocates, and lifelines. This bipartisan legislation protects dignity, safeguards patient rights, and makes sure compassion and common sense guide our response during any future emergency.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Essential Caregivers Act ensures that the rights of residents in long-term care facilities are protected when a future public health crisis strikes,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cBy allowing at least one designated essential caregiver to have safe, in-person access to their loved ones during an emergency, our bipartisan legislation guarantees that residents in these facilities will never again have to face the isolation that far too many patients experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4508", "Tonko, Blumenthal Reintroduce Bill to Go After Cyber Grinch Bots Snatching Up Toys this Holiday Season", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Paul Tonko", "T000469", "tonko.house.gov", "tonko", "https://tonko.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), today reintroduced their Stopping Grinch Bots Act, legislation which cracks down on cyber Grinches using bot technology to buy up entire inventories of popular goods only to resell them at exorbitant prices. These third-party sellers use bots to bypass security measures and manipulate online sales systems to buy toys, leading to some toys being almost impossible to buy online or in stores at retail prices.\n\nBased on data from cybersecurity firm Imperva in its 2024 Bad Bot Report, bot-related hits on retail sites hit a record high last year, with almost 50 percent of internet traffic coming from non-human sources. These bots are also becoming increasingly sophisticated, using residential IP addresses and even AI to slip past security tools like CAPTCHAs, making this legislation more vital than ever.\n\n\u201cThis holiday shopping season, Americans across the country are scouring stores, sites, and shelves for the perfect gift for their kids and loved ones,\u201d Congressman Tonko said. \u201cWith prices already surging, the last thing parents, families, and small businesses need is cyber bot technology seizing the most popular items to sell them at outrageous costs. That\u2019s where our Stopping Grinch Bots Act comes in. Our bill levels the playing field to prevent scalpers from sucking hardworking parents dry this holiday season. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this bill and help ensure Americans can spend their time this holiday season with their loved ones, not competing against Grinches.\u201d\n\n\u201cGrinch bots are squeezing holiday shoppers\u2014automatically snapping up online inventory to resell popular products at predatory prices,\u201d Senator Richard Blumenthal said. \u201cOur measure blocks these bullying bots and gives parents a fair chance to buy gifts for loved ones at reasonable prices. By putting an end to bots\u2019 holiday hijinks, our commonsense legislation will protect consumers, families, and small businesses from the cyber Grinches trying to steal Christmas.\u201d\n\nBots are software programs that can automatically spot and snap up inventory on sale online. In a matter of seconds, third-party vendors can purchase hundreds of items, squeezing out parents and children. In 2016, Tonko, Blumenthal, and Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer\u2019s (D-NY) Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) was signed into law to ban \u201cticket bots\u201d that intentionally bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to unfairly outprice individual fans. This new legislation would apply the mechanism of the BOTS Act to e-commerce sites to ban bots bypassing security measures on online retail sites.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/velazquez-secures-major-wins-cooperative-housing-and-strengthens-public", "Vel\u00e1zquez Secures Major Wins for Cooperative Housing and Strengthens Public Housing Oversight in New York", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez", "V000081", "velazquez.house.gov", "velazquez", "https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY) secured key provisions in H.R. 6644 the Housing for the 21st Century Act to expand access to affordable housing through cooperative ownership models while strengthening Congressional oversight to protect tenants in federally monitored public housing authorities.\n\nVel\u00e1zquez successfully included targeted language in Sections 101, 405, 406, and 407 of the legislation to explicitly recognize housing cooperatives as eligible entities for federal housing programs and funding. These clarifying provisions added the term \u201ccooperative(s)\u201d where applicable, ensuring that cooperative housing developments are not excluded from participating in existing programs due to ambiguous statutory language.\n\n\u201cCooperative housing is one of the strongest tools we have to preserve long-term affordability and keep working families in their communities,\u201d said Vel\u00e1zquez. \u201cIn a city like New York, where rising housing costs are driving displacement, cooperatives provide a resident-owned model that stabilizes neighborhoods and protects affordability from market pressures. The provisions I secured ensure cooperatives remain accessible, sustainable, and a central part of our affordable housing strategy.\u201d\n\nCooperative housing provides financially stable, resident-owned housing to more than 1.5 million families nationwide and remains a critical source of affordable homeownership and housing stability, in New York City.\n\nIn addition to expanding cooperative housing, Vel\u00e1zquez secured new oversight and transparency requirements in Section 502 to strengthen accountability for public housing authorities overseen by a federal monitor or receiver. The provision responds directly to chronic maintenance issues at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the court-appointed federal monitor\u2019s lack of coordination and collaboration with the city\u2019s Congressional Delegation.\n\nThis enhanced oversight ensures taxpayer dollars are being used effectively, residents\u2019 needs are addressed, and lawmakers are providing NYCHA and other struggling PHAs with the resources and tools they need to improve their operations and conditions.\n\n\u201cFor too long, NYCHA residents have endured unsafe conditions while the court-ordered federal monitor has had limited interaction with our city\u2019s Congressional delegation. Today we are changing that. By requiring monitors and receivers to provide annual reports and testimony to Congress we can help provide public housing authorities around the country with the resources they need to facilitate repairs and improve the lives of residents,\u201d said Vel\u00e1zquez.\n\nThe provisions advance a comprehensive approach to affordable housing and deliver meaningful protections and opportunities for New Yorkers facing a housing affordability crisis.\n\nFind the quotes of support here.\n\nFind the full legislation here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-03T05:34:17Z", "2026-04-03T05:35:48Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/as-prices-soar-like-santas-sleigh-this-holiday-season-gillibrand-calls-on-trump-administration-to-stop-tariffs-promote-affordability/", "As Prices Soar Like Santa\u2019s Sleigh This Holiday Season, Gillibrand Calls On Trump Administration To Stop Tariffs, Promote Affordability", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Key Holiday Items Are 26% More Expensive This Year, Causing Families To Pinch Pennies During The Season Of Giving\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to call on the Trump administration to ease the economic pain being felt by New Yorkers during the holiday season.\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s tariffs are driving inflation and increasing the cost of everything from utilities to holiday gifts, forcing New Yorkers to either shell out more money or cut back on purchases during the holiday season. Senator Gillibrand called on the Trump administration to end the tariffs to provide meaningful relief to American families, protect small businesses, and ensure that American consumers are not met with higher prices or product shortages during this critical time of year. The full text of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s letter to President Trump and Secretary Lutnick can be found here.\n\n\u201cThe holiday season should be filled with joy and generosity\u2014not financial stress and hardship. But this year, President Trump\u2019s tariffs are causing anxiety for working families by raising the cost of everything from groceries and utilities to the toys that parents are buying for their kids,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI\u2019m calling on the Trump administration to immediately end these reckless tariffs to provide relief to New York families, small businesses, and consumers during the holiday season.\u201d\n\nThe tariffs recently imposed by the Trump administration include a baseline 10% import tax on goods from dozens of countries, plus the European Union, with significantly steeper rates for many Canadian imports at 35%. These tariffs are creating major cost uncertainty for New York businesses and increasing prices for consumers. According to the New York State Tariff Disruptions Report, consumers in the state are facing an estimated 21% tax on imported goods, amounting to roughly $4,200 in increased costs per household annually.\n\nSenator Gillibrand has opposed the president\u2019s tariffs since the start of the Trump administration. Earlier this year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump\u2019s tariff tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-colleagues-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-effort-to-oppose-new-limits-on-student-loans-for-nurses/", "Gillibrand, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort To Oppose New Limits On Student Loans For Nurses", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), joined a bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers to sound the alarm over a proposed framework by the U.S. Department of Education to declassify nursing degrees as \u201cprofessional\u201d and undermine the entire future of the nursing workforce.\n\nTheir letter follows a recently released proposed framework from the Education Department\u2019s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee that omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of \u201cprofessional degree,\u201d meaning they would be classified as a \u201cgraduate degree.\u201d If this framework is adopted during the upcoming rulemaking, the proposed definition threatens more debt for post-baccalaureate nursing students, as student loans are currently capped for new borrowers at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in the aggregate for \u201cgraduate\u201d programs and $50,000 annually and $200,000 in the aggregate for \u201cprofessional\u201d programs.\n\n\u201cNurses play an essential role in delivering high-quality health care to millions of Americans, and their degrees must be recognized as the professional credentials they are,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cEspecially as we continue to face shortages in our vital nursing workforce, I am proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort and will continue fighting to ensure post-baccalaureate nursing students have access to the resources and financial support they need to enter the workforce and continue their critical work.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs,\u201d the bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers wrote to the Education Department. \u201cAccording to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department\u2019s definition of a \u2018professional degree.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cNurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master\u2019s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees,\u201d the lawmakers stressed.\n\nThe bipartisan letter is supported by over 65 organizations including, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Nurses Association; American College of Nurse-Midwives; Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and the National League of Nursing.\n\nRead the full text of the bipartisan letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-highlights-major-wins-for-service-members-new-yorkers-in-fy2026-defense-bill/", "Gillibrand Highlights Major Wins For Service Members, New Yorkers In FY2026 Defense Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Bill Includes A Pay Raise for Service Members and Authorizes Over $240 Million for New York Projects\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that several of her provisions were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA is a win for service members, New Yorkers, and all Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand.\u201cI was proud to fight for and secure key provisions in the final bill, including a significant pay raise for troops, over $240 million in authorizations for military installations and activities in New York, and measures to strengthen our defense against cyber threats, biological threats, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Protecting our troops and our national security is of the utmost importance, and I am glad to see Democrats and Republicans work together to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\nA list of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s priorities included in the NDAA and the Senate Report include:\n\nPersonnel:\n\nIncreases service members\u2019 pay by 3.8%.\n\nProtects access to sexual assault medical forensic examinations by requiring the Secretary of Defense to authorize military medical treatment facilities to provide sexual assault medical forensic examinations to all victims, not just victims who are eligible for military health care.\n\nBolsters OBGYN care at Fort Drum by directing a briefing on the adequacy and sufficiency of OBGYN care for TRICARE beneficiaries in the installation\u2019s vicinity.\n\nProtects service members\u2019 brain health by supporting blast exposure monitoring within Special Operations Command.\n\nHelps victims of anomalous health incidents by encouraging the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide the cross-functional team addressing anomalous health incidents (AHIs) with adequate resources to continue its efforts, particularly treatment of those affected by AHIs, and by ensuring timely compensation under the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021.\n\nNew York Priorities:\n\nSenator Gillibrand secured over $240 million in authorizations for New York institutions in the NDAA, including:\n\n$90 million for the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters Readiness Center, which when funded will also clear the way for separate investments and construction at Watervliet Arsenal.\n\n$54 million for the Combined Operations Airfield Facility at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station\n\n$31 million for the Fort Hamilton Child Development Center\n\n$29 million for the Watervliet Arsenal Electrical Switching Station\n\n$20 million for the planning and design of future construction projects at Fort Drum, including:\n\n$9.5 million for Fort Drum aircraft maintenance hangar addition\n\n$8.3 million for Fort Drum Operational Readiness Training Center barracks design\n\n$2.5 million for Fort Drum Range 41c, Automated Record Fire Plus range design\n\n$5 million for short-pulsed lasers intended to defeat hypersonic missiles and other potential threats. This research is carried out by the University of Rochester.\n\n$5 million to expand the regional presence and outreach of the Defense Innovation Unit, which works to rapidly integrate commercial technologies into the DOD.\n\n$5 million for an Agile, Assured, and Autonomous Battle Management Network and Readiness Accelerator (3A-BMN) at Rome Lab\n\n$5 million for biotechnology manufacturing\n\nUnidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS):\n\nExpands DOD\u2019s authority to counter unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by allowing the Secretary of Defense to designate DOD installations as critical to national security and therefore covered assets for the purposes of counter-UAS (cUAS) actions; allowing the use of contractors for cUAS activities; and improving information sharing between DOD and other agencies relevant to cUAS activities.\n\nExpands domestic cUAS authorities by allowing DHS and DOJ to provide training to state, local, Tribal, or territorial law enforcement or correctional agencies to engage in cUAS detection and mitigation to protect critical infrastructure and mass gatherings.\n\nStrengthens UAP oversight by requiring the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)to brief Congresson UAP intercepts by NORTHCOM and NORAD and by requiring AARO to account for security classification guides that apply to UAP and authorizing a consolidated security classification matrix for UAP.\n\nCyber:\n\nProtects undersea cables by requiring a report on the strategy, challenges, and capability gaps facing DOD in protecting undersea cables from physical and cybersecurity threats.\n\nBolsters cyber capabilities by requiring the Secretary of Defense to conduct one or more tabletop exercises to evaluate concepts for the future employment of cyber capabilities.\n\nBiosecurity:\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA includes multiple provisions to strengthen America\u2019s defense against biological threats, including:\n\nIncreasing interagency coordination to strengthen biodefense by directing the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to coordinate with other agencies and departments to clarify roles and responsibilities for building out biodefense capacity.\n\nSupporting research and development of bioindustrial manufacturing processes by expanding DOD\u2019s ability to support these activities at bioindustrial manufacturing facilities.\n\nGiving the Secretary of Defense the authority to establish a program to support the expansion of the domestic capacity for bioindustrial manufacturing at a commercial level through awards to entities for establishing, upgrading, and retooling bioindustrial manufacturing facilities.\n\nInternational Partnerships:\n\n$500 million for Israeli Missile Defense Cooperative Programs such as Iron Dome, David\u2019s Sling, and Arrow.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-highlight-17-8-million-in-authorizations-for-fort-drum-in-fiscal-year-2026-defense-bill/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Highlight $17.8 Million In Authorizations For Fort Drum In Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that they secured $17.8 million in authorizations for projects at Fort Drum in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA is a win for service members, New Yorkers, and all Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI was especially proud to fight for and secure key provisions in the final bill that will directly impact the North Country, including authorizations for multiple projects at Fort Drum. Protecting our troops and our national security is of the utmost importance, and I am glad to see Democrats and Republicans work together to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFort Drum is vital to our national defense and is woven into the very fabric of the North Country. This nearly $20 million funding authorization in the just-passed final national defense bill is a major milestone for securing future federal funding to bring much-needed construction projects to life,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cNow, we are one step closer to planning and designing expanded space to house Fort Drum\u2019s aircraft and building more housing for soldiers who come to Fort Drum for training. I will always fight to deliver more resources for New York\u2019s servicemembers and to protect our national security.\u201d\n\nA list of Senator Gillibrand and Schumer\u2019s priorities included in the NDAA for Fort Drum includes:\n\n$17.8 million funding authorization for the planning and design of future construction projects at Fort Drum, including:\n\n$9.5 million funding authorization for aircraft maintenance hangar addition\n\n$8.3 million funding authorization for Operational Readiness Training Center barracks design\n\nThe aircraft maintenance hangar addition and Operational Readiness Training Center both received full funding in the FY26 Military Construction Appropriations law. Other highlights of the FY26 NDAA bill include a pay raise for service members, as well as over $240 million in total authorizations for New York State projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-highlight-5-million-authorization-for-university-of-rochester-in-fiscal-year-2026-defense-bill/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Highlight $5 Million Authorization For University Of Rochester In Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that they have secured a $5 million authorization for the University of Rochester\u2019s short-pulsed lasers research in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA is a win for service members, New Yorkers, and all Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI was especially proud to fight for and secure key provisions in the final bill that will directly advance the University of Rochester\u2019s research into short-pulsed laser technology, which will help protect us from hypersonic missiles and other potential threats. Protecting our troops and our national security is of the utmost importance, and I am glad to see Democrats and Republicans work together to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe University of Rochester\u2019s cutting-edge short-pulsed lasers research is leading the way to protect us from hypersonic missiles and other potential threats. This $5 million funding authorization in the just-passed final national defense bill is a major milestone for boosting their research efforts,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI will always fight to deliver more resources for New York\u2019s servicemembers and to protect our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is a unique national resource with expertise in the study of intense laser light and materials,\u201d said LLE Director Christopher Deeney. \u201cThe newly authorized funding will enable the federal sponsor to have LLE and its team continue to make important strides in understanding and optimizing the performance of pulsed lasers for national security missions. On behalf of the LLE and the University, I want to thank Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their leadership and support along with the other members of our Congressional delegation.\u201d\n\nOther highlights of the FY26 NDAA bill include a pay raise for service members, as well as over $240 million in total authorizations for New York State projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-highlight-54-million-authorization-for-niagara-falls-air-reserve-station-in-fiscal-year-2026-defense-bill/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Highlight $54 Million Authorization For Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station In Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that they have secured a $54 million authorization for the Combined Operations Airfield Facility at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA is a win for service members, New Yorkers, and all Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI was especially proud to fight for and secure key provisions in the final bill that will directly impact Western New York, including an authorization for the Combined Operations Airfield Facility at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Protecting our troops and our national security is of the utmost importance, and I am glad to see Democrats and Republicans work together to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are now one major step closer to bringing a new Combined Operations Alert facility to Western New York. Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the 914th Air Refueling Wing has continuously delivered for New York and America\u2019s strategic deterrence over the last 50 years, but to best fulfill its mission going forward it needs a new facility to centralize its command & control operations and improve communication across squadrons. This $54 million funding authorization in the just-passed final national defense bill is a major milestone for securing future federal funding and getting shovels in the ground to build a new facility to consolidate alert operations across key units and support functions,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI will always fight to deliver more resources for New York\u2019s servicemembers and to protect our national security.\u201d\n\nThis project was partially funded for $16.11 million in the FY26 Military Construction Appropriations law. Other highlights of the FY26 NDAA bill include a pay raise for service members, as well as over $240 million in total authorizations for New York State projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/schumer-gillibrand-announce-just-passed-national-defense-bill-authorizes-119-million-in-funding-for-capital-region-projects-including-ny-army-national-guards-42nd-infantry-rainbow-division-h/", "Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Just-Passed National Defense Bill Authorizes $119 Million In Funding For Capital Region Projects \u2013 Including NY Army National Guard\u2019s 42nd Infantry \u201cRainbow\u201d Division Headquarters & Watervliet Arsenal", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Current 42nd Infantry Division HQ Armory Built in 1971 Has Long-Been Running Out Of Space, As Well As The Technology & Infrastructure Needed To Maintain Modern US Army Division HQ And Support Training, Readiness And Mission Requirement\n\nAfter Months Of Work, Senators Deliver New $90M Authorization \u2013 Unlocking The Funding Process \u2013 For New HQ & $29M For Watervliet Arsenal Electrical Switching Station\n\nSchumer, Gillibrand: One Giant Step Closer To A Much-Needed New Armory For NY Army National Guard\u2019s 42nd Infantry Division!\n\nU.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that, following their push, building a new armory and readiness center for the NY Army National Guard\u2019s 42nd Infantry \u201cRainbow\u201d Division Headquarters cleared a major hurdle to secure federal funding. The senators explained that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, just passed, will authorize full funding for a new HQ, which will be located in Colonie at the former site of the old Heritage Park minor league baseball stadium that was home to the Albany-Colonie Yankees. The NDAA also authorized $29 million in federal funding for a new electrical switching station at Watervliet Arsenal, which was fully funded in the FY 2026 military construction budget bill.\n\n\u201cWe are one critical step closer to building a much-needed new armory for the 42nd Infantry \u2018Rainbow\u2019 Division. NY\u2019s Army National Guard is critical to our national security, but the Rainbow Division\u2019s current headquarters was built over 50 years ago and needs more space and modern infrastructure to meet the Army\u2019s growing requirements. This project aims to build the new, modern facility we need while breathing new life into the former site of the Heritage Park baseball stadium in Colonie,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding authorization in the just-passed final national defense bill is a major milestone for securing future federal funding and getting shovels in the ground to build a new state-of-the-art armory and readiness center for the Rainbow Division. I will continue fighting to secure this funding in future appropriations so we can hit the ground running to build this new Armory.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA is a win for service members, New Yorkers, and all Americans,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI was especially proud to fight for and secure key provisions in the final bill that will directly impact the Capital Region, including authorizations for the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters and the Watervliet Arsenal. Protecting our troops and our national security is of the utmost importance, and I am glad to see Democrats and Republicans work together to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\nSchumer and Gillibrand explained that the 42nd Infantry Division Armory in Troy was constructed in 1971 for a smaller organization, but the current Armory headquarters does not meet the Army\u2019s facility requirements for a division headquarters, with the Division growing and needing a larger space. The senators additionally secured $29 million to build a new electrical switching station at Watervliet Arsenal. This project was fully funded in the FY2026 military construction budget bill.\n\nBuilding a new, modernized Armory and headquarters would ensure that the 42nd Infantry Division has the centralization, resources, infrastructure, and capabilities needed to maintain the division\u2019s mission readiness and its training and deployment activities. Simultaneously, the Watervliet Arsenal is modernizing its manufacturing facilities and production streams. However, as a result, this will displace the National Guard Division\u2019s warehouses located on Watervliet Arsenal grounds by 2028. The New York Army National Guard will move the warehouses at Watervliet Arsenal to the site of the current Armory in Troy, which will continue to be used by the NYNG.\n\nThe $90 million authorization they secured for the project in the final FY 2026 NDAA is a critical milestone that unlocks the federal funding process and is a massive step forward for the NY Army National Guard, which has long been pushing for a new, modern, expanded armory and readiness center. Schumer and Gillibrand will be pushing to deliver this funding in future federal spending bills.\n\nSchumer and Gillibrand took action to push for the federal funding needed to support the Army\u2019s operations in the Capital Region. NY State has already provided $5 million to acquire a new Capital Region location for a headquarters facility near the Albany International Airport that is shovel-ready and capable of handling large military vehicles. The state has also delivered $10 million to advance design and has obligated an additional $30 million to begin construction if the federal government is able to deliver the $90 million needed to complete the project.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-goldman-meng-lead-house-bipartisan-task-force-combating-antisemitism", "Reps. Goldman, Meng Lead House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Members in Letter to Australian Prime Minister Albanese Following Deadly Antisemetic Bondi Beach Attack", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Daniel S. Goldman", "G000599", "goldman.house.gov", "goldman", "https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Bipartisan letter reaffirms unwavering support for Australian Jewish community and calls on Australia to implement measures to combat rising antisemitism.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Chris Smith (R-NJ), members of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirming unwavering solidarity with the Australian Jewish community and calling on Australia to implement critical measures to combat antisemitism and protect the Jewish community following the deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney.\n\nOn the first night of Hanukkah, gunmen opened fire on a peaceful celebration, killing at least 15 people and wounding many others, including two police officers. The attack could have been deadlier had it not been for the courageous heroism of Ahmed al Ahmed, an Arab Muslim civilian who disarmed one of the attackers and was shot twice as a result.\n\nIn the letter, the task force members write, \u201cThis act of antisemitic terrorism strikes at the heart of our shared democratic values and our mutual commitment to protecting religious freedom and keeping our citizens safe. Our deepest condolences are with the families of those murdered, and our prayers are with all those wounded and traumatized by this unconscionable violence.\u201d\u2019\n\nThis tragedy comes in the wake of rising antisemitism in Australia. Earlier this year, Australia\u2019s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, released a comprehensive Plan to Combat Antisemitism in July 2025, containing 49 key actions designed to address this growing threat. The plan addresses antisemitism across multiple sectors, including education, universities, the Department of Home Affairs, media, online platforms, and public institutions. The letter urges the Australian government to utilize these recommendations and take steps to counter malign foreign influence from actors like Iran.\n\nThe Congressmembers continue, \u201cGiven the horrific events that unfolded at Bondi Beach, we respectfully ask what concrete steps has your government taken to implement the recommendations in the Special Envoy\u2019s Plan since it was released? Additionally, in the immediate aftermath of this attack, how will you protect the Jewish community from further violence?\u201d\n\nAustralia has joined the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, a declaration of principles led by the United States. Launched in July 2024 and signed by representatives from more than 42 countries and international organizations, the guidelines include policies to monitor and combat antisemitism.\n\nA copy of the letter can be viewed here. It was led by Reps. Goldman and Meng.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/16/leader-jeffries-the-commonwealth-of-virginia-will-now-be-properly-represented-by-an-actual-patriot/", "LEADER JEFFRIES: \u201cTHE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA WILL NOW BE PROPERLY REPRESENTED BY AN ACTUAL PATRIOT\u201d", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered remarks commemorating Barbara Rose Johns of Virginia, who led a two-week student protest in 1951 that led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. A statue in her honor will now stand in place of Robert E. Lee in the US Capitol.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: It\u2019s a high honor and a distinct privilege [to] celebrate the statue unveiling of Barbara Rose Johns, a trailblazer, freedom fighter and incredible champion for equality.\n\nShe was born in New York City and spent her early childhood in the Big Apple\u2014I had to get that in, y\u2019all\u2014before moving with her family to Prince Edward County, where she attended the segregated Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. At just 16 years old, this courageous student took a stand and rallied hundreds of her classmates to walk out and not return for two weeks to protest the inadequate and intolerable conditions that they endured at their school.\n\nAt the time, Moton High School was badly overcrowded, shabby equipment, no gymnasium, no science labs, poor heating and shaky ventilation. Eventually, an overflow space was constructed, but an overflow space consisting of three poorly-made tar paper shacks. It was a separate and unequal, toxic educational environment.\n\nAfter bringing these poor conditions to the attention of a teacher, Barbara was dismissively told, \u2018Why don\u2019t you do something about it?\u2019 And that\u2019s exactly what she did. In retelling the story, she recalled thinking to herself, \u2018this is your moment, seize it.\u2019 Barbara Johns rose to the occasion.\n\nThe prophet writes in the book of Isaiah, the eleventh chapter, sixth verse, that \u2018a child shall lead them.\u2019 It\u2019s a particularly fitting passage of Scripture now engraved in the statue that commemorates her iconic legacy.\n\nThe school walkout that Barbara led on April 23, 1951 sparked the school desegregation movement that ultimately culminated in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. Of the five cases that made it up to the Supreme Court, the Virginia case was the only one that emerged from a student-led movement. That\u2019s Black history. That\u2019s American history. And today we celebrate that history by memorializing a true American hero.\n\nThe Commonwealth of Virginia will now be properly represented by an actual patriot who embodied the principle of liberty and justice for all, and not a traitor who took up arms against the United States to preserve the brutal institution of chattel slavery.\n\nAt the time of Robert E. Lee\u2019s statue unveiling in 1909, Representative Charles Curtis, a Kansas Republican, who later on went to serve as Senate Majority Leader and our nation\u2019s 31st Vice President, remarked, \u2018I think it is a disgrace. He was a traitor to his country, and I will not sanction an official honor for a traitor.\u2019\n\nWe can remember our deeply troubled past in museums, but should never be given a place of honor in the halls of Congress.\n\nThat is why it is so appropriate and important to elevate transformational trailblazers like Barbara Rose Johns. Her story is powerful, her story is moving, and with this honor, her story will never be erased. A statue of her will now stand in the Capitol, joining the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and other iconic heroes, depicting her call to action as a reminder of the progress that we have made in this great country and the work, of course, we must continue to do.\n\nThe late great patriot John Lewis encouraged us in the face of injustice to always stand up, speak up and show up for what we know is right. And most importantly, go out there and get into some good trouble.\n\nThat\u2019s exactly what Barbara Rose Johns did at 16 years old, good trouble. And because of her brave act of civil disobedience, it led to one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions in our nation\u2019s history and helped make America a more just version of herself.\n\nFull remarks at the statue unveiling can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-goldman-lead-house-bipartisan-task-force-combating-antisemitism", "MENG, GOLDMAN LEAD HOUSE BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE FOR COMBATING ANTISEMITISM MEMBERS IN LETTER TO AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE FOLLOWING THE DEADLY ANTISEMITIC BONDI BEACH ATTACK", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Chris Smith (R-NJ), members of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirming their unwavering solidarity with the Australian Jewish community and calling on Australia to implement critical measures to combat antisemitism and protect the Jewish community following the deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney.\n\nOn the first night of Hanukkah, gunmen opened fire on a peaceful celebration, killing at least 15 people and wounding many others, including two police officers. The attack could have been deadlier had it not been for the courageous heroism of Ahmed al Ahmed, an Arab Muslim civilian who disarmed one of the attackers and was shot twice as a result.\n\nIn the letter, the task force members write, \u201cThis act of antisemitic terrorism strikes at the heart of our shared democratic values and our mutual commitment to protecting religious freedom and keeping our citizens safe. Our deepest condolences are with the families of those murdered, and our prayers are with all those wounded and traumatized by this unconscionable violence.\u201d\u2019\n\nThis tragedy comes in the wake of rising antisemitism in Australia. Earlier this year, Australia\u2019s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, released a comprehensive Plan to Combat Antisemitism in July 2025, containing 49 key actions designed to address this growing threat. The plan addresses antisemitism across multiple sectors, including education, universities, the Department of Home Affairs, media, online platforms, and public institutions. The letter urges the Australian government to utilize these recommendations and take steps to counter malign foreign influence from actors like Iran.\n\nThe Congressmembers continue, \u201cGiven the horrific events that unfolded at Bondi Beach, we respectfully ask what concrete steps has your government taken to implement the recommendations in the Special Envoy\u2019s Plan since it was released? Additionally, in the immediate aftermath of this attack, how will you protect the Jewish community from further violence?\u201d\n\nAustralia has joined the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, a declaration of principles led by the United States. Launched in July 2024 and signed by representatives from more than 42 countries and international organizations, the guidelines include policies to monitor and combat antisemitism.\n\n\u201cThe fatal massacre in Australia comes after repeated warnings, including from the Australian Jewish community itself. When American Jewish Committee was in Australia in September, we echoed those warnings: allowing antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations to go unchecked can\u2014and does\u2014lead to violence and death. At this moment, we need leaders across the globe to stand up and say this can no longer be tolerated. We need the Australian Government to utilize the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, to fully adopt, act on without delay, and be held accountable for implementing the recommendations outlined in their Special Envoy\u2019s Plan to Combat Antisemitism, and to investigate foreign-backed antisemitic activity targeting their Jewish community. I am grateful to the co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism for echoing these calls and encouraging the Prime Minister of Australia to keep Australia\u2019s Jewish citizens safe,\u201d said Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-denounces-trumps-immigration-overreach-house-floor", "Ocasio-Cortez Denounces Trump\u2019s Immigration Overreach on House Floor", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WATCH HERE\n\nIn New York City, there are at least five publicly reported cases of K-12 student arrests, deporting children as young as six years old.\n\nOver 70 percent of people currently detained in detention facilities do not have a criminal record.\n\nWashington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives:\n\n\u201cMr. Speaker,\n\nPresident Trump ran on a promise to the American people that ICE would go after the \u201cworst of the worst\u201d.\n\nWell, we\u2019re now coming up on a year of this presidency, and I want to talk to the folks at home who feel disillusioned by what ICE is doing in our country.\n\nBecause what we have seen is that ICE is not overwhelmingly going after criminals.\n\nIn fact, over 70 percent of people currently detained in detention facilities do not have a criminal record.\n\nSo who are they going after?\n\nThey are going after 6-year olds in my district.\n\nThey are going after students and permanent residents for their political views.\n\nThey are going after Americans born and raised in the United States.\n\nAnd time and time again, Trump has floated taking away citizenship from U.S. citizens based on their ethnicity.\n\nAt every point, this administration has lied to us about ICE in America while some of the wealthiest actors in our country have tried to sell us a myth to defend it. Including private prison contractors.\n\nAnd that myth, that ideology, is that our immigrant neighbors are our enemies and more dangerous than us.\n\nAnd they sustain that myth, because if everybody believes it, they can get away with robbing all of us.\n\nI want to remind you where the real crime is.\n\nIt\u2019s in the oligarchs taking 170 billion dollars of our money from healthcare, and food assistance, and public programs - and taking that and funneling it into a secret police program.\n\nIt\u2019s the authoritarians trying to create a black box because once it is established, they can put political dissidence inside of it.\n\nBut, their hatred is a story, a myth. And we can choose to reject it.\n\nDonald Trump and Stephen Miller want you to believe that this is who we are as a country.\n\nAnd we are here to say that it is not.\n\nWe are a country that has fought and defeated the Confederacy. That has defeated a history of civil rights violations, of secret police, of fascism.\n\nWe are a country guided by a monument to freedom on the waters of New York City, who shines brightly and welcomes \u201cthe huddled masses yearning to breathe free\u201d to our shores.\n\nSo right now, I ask everyone in our country to fight for that ideal.\n\nTo fight for this legacy.\n\nThank you, and I yield back.\u201d\n\nPresident Trump promised to the American people that ICE would target the \u201cworst of the worst\u201d. Now, this past week, President Trump said that he would \u201cabsolutely\u201d denaturalize certain Americans if he could.\n\nIn October, Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Espaillat (NY-13), and Goldman (NY-10) led a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon expressing profound concern over the pattern of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting students across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryans-bipartisan-whole-milk-healthy-kids-act-passes-house", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN\u2019S BIPARTISAN \u201cWHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT\u201d PASSES HOUSE, ADVANCES TO PRESIDENT\u2019S DESK TO BECOME LAW", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Legislation reverses more than a decade of flawed federal policy keeping healthy, nutrient-rich whole milk out of schools\n\nThe bill, which Ryan has cosponsored since he first got to Congress, will allow flavored and unflavored whole milk to be offered in school cafeterias, providing essential nutrients to kids and supporting American dairy farmers\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This week, the \"Whole Milk for Health Kids Act,\" which Congressman Pat Ryan has co-sponsored since his first term in Congress, passed the House of Representatives. The bill passed through the Senate earlier this month and now goes to the President\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act takes on America\u2019s growing food and nutrition-insecurity issues with school-aged children by expanding students\u2019 access to the most popular, nutrient-rich types of milk in their school lunches,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cI\u2019ve been a proud cosponsor ever since I got to Congress, and am excited to help it pass the House. This bill is a win-win \u2013 it supports New York\u2019s hardworking dairy farmers and helps promote healthy, balanced meals for American kids. I\u2019ll keep pushing for the President to sign this landmark bill into law \u2013 for our kids, for our farmers, and for our future.\u201d\n\nSchools participating in the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s school meals program have been advised against serving whole milk since 2012. The 2020-2025 DGAs reports kids aged 2-18 are largely missing their dairy intake recommendations, with upwards of 75% of all school-aged children missing their recommended levels of dairy. Updated scientific and medical research indicates higher fat milk consumption by children is associated with lower childhood obesity and other positive health outcomes.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act received overwhelmingly bipartisan support in the 118th Congress with 134 cosponsors in the House and 330 votes on the House floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://riley.house.gov/2025/12/16/congressman-riley-celebrates-house-passage-of-whole-milk-for-healthy-kids-act/", "Congressman Riley Celebrates House Passage of Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Josh Riley", "R000622", "riley.house.gov", "riley", "https://riley.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Bill Supports Upstate Dairy Farmers and Students\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Representative Josh Riley (NY-19) helped deliver final congressional passage of the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (S.222), which has now passed both the House and the Senate and is headed to the President\u2019s desk. Riley cosponsored the legislation to expand milk options in schools and strengthen a key, reliable market for Upstate New York dairy farmers.\n\n\u201cIn Upstate New York, our dairy farmers are the backbone of our economy. I am committed to doing everything I can to connect them with our local schools and communities,\u201d said Rep. Riley. \u201cI cosponsored the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act on day one, and am happy to see it pass the Senate and the House. Now, it\u2019s time to send this bill to the President\u2019s desk and deliver for Upstate\u2019s dairy industry and students.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Riley\u2019s full remarks HERE.\n\nWhy Schools Lost Access to Whole Milk \u2014 and Why It\u2019s Time to Fix It:\n\nAccording to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), whole and 2% milk were removed from school menus in 2012 under nutrition rules focused on cutting fat. Since then, updated research has shown that milk at all fat levels has a neutral or positive effect on children\u2019s health. Despite the new science, the old rules stayed in place.\n\nThat gap hurts farmers and students. Whole milk is a higher-value product, and with margins tighter than ever, farmers need predictable, stable buyers like our schools. And kids are more likely to drink whole milk\u2014meaning better nutrition in the classroom and less waste in the cafeteria. When milk goes untouched, students lose out and farmers do too.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act brings federal policy in line with current science and simply gives local schools the option to offer whole milk again. It does not mandate what any school must serve.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is supported by the New York State School Boards Association.\n\nRead Riley\u2019s letter to Speaker Johnson HERE.\n\nCongressman Riley is committed to supporting Upstate dairy farmers and ensuring kids have access to fresh, healthy food:\n\nFebruary 2025: Co-sponsored the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act (H.R.295) to increase transparency in milk pricing by dairy manufacturers.\n\nFebruary 2025: Co-sponsored the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act (H.R.294) to\n\nApril 2025: Introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act(H.R.2396) to require USDA to uphold its promise to America\u2019s farmers by unfreezing funding for previously signed agreements and contracts.\n\nJuly 2025: Introduced the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act (H.R. 4782) to connect local farmers with community food programs and fight hunger across NY-19.\n\nNovember 2025: Introduced the Farm to School Act (H.R.6065) to connect local food to schools across Upstate New York and nationwide.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/12/stefanik-demands-federal-investigation-into-hochul-s-nys-doh-medicaid-mismanagement-as-north-country-hospitals-face-closure-following-funding-lapse", "Stefanik Demands Federal Investigation into Hochul\u2019s NYS DOH Medicaid Mismanagement as North Country Hospitals Face Closure Following Funding Lapse", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Elise M. Stefanik", "S001196", "stefanik.house.gov", "stefanik", "https://stefanik.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi urgently requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch an immediate investigation into the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for potential mismanagement of federal Medicaid funds under Governor Kathy Hochul\u2019s failed leadership, which has left rural hospitals on the brink of closure just weeks before Christmas, including North Star Health Alliance (NSHA) hospitals, Carthage Area Hospital, and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center/Campus.\n\n\u201cSeven million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid for healthcare services. North Star Health Alliance hospitals serve the geographically isolated St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, where Federal tax dollars support crucial programs for the surrounding population,\u201d Stefanik wrote. \u201cThe closure of Ogdensburg's only acute care hospital would have devastating economic impacts on the region as well. North Star officials have informed my office that 1,700 jobs are threatened in the event that the state forces a closure by not releasing funds owed.\u201d She continued, writing, \u201cAdditionally, North Star Health Alliance's hospitals and affiliates form a critical, integrated healthcare network that directly supports Fort Drum, home of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division.\u201d\n\n\u201cGovernor Hochul has long used our taxpayers\u2019 Medicaid contributions like a personal slush fund for her own benefit. The State\u2019s refusal to release promised funding and resolve procedural delays is manufacturing a crisis that threatens the health, economy, and security of the North Country,\u201d she concluded.\n\nStefanik requests that the DOJ investigate the following to quantify the funds owed and expose DOH\u2019s willful systemic issues:\n\nClaims Volume Shortfall: What was the shortfall in claims volume during February-April 2024, the period during and immediately following the cyberattack, versus expected Medicaid managed-care encounter volume?\n\nPayment Lag Time: What was the lag time in payment of claims by MCOs, and how did this overlap with the DPT rating period deadlines to potentially deny funding?\n\nDPT Application: Can it be shown in detail through MCO remittance data whether DPT add-ons were applied to specific late/adjusted claims?\n\nUnderpayment Evidence: Is there any other evidence of underpayment by the state compared to expected CMS-approved DPT amounts from the preprint caps?\n\nMCO Disputes: Have there been any disputes or correspondence between the hospital and its Medicaid MCOs regarding missed supplemental payments, and were those ever resolved?\n\nBinding Guidance: Has the state issued any binding guidance requiring MCOs to retroactively account for lost claims that does not appear in public documentation?\n\nTimeline of Key Events and Hochul\u2019s Disengagement\n\nThe timeline includes months of alleged bureaucratic delays, inconsistent guidance, and withheld funding from DOH that have severely destabilized the hospitals. It also includes cyberattacks and staff turnover that compounded the financial strain on NSHA following a pattern of purposeful politicized disengagement from Hochul\u2019s DOH and frivolous data requests that ultimately halted the progress of a state-endorsed hospital transformation plan.\n\nBackground\n\nThe letter focuses on the state\u2019s alleged mishandling of the DPT programs. New York's DPT programs are Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved add-on payments tied directly to paid Medicaid Managed Care claims. If a claim is not processed or paid, the DPT funding is not triggered. The February 2024 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, which processes up to 50 percent of all claims, created a clear and documented mechanism for DPT underpayment. DOH allegedly refused to accept that this incident or the structural changes at NSHA such as licensure, CMS approval, and credentialing delays would result in DPT underpayments\u2014even though public sources confirm significant disruptions to claims.\n\nUnder Hochul\u2019s politicized disengagement, DOH declined to address the underpayment, and there is no public evidence that the NYS government directed Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to retroactively apply DPT add-ons for claims affected by the outage.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/12/stefanik-ny-house-republican-delegation-urge-hochul-to-veto-detrimental-anti-100-foot-rule-legislation-that-would-gut-energy-affordability-and-grid-reliability", "Stefanik, NY House Republican Delegation Urge Hochul to Veto Detrimental Anti-100 Foot Rule Legislation that Would Gut Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Elise M. Stefanik", "S001196", "stefanik.house.gov", "stefanik", "https://stefanik.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, along with Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01), Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02), Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to veto bill S8417 (Krueger)/A8888 (Simon) currently on the Governor's desk that seeks to eliminate New York's longstanding \"100-foot rule\" for natural gas hookups to residential homes and commercial buildings.\n\n\"The elimination of the \"100-foot rule\" is a direct and damaging blow to Upstate New York families who are already bearing the weight of surging costs from your war on affordable energy. Forcing future homeowners to shoulder the full material and installation costs for connecting to natural gas service with costs that are up to $14,000 per home will only worsen the state\u2019s ongoing housing crisis and make the American Dream of home ownership less attainable for New Yorkers,\" the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\"That is precisely why members of the New York delegation support protecting the right of consumers and businesses to access reliable and affordable energy with the passage of H.R. 3699, the Energy Choice Act, in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee,\"they added.\n\nStefanik and the New York delegation posed the following questions and requests to Hochul, pressing her on her support for this detrimental legislation:\n\nHow can you justify imposing an effective tax of up to $14,000 on new homeowners by eliminating the 100-foot rule, especially when combined with other out of touch state mandates that are already making housing unaffordable?\n\nWhat specific, independently verified steps is the state taking to immediately bolster grid capacity and resilience to manage the increased demand from rapid, politically-driven electrification without compromising the reliability warnings issued by the NYISO?\n\nDo you support the principle, as codified in the \"Energy Choice Act,\" that consumers and small businesses should retain the fundamental right to choose the most affordable and reliable energy source for their homes, families, and businesses?\n\nGiven that natural gas is significantly cheaper than electric heat, how do policies that actively eliminate the most affordable option for New York families align with your stated goal of addressing the state's affordability crisis?\n\nWill you commit to reviewing the principles of H.R. 3699, the \"Energy Choice Act,\" and apply its standard of consumer choice and reliable access for families to your decision process of S8417/A8888?\n\nLast month, Stefanik, Langworthy, Tenney, Lawler, and New York Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, and Members of the New York State Assembly held a press conference condemning Kathy Hochul's burdensome natural gas ban that will jeopardize New Yorkers\u2019 lives during the winter and cause their energy bills to skyrocket.\n\nThere, Stefanik championed the Energy Choice Act, noting that since Hochul continues to force her unaffordable energy policies on New Yorkers, Congress will take matters into its own hands and pass Langworthy's legislation to prevent the Worst Governor in America's radical natural gas ban.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-introduces-bill-to-confirm-saint-regis-mohawk-tribe-land-claim-settlement-agreement/", "Gillibrand Introduces Bill To Confirm Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Land Claim Settlement Agreement", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation to authorize, ratify, and confirm the settlement agreement between the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, New York State, Franklin County, St. Lawrence County, the Town of Fort Covington, the Town of Bombay, and the New York Power Authority to resolve the decades-old Akwesasne Mohawk land claim.\n\nIn September, Governor Hochul announced that New York State had reached a settlement agreement with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, bringing an end to a decades-long dispute that first commenced in 1982. This agreement is a major step in righting historic wrongs after years of perseverance and determination from Akwesasne Mohawk leaders.\n\n\u201cThe Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and the people of Akwesasne have long sought justice and the return of their rightful land,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cAfter decades of unceasing advocacy from tribal leaders, I am grateful to partner with the Tribe and Governor Hochul to finalize the agreement through Congress and return thousands of acres of land to the Tribe. I will continue to remain a committed partner to Native communities across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council extends heartfelt thanks to Senator Gillibrand for championing the Senate version of legislation to resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk land claim in New York. This milestone represents the culmination of more than forty years of determination and advocacy by Akwesasne leaders. Securing the return of our land has been our unwavering goal, and today we honor the perseverance and courage of all who have worked tirelessly since the inception of this claim to make this settlement possible. We look forward to seeing this historic effort move through the Senate and toward final approval,\u201d said the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council.\n\n\u201cNew York has always served as a beacon of hope not just in the United States but to those who arrive from all around the world,\u201d said Governor Kathy Hochul. \u201cWhile we take pride in that, it\u2019s also critically important that we acknowledge with honesty and a sense of reconciliation, accountability and healing that our history is a complicated one. It\u2019s why I am grateful that New York State and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe were able to reach an agreement that does just that. This settlement is a further testament to what we can achieve when we lead with justice and a spirit of reconciliation. As Governor, I am committed to taking the necessary steps to restore relations and return these thousands of acres to the Tribe. I am thankful to Senator Gillibrand for introducing legislation to authorize, ratify, and confirm the settlement agreement so we can ensure a future of healing and strengthening our bond with all Indigenous Peoples across our State.\u201d\n\nThe agreement settled disputes over land in addition to power usage, education benefits, and access to the islands of Croil, Long Sault, and Barnhart on the St. Lawrence River:\n\nRestores Land Rights\n\nThe agreement returns approximately 9,200 acres in Franklin County and 3,200 acres in St. Lawrence County to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, with an immediate restoration of 3,400 acres in Franklin County and 1,300 acres in St. Lawrence County.\n\nNew York will make recurring payments of $2 million annually to Franklin County with an additional $1 million annual payment to Franklin County out of money received from the exclusivity payment, and a $4 million annual payment to St. Lawrence County out of money received from the exclusivity payment.\n\nThe agreement will establish a process for Akwesasne Mohawks to convert certain parcels to Indian Land should the right conditions be met.\n\nImproves Access to Education\n\nNew York State will waive the tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight full-time semesters for any enrolled Akwesasne Mohawk at any State University of New York (SUNY) facility or community college.\n\nEnsures that members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe applying to Cornell University or Alfred University will receive a reduction equivalent to the SUNY undergraduate resident tuition rate.\n\nEstablishes Payments for Power Usage\n\nIncluded payments of $2 million every year from the New York Power Authority to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe for 35 years, totaling $70 million.\n\nThe New York Power Authority will provide the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe with up to 9 megawatt hours of lowest cost power that can be used to grow the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe\u2019s economy or by members for personal use.\n\nThe power provided cannot be resold on the open market and can only be transmitted into Canada if the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne obtains all the necessary permits and approvals.\n\nImproves Access to Land\n\nAffirms that the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe can access the islands of Croil, Long Sault, and Barnhart on the St. Lawrence River for hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering with certain limited restrictions.\n\nAlso affirms the waived fees for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe to use the boat launch at Robert Moses State Park \u2013 Thousand Islands.\n\nThe Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has the right of first refusal if New York State ever wishes to alienate any of the islands.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-leads-democrats-in-new-legislation-to-stop-trump-administration-ploy-threatening-seniors-access-to-treatment-under-traditional-medicare/", "Gillibrand Leads Democrats In New Legislation To Stop Trump Administration Ploy Threatening Seniors\u2019 Access To Treatment Under Traditional Medicare", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "GILLIBRAND LEADS DEMOCRATS IN NEW LEGISLATION TO STOP TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLOY THREATENING SENIORS\u2019 ACCESS TO TREATMENT UNDER TRADITIONAL MEDICARE\n\nAs Republicans double down on health care sabotage, senators lead effort to protect Medicare benefits from AI experiment\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, introduced legislation to halt a pilot program that would allow private insurance companies and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to delay and deny care to seniors enrolled in Traditional Medicare across six states.\n\nSenator Gillibrand is leading the effort alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. The senators introduced the Seniors Deserve SMARTER (Streamlined Medical Approvals for Timely, Efficient Recovery) Care Act, legislation that would prohibit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model, which is set to begin January 1, 2026, and run for six years.\n\nThe Trump administration\u2019s WISeR model will introduce prior authorization requirements into Traditional Medicare for the first time ever \u2014 allowing private companies to use AI to decide whether to approve or deny certain medical procedures for patients on Traditional Medicare. The model will impose new burdensome requirements on health care providers, especially those working in small or low-resource settings, and create new roadblocks for patients \u2014 meaning that AI will get to decide what care patients receive, even after their doctors have recommended a particular procedure or medication. Most concerningly, the third-party AI companies involved in the program will be compensated based on a share of \u201caverted expenditures\u201d \u2014 rewarding companies based on the volume or cost of care they deny to seniors on Medicare. According to CMS, human clinicians will review any denials made by AI \u2014 but the Trump administration has failed to provide clear guidance to providers and the public about what this will look like, despite implementation being mere weeks away. The Trump administration has provided little detail on how patients will be notified, supported, or protected if prior authorization requests are denied. The Trump administration plans for the WISeR model to run as a pilot program for six years beginning January 1, 2026 in six selected states.\n\n\u201cArtificial intelligence should not delay or deny seniors\u2019 health care. The Trump administration\u2019s new program would force seniors to jump through unnecessary hoops just to get the care they need and impose new, unnecessary burdens on health care providers,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cAs the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, protecting and expanding access to Medicare is one of my top priorities, and I will keep fighting to ensure that health care decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not untested, profit-driven AI programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration is gearing up to use AI to delay and deny Medicare benefits for seniors\u2014this is outrageous and should be a national scandal,\u201d said Senator Murray. \u201cSeniors already face painful delays when it comes to getting health care, and Republicans have plunged our nation\u2019s health care system further into crisis by passing the largest-ever cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act\u2014leaving many hospitals hanging on by a thread. The very last thing this administration should be doing is strangling already overworked providers in new red tape and letting AI decide who gets health care and who doesn\u2019t. We already know that prior authorization creates major burdens and delays for patients and providers, and expanding it to Traditional Medicare will just force seniors to wait longer and navigate mountains of paperwork to get the care their doctor says they need. Make no mistake: this is a backdoor effort to privatize Medicare and cut benefits. My message to seniors in Washington state: I will fight with everything I\u2019ve got to stop this morally bankrupt AI takeover of Medicare and make sure you can get the health care you need.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is pushing automated care denials on seniors in Traditional Medicare, which is the last thing Americans want for their health care,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cInstead of improving Traditional Medicare to give seniors the health care they\u2019ve earned, Donald Trump and his cronies are empowering insurance companies and AI special interests. It\u2019s time to stop this experiment on seniors.\u201d\n\nThe Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act would prohibit CMS from implementing the WISeR model. Specifically, the bill reads: \u201cThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not implement the innovative payment and service delivery model described in the notice titled \u2018Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model\u2019 (90 Fed. Reg. 28749 (July 1, 2025)), or any substantially similar model.\u201d\n\nIn September, Senator Gillibrand led other Senate Democrats in sending a letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and CMMI Director Abe Sutton urging CMS to halt implementation of the model until further analysis on patient access to care could be conducted. The senators\u2019 letter asked CMS for more information on the rationale for the selected six states, the plan for collaborating with the third-party vendors on AI, the reason for a lack of notice-and-comment rulemaking, and more.\n\nSenator Gillibrand has worked throughout her career to protect and strengthen Medicare. Earlier this year, she reintroduced the Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act, which would improve access to care for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. She is also an original cosponsor of the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, which would enhance the Medicare Drug Price negotiation established under the Inflation Reduction Act tolower the cost of some of the most expensive and commonly used prescription medications covered under Medicare Part D.\n\nIn addition to Senators Gillibrand, Murray, and Wyden, the Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nRepresentative Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-schumer-announce-unanimous-senate-passage-of-bill-to-establish-the-fort-ontario-holocaust-refugee-shelter-national-historical-park/", "Gillibrand, Schumer Announce Unanimous Senate Passage Of Bill To Establish The Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer announced unanimous Senate passage of S. 3490, which included the bipartisan Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act. The passed bill also included the America\u2019s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act.\n\nThe Fort Ontario military complex dates back to the early 1840s, and during World War II, it was the only emergency refugee camp in the United States for individuals fleeing the Holocaust. From August 1944 until February 1946, Fort Ontario housed 982 majority Jewish refugees from Europe, most of whom went on to become American citizens. The Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter was supposed to be the first of many temporary relief camps across the United States during World War II, but it was the only one that came to fruition. Designating the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter as a National Historical Park would give this important historical site permanent protection and help ensure that it is preserved for generations to come.\n\n\u201cDuring the Jewish Festival of Lights and in the aftermath of what has been an especially dark week for the Jewish people, I am proud to announce Senate passage of the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThe Holocaust Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario was a place of safety and hope during one of the darkest moments in history, and it deserves recognition in the National Park System. I was proud to work across the aisle to get this legislation passed in the Senate, and I urge the House to pass it as swiftly as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafe Haven and Fort Ontario stand proudly as a beacon of hope for hundreds of Jewish and European refugees forced to flee their homes to escape the horrors of the Holocaust and World War II. With Hanukkah upon us, it is fitting to celebrate the Senate passage of this bill officially designating Safe Haven as a National Historical Park,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cFort Ontario tells the powerful history of Central New York and Oswego County dating back to the earliest days of our nation, and I\u2019ve been advocating for this designation in Congress for years. I urge the House to pass this legislation as soon as possible to give Americans from across the country the opportunity to learn about Safe Haven and the role it played in shaping Central New York.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis Hannukah, I could not possibly have asked for a better gift than the news that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand successfully advanced legislation in the United States Senate to finally memorialize the legacy of the 982 Holocaust refugees housed at Fort Ontario during World War II as a National Historical Park,\u201d said Judy Coe Rapaport, Past President, Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum. \u201cWith Antisemitism on the rise across the globe, this is about ensuring that future generations will remember the stories of those brave Holocaust survivors who took refuge at Fort Ontario, the remarkable kindness of the people of Oswego who welcomed them into their community, and all of us working together to properly honor that profound history. I am extremely grateful to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for working tirelessly to realize this moment, as well as former Congressman John Katko and all of the other advocates who have supported this along the way.\u201d\n\nSenator Gillibrand has been advocating for Fort Ontario for many years. In 2018, she passed a bill to require the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study (SRS) \u2013 the first step in the process to designate a site as a unit of the National Park System \u2013 of the Fort Ontario site. In 2024, the SRS was finalized and concluded that the two-acre portion of Fort Ontario representing the fort\u2019s use as a World-War II European refugee shelter meets all necessary criteria.\n\nThe Senate-passed bill will move on to the U.S. House of Representatives. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) leads companion legislation for the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act in the House.\n\nA full video of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor calling for passage of the bill can be found HERE.\n\nSenator Gillibrand\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below:\n\nMr. President,\n\nDuring World War II, Fort Ontario was the only U.S. refugee shelter for people fleeing the Holocaust. Let me say that again. Fort Ontario was the only U.S. refugee shelter for people fleeing the Holocaust.\n\nAfter a perilous two-week Atlantic crossing, 982 refugees arrived in Oswego, New York, seeking safety. At Fort Ontario, they found more than shelter \u2013 they found hope and the chance to rebuild their lives.\n\nLocated along Lake Ontario, the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter was intended to be the first of many such havens across the country. But it was the only one that ever came to fruition, and it was one of the first places where American residents would hear firsthand accounts of the Holocaust.\n\nWe are in the midst of Hanukkah \u2014 a time that reminds us of the power of resilience and the importance of choosing light in moments of profound darkness. As antisemitism continues to rise and Jewish communities around the world mourn the horrifying antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney, Australia, I am reminded of how essential it is to seek out that light and to lift up the stories of Holocaust survivors who came to our shores in search of a better life.\n\nFor years, I have been working with local community members to honor and preserve this site. I have listened to their stories, and I have heard about the importance of the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter to them and to their families.\n\nI have seen how Fort Ontario stands as a testament to American compassion and to the strength of those survivors who found refuge there amid one of humanity\u2019s darkest hours.\n\nIts story deserves a permanent place in our national memory as a part of our National Park System. Establishing the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park would give this site permanent protection and make sure it is preserved for future generations so they can learn about its history of hope, compassion, and resilience.\n\nI want to thank Congresswoman Tenney and former Congressman Katko for leading this effort in the House. I also thank Sen. Hawley for his partnership in the Senate.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases/garbarino-highlights-restoration-new-york-counterterrorism-funding-homeland", "Garbarino Highlights Restoration of New York Counterterrorism Funding at Homeland Security Hearing", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Andrew R. Garbarino", "G000597", "garbarino.house.gov", "garbarino", "https://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing last week, Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) highlighted the full restoration of $187 million in critical counterterrorism grant funding to New York. Garbarino emphasized the importance of continued federal support for the nation\u2019s top terrorism target.\n\nChairman Garbarino referenced the Trump administration\u2019s decision to restore funding through the State Homeland Security Grant Program after earlier proposed reductions, ensuring New York City and the surrounding region retain the resources necessary to protect critical infrastructure and strengthen emergency preparedness.\n\n\u201cAs a proud New Yorker and Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, protecting New York\u2019s security is a top priority,\u201d Garbarino said. \u201cI appreciate Secretary Noem\u2019s engagement and President Trump\u2019s decision to fully restore this funding. New York\u2019s counterterrorism capabilities are essential not just for our state, but for our national homeland security mission.\u201d\n\nGarbarino reaffirmed that New York\u2019s experience and leadership in counterterrorism and intelligence coordination continue to play a vital role in keeping communities across the country safe.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/15/leader-jeffries-the-republican-legislation-that-will-be-on-the-floor-this-week-does-nothing-to-keep-healthcare-affordable/", "LEADER JEFFRIES: \u201cTHE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK DOES NOTHING TO KEEP HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE\u201d", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Whip Katherine Clark, where they made clear that Democrats are the only ones committed to driving down the high cost of living and fixing the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating everyday Americans across the country.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: In just two weeks, tens of millions of Americans are going to experience dramatically-increased health insurance premiums because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. From the very beginning, Republicans have made their intentions clear. They don\u2019t want to see the Affordable Care Act tax credits extended because they don\u2019t support providing affordable healthcare to everyday Americans. The Republican legislation that will be on the floor this week does nothing to keep healthcare affordable for everyday Americans and they know it, which is why there\u2019s an internal revolt amongst House Republicans, who apparently can\u2019t even get an amendment made in order that would extend the tax credits that are about to expire.\n\nThere are 214 Democrats who have signed a discharge petition that would force an up-or-down vote on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits to make sure that tens of millions of Americans don\u2019t experience increased health insurance premiums that will prevent them from being able to go see a doctor when they need one. All we need are four House Republicans to join us. There are 220 of them. All we need are four, and we can extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits in a straightforward fashion, in a manner that we know also has a bipartisan majority in the United States Senate as was just demonstrated last week. The bills that are going to be on the floor this week, put forward by House Republican leadership, do nothing to lower the high cost of living. They believe, these Republican extremists, that the affordability issue is a hoax. It\u2019s not a hoax. It\u2019s very real. The economy has gotten worse under Donald Trump\u2019s policies. Life has become more expensive. And Democrats are the only people in town who are committed to driving down the high cost of living and fixing our broken healthcare system.\n\nFull press conference can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-whole-milk-healthy-kids-act-cosponsored-representative", "House Passes Bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Cosponsored by Representative Mannion that Supports Nutritious Meals for Students and NY-22 Dairy Farmers", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "John W. Mannion", "M001231", "mannion.house.gov", "mannion", "https://mannion.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Representative John W. Mannion (NY-22) today announced the House\u2019s passage of the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, legislation he cosponsored to expand access to milk options produced by local farmers in schools. Mannion voted for the bill in the Education and the Workforce Committee and again on the House floor. The bill now moves to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nRepresentative John W. Mannion (NY-22) said, \u201cAs a teacher for almost thirty years, I saw firsthand how proper nutrition supports student success. In the State Senate, I helped establish New York\u2019s free school meals program, and I carry that mission with me in Congress. I proudly cosponsored and voted for the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to help students learn, grow stronger, and expand the bottom line for NY-22 dairy farmers. This legislation allows schools the flexibility to offer milk that kids want to drink, supports local dairy industries across the country, and gives our students the diets they need to thrive in the classroom.\u201d\n\nSince 2012, federal regulations have prohibited schools from serving whole milk, leading to a significant decline in school milk consumption. Between 2014 and 2016, schools served 213 million fewer half-pints of milk, despite rising public school enrollment. Today, children over the age of four are not meeting the recommended daily dairy intake as outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans\u2014a concerning trend given the well-documented benefits of milk consumption, including stronger bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act does not require schools to change the milk they serve, but rather gives local schools more options to purchase whole milk from local dairy farmers, ensuring that school meal programs can be tailored to meet students\u2019 nutritional needs and preferences. Additionally, the bill provides more options for students with dietary restrictions.\n\nIn the New York State legislature, Congressman Mannion led efforts to ease government regulations during a nationwide milk carton shortage to allow schools to continue to serve milk to students.\n\nAccording to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the dairy industry is the largest single segment of New York's agricultural industry. The state has more than 3,500 dairy farms, is the fifth largest producer of milk, and is the largest producer of yogurt and cottage cheese. The dairy community in New York includes both large dairy operations and small, family run farms. It also boasts processing facilities of various types and sizes, from major global processing companies to small artisanal dairy product makers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-secures-troop-pay-raise-quality-life-and-healthcare", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN SECURES TROOP PAY RAISE, QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENTS AT WEST POINT, AND DELIVERS ON VITAL HUDSON VALLEY PRIORITIES IN HOUSE-PASSED BIPARTISAN NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Last week, Congressman Pat Ryan helped pass the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) through the House, delivering on several key priorities for US troops, West Point cadets and faculty, and the entire Hudson Valley community\n\nAmong Ryan\u2019s key provisions are a 3.8% pay raise for our troops and $1.5 billion for new construction of barracks, dormitories, housing, and child development centers\n\nThe NDAA also includes new protections for Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) \u2013 including Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point \u2013 previously facing significant downsizing by the Trump Administration\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Last week, Congressman Pat Ryan helped pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) through the House of Representatives, delivering key wins for US troops, West Point cadets and faculty, and the entire Hudson Valley community. Among Ryan\u2019s key provisions are a 3.8% pay raise for our troops and $1.5 billion for new construction of barracks, dormitories, housing, and child development centers.\n\nThe NDAA also includes new protections for Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) \u2013 including Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point \u2013 previously facing significant downsizing by the Trump Administration.\n\n\u201cI fought tooth and nail to deliver for Hudson Valley families and for our country in this year\u2019s NDAA. I\u2019m especially proud of the new protections I secured for Keller \u2013 where I got care myself as a cadet \u2013 to ensure that our cadets, servicemembers, and the entire West Point community have access to the absolute best health care.\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cWe secured some major wins for our troops, including a pivotal military pay raise \u2013 providing our servicemembers and their families the pay and peace of mind they deserve \u2013 as well as record-breaking investments in quality of life and barracks improvements for cadets and servicemembers, including at West Point. Equally important are our wins at Stewart Air National Guard Base \u2013 bolstering our effort to clean up harmful forever chemicals and expanding our counter-drone capabilities following concerning drone activity last year. This bill is a major win for Hudson Valley families and the country as a whole.\u201d\n\nCongressman Ryan spearheaded the following components of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:\n\nActions to counter the DHA's proposed downsizing of Military Treatment Facilities - like Keller - and keep hospitals open.\n\nActions to prevent DoD from reducing the number of uniformed healthcare billets to prevent staffing shortages at Military Treatment Facilities.\n\nA provision to raise the cap from three to five on the number of cadets/midshipmen who are eligible to fulfill their active duty requirements in the reserves if they are drafted to be a professional athlete.\n\nActions to allow the Defense Innovation Unit to expand its presence and establish hubs across the East Coast, including New York.\n\nProvisions supporting the expansion of counter-drone research and development and bolstering counter-drone authorities for base defense commanders in the US.\n\nProvisions to accelerate PFAS remediation and cleanup.\n\nOther wins include:\n\nAuthorizes 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel.\n\nIncreases Family Separation Allowance for deployed servicemembers.\n\nReauthorizes and expands military bonuses and special pays.\n\nAuthorizes over $1.5 billion for new construction of barracks and family housing.\n\nAuthorizes over $491 million to design and build new childcare centers.\n\nImproves availability of care for veterans at DoD medical facilities.\n\nImproves servicemember access to mental health services.\n\nAuthorizes over $131 million for the construction of new dining facilities.\n\nExtends the Child Care in Your Home pilot program, which helps offset the cost of in-home full-time childcare.\n\nRequires a study to improve the calculation of Basic Allowance for Housing to ensure it keeps up with rising rental costs.\n\nStrengthens protections for the DoD civilian workforce.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/12/stefanik-champions-house-passage-of-whole-milk-for-healthy-kids-act", "Stefanik Champions House Passage of Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Elise M. Stefanik", "S001196", "stefanik.house.gov", "stefanik", "https://stefanik.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, celebrated the passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act on the House floor. This bill allows school cafeterias to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk.\n\n\"For the past decade, I have worked with constituents, parents, kids, families, and dairy farmers to expand children\u2019s access to whole and flavored milk in schools to deliver nutritious and healthy dairy products to help children grow and develop. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act empowers schools to offer flavored and unflavored whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk offering kids a variety of healthy dairy choices in the cafeteria. This is a significant result of over a decade of hard work - I have been proud to co-lead and champion this legislative effort. A special thanks to Assemblyman Chris Tague and local advocates for helping to get this done!\" said Stefanik.\n\nBackground", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-colleagues-demand-accountability-from-army-for-sexual-misconduct-failures/", "Gillibrand, Colleagues Demand Accountability From Army For Sexual Misconduct Failures", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and 56 members of the House and Senate Democratic caucuses in demanding accountability for the Army\u2019s failure to stop repeated sexual misconduct by an Army doctor.\n\nThe lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) acting inspector general expressing their outrage over Army leadership\u2019s inaction despite numerous complaints from service members and their families that Dr. Major Blaine McGraw had sexually exploited patients in his care for years.\n\nRecently, over 80 women joined a lawsuit alleging that Major McGraw made sexual advances, directed lewd comments towards them, and secretly recorded patients during exams while he served as a resident at Tripler Army Medical Center from 2019-2023 and in his current role as an OBGYN at Fort Hood, which he began in 2023. Major McGraw was not suspended from his position until October 2025.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Defense must be held accountable for the Army\u2019s failure to stop this widespread misconduct. Our service members must be ensured safety when receiving medical care,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cNo service member should be forced to live in silence or have their complaints ignored. These allegations are extremely disturbing, and while I am glad Major McGraw has been charged, I will continue fighting to ensure survivors are heard, those who allowed this to continue are held accountable, and stronger protections are put in place so this never happens again.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo woman should feel unsafe receiving medical care, especially during sensitive and private health services. Yet, far too many survivors have come forward with their experiences of alleged exploitation and abuse by a doctor who reportedly violated not just the basic principles of medical care and human decency, but also the expected conduct of a U.S. Army officer and physician,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe Department of Defense and U.S. Army must take accountability for their failure to rapidly respond to servicemembers and patient complaints. While nothing can reverse the harm reported by patients, a comprehensive investigation into this alleged misconduct, resulting in stronger protections for patients, is necessary to ensure that no one experiences abuse by our military health system again.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter reportedly being assaulted during a patient visit with Dr. McGraw, Jane Doe said she begged a desk attendant to make a report. Instead, she was told to \u2018call or send an email.\u2019 Jane Doe alleges she called the hospital seven different times but she was dismissed and hung up on each time. The purported lack of response and urgency to respond to these complaints would clearly violate reporting policy and the Army\u2019s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program protocols,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\u201cThe allegations against Dr. McGraw are extremely serious, and the Army\u2019s criminal investigation of this matter must continue unabated. That said, the separate concerns raised by survivors about members of the Army at many levels not timely acting on their complaints must be confronted immediately. Additionally, we request that DoD IG investigate to determine whether personnel within the Army properly followed procedures to timely report allegations of sexual misconduct to law enforcement and whether other SAPR procedures and existing protections were followed or not,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nFor nearly a decade, Senator Gillibrand fought alongside survivors, service members, veterans, and legal experts to build a broad bipartisan coalition to fundamentally change the military justice system. In the FY2022 and FY2023 defense bills, Gillibrand successfully incorporated her legislation to remove judicial functions and prosecutorial decisions from the chain of command for certain serious crimes, including sexual assault and domestic violence, and put them in the hands of professional military prosecutors. This bipartisan reform was supported by leading veterans service organizations and advocacy groups\u2014including VFW, IAVA, the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Protect Our Defenders, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, SWAN, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), Common Defense, and Veterans Recovery Project.\n\nIn addition to Senator Hirono, Senator Gillibrand was joined on the letter by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 51 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Stebbins:\n\nWe write to express our strong concerns about the Army\u2019s purported failure to timely intervene in the alleged misconduct of Dr. Major Blaine McGraw at Fort Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center, allegations, which if true, would possibly constitute the largest sexual misconduct case in U.S. military history. According to reports, for years, Dr. McGraw allegedly sexually exploited women, including servicewomen and military wives, in his care. When these women attempted to report their concerns and experiences were purportedly repeatedly ignored and Dr. McGraw was kept on staff. The Army, like the other Services, has a history of failing to adequately address sexual misconduct in the ranks, which required Congress to step in and institute hundreds of reforms over the last fifteen years, culminating in the establishment of the Office of the Special Trial Counsel in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). One of those issues involved military services being slow to intervene in cases at an early stage. This appears to have happened in this case since Dr. McGraw was not suspended until this October. This delayed response is unacceptable, and we need answers. Separate, and not to interfere with the ongoing Army criminal investigation into the alleged misconduct of Dr. McGraw, we request the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General review if appropriate Military Health System policies were followed, to include whether patient complaints were timely evaluated and considered, and provide recommendations to the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to prevent further instances like this from occurring in the future.\n\nThis month over 80 women joined a lawsuit together alleging that Dr. McGraw made lewd sexual advances and comments towards them, as well as secretly recorded patients during exams. One example of the women\u2019s horrific experiences is captured through Jane Doe\u2019s story. After reportedly being assaulted during a patient visit with Dr. McGraw, Jane Doe said she begged a desk attendant to make a report. Instead, she was told to \u201ccall or send an email.\u201d Jane Doe alleges she called the hospital seven different times but she was dismissed and hung up on each time. The purported lack of response and urgency to respond to these complaints would clearly violate reporting policy and the Army\u2019s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program protocols.\n\nIn the lawsuit, female servicemembers and patients noted that a recurring issue was the lack of adequate response from Army leadership. Reportedly, when victims and their loved ones tried to make complaints with Army leadership, they were \u201crefused meetings at every level.\u201d If true, these women deserve better. The alleged dismissive response from the Army demonstrates an immense failure at every level to properly support survivors.\n\nThe allegations against Dr. McGraw, and the Army\u2019s purported failure to timely address survivor complaints, are not isolated. A separate investigation deemed Fort Hood as a notoriously \u201cpermissive environment\u201d for sexual harassment and assault. The base has been plagued by this issue for years. For example, in 2020, Army Specialist Vanessa Guill\u00e9n was murdered by a fellow soldier while stationed at Fort Hood. Throughout her time on base, Specialist Guill\u00e9n was sexually harassed by a separate supervisor. Specialist Guill\u00e9n\u2019s tragic murder was the impetus for the aforementioned changes in the FY22 NDAA. However, even with these positive reforms, it is clear more needs to be done. The fact that this reported abuse occurred at the same base as Specialist Guillen\u2019s murder is appalling. All women should be safe on a military base, and they surely should be able to safely seek treatment without fear of sexual assault or abuse.\n\nThe allegations against Dr. McGraw are extremely serious, and the Army\u2019s criminal investigation of this matter must continue unabated. That said, the separate concerns raised by survivors about members of the Army at many levels not timely acting on their complaints must be confronted immediately. Additionally, we request that DoD IG investigate to determine whether personnel within the Army properly followed procedures to timely report allegations of sexual misconduct to law enforcement and whether other SAPR procedures and existing protections were followed or not. We therefore request a response to the following questions from the Defense Health Agency and the Inspector General within 60 days of receipt:\n\nPlease provide the range of dates for the sexual harassment/assault complaints filed, including the number of complaints received at Fort Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center relating to Dr. McGraw.\n\nWhat was the Military Treatment Facility management\u2019s response to each complaint at Fort Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center?\n\nHow did the Military Treatment Facility management at Fort Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center follow appropriate policies to supervise staff, prevent patient harm, and address patient complaints?\n\nWhat are the next steps the Military Treatment Facility management at Fort Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center will take to further protect patients from sexual assault?\n\nHow will the Defense Health Agency ensure that no Military Treatment Facility will ignore sexual abuse allegations again?\n\nHow will the Defense Health Agency prevent future concealment and employment of sexual abusers on their staff across Military Treatment Facilities?\n\nWas a quality assurance investigation initiated? If so, please share the status with the House Armed Services Committee.\n\nWhy did the Army fail to take disciplinary actions against Dr. McGraw until his October 2025 suspension?\n\nWe are committed to demanding justice for victims of sexual assault and harassment, and we will not stay silent while the safety of women is at risk. Again, we request prompt and thorough answers to these questions to prevent further harm and hold those responsible for this accountable.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-colleagues-press-social-security-head-on-plan-to-slash-field-office-visits/", "Gillibrand, Colleagues Press Social Security Head On Plan To Slash Field Office Visits", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Lawmakers raise alarm about whether Trump administration is seeking to \u201cquietly kill field offices,\u201d implement backdoor benefits cuts\n\n\u201cOnce again, you seem to have adopted a slash-first, think-later approach to \u2018modernizing\u2019 SSA, and beneficiaries will pay the price,\u201d wrote the senators\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, pressed Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano about reports that SSA has a new plan to slash nearly 15 million field office visits annually. The agency has not provided details as to how it plans to achieve this goal.\n\nGillibrand requested critical details about the agency\u2019s plan in a joint letter with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), including which specific services SSA will deploy for online users and for individuals calling the national 1-800 number, whether beneficiaries will be able to get assistance in field offices without an appointment, the current average wait time to schedule a field office appointment, and more. The senators asked for a response by January 6, 2026.\n\n\u201cWe are concerned that these efforts are in fact part of a plan to \u2018quietly kill field offices,\u2019 implementing a back-door cut in benefits by making it harder for Americans to access the Social Security customer services they need,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nThe lawmakers raised concerns that this drastic plan will force beneficiaries to use SSA\u2019s bug-prone website or push them into never-ending customer service phone tree \u201cdoom loops.\u201d This will almost certainly force some Americans to suffer from delays in benefits or miss them all together.\n\nThe Trump administration has relentlessly attacked Social Security. Under Commissioner Bisignano, the administration has worked to implement policy changes that would make it harder for Americans to get their benefits, including burdensome in-person and bug-prone identification processes that would force more beneficiaries to visit field offices each year. At the same time, they are slashing SSA\u2019s workforce by around 7,000 and closing regional offices.\n\nAs the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Gillibrand is a staunch supporter of Social Security. She recently introduced three bills to boost and protect benefits for seniors:\n\nSocial Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act: would provide a $200-per-month increase to Social Security checks until July 2026.\n\nBoosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act: would increase Social Security benefits by leveraging the formula used to calculate yearly cost-of-living adjustments to better account for seniors\u2019 expenses.\n\nKeep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act: would help undo President Trump\u2019s damage to the Social Security Administration.\n\nIn response to Trump administration cuts and overhauls at SSA, Senator Gillibrand has rallied alongside seniors and unions to demand a reversal of staffing and service cuts and advocated against the closure of SSA offices across the country and in New York. Following Senator Gillibrand\u2019s advocacy, SSA reversed its decision to restrict certain phone services that serve as lifelines to beneficiaries seeking to access and maintain benefits. She also invited Commissioner Bisignano to join her in a visit to an SSA field office in New York so they can evaluate the impact the Trump-era changes have had on SSA response times, communication, and outreach.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-final-stop-of-schumers-annual-62-county-tour-schumer-got-whole-milk-standing-with-capital-region-dairy-farmers-senator-calls-on-house-to-take-up-just-passed-senate-bill-to-bring-more-milk-from-upstate-ny-dairy-farms-to-children-and-school-cafeterias-across-america", "IN FINAL STOP OF SCHUMER\u2019S ANNUAL 62-COUNTY TOUR: SCHUMER: GOT WHOLE MILK? STANDING WITH CAPITAL REGION DAIRY FARMERS, SENATOR CALLS ON HOUSE TO TAKE UP JUST-PASSED SENATE BILL TO BRING MORE MILK FROM...", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Celebrates Stop In Columbia County Marking Completion Of Senator\u2019s 27th Annual 62-County Tour Of NY; Senator Says Conversations With Dairy Farmers Across NY Drove Support For This Bill & Calls On House To Vote\n\nSince 2012, Milk Has Been Restricted For School Meals By USDA, Hurting Upstate Dairy Farms And Stopping Kids From Getting Access To Delicious, Nutritious Milk Products, But Bipartisan Bill That Just Passed The Senate Can Fix; Schumer Says The House Needs To Act ASAP To FINALLY Bring Back Whole & Reduced Fat Milk For Students\n\nSchumer: It Is Time To Bring Back Whole Milk From Upstate NY Dairy Farms To Schools & Students Across America\n\nStanding with dairy farmers from across the Capital Region, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at A. Ooms & Sons Dairy Farm in Columbia County called on the House of Representatives to take up the just-passed Senate bill to bring back milk options to schools across America, so it can become law. The Schumer-supported bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would bring back unflavored and flavored whole and reduced-fat milk to be offered in school cafeterias, which have been restricted since 2012, hurting Upstate NY dairy farms.\n\nSchumer highlighted the health benefits of drinking milk and explained that adding more milk options in cafeterias will increase students\u2019 milk consumption and help dairy farmers across Upstate NY. This visit to Columbia County marked the completion of Schumer\u2019s 27th annual tour of all 62 counties in New York.\n\n\u201cIt is time to bring whole milk back to school lunches. Milk is one of the best and healthiest options to give students the nutrition they need to learn and grow, and it has been restricted in our schools, hurting Upstate dairy farmers, for far too long. I was proud to support the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in the Senate to bring more milk options to school cafeterias across America. This is a win-win for Upstate NY dairy farmers who can sell their products and kids across America who will once again be able to drink the delicious, nutritious milk they want at lunchtime,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cNow, we need the House to follow suit. I am here with Capital Region dairy farmers calling on the House to pass this bipartisan legislation. I have long fought to boost New York\u2019s dairy industry and will continue fighting to ensure our farmers\u2019 products are widely available.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s visit to Columbia County marks the completion of Schumer\u2019s 27th annual tour of all 62 New York counties. Schumer explained that this tour allows him to meet New Yorkers in every corner of the state and determine where federal action is needed. Schumer has long heard from dairy farmers who want schools to offer whole milk to students to encourage young kids to drink milk and become lifelong milk drinkers. Since then, Schumer has been a proponent of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to support New York dairy farmers and encourage students to love milk and other dairy products.\n\nSchumer added, \u201cThis represents the beauty of my 62-county tour. I hear from dairy farmers who want schools to offer whole milk and flavored milk to students, so they have more options and learn to love milk. This is exactly why I still do the tour even after all these years. I always learn something. By meeting New Yorkers in every corner of the state every year, I get to hear about what I can do to deliver critical federal support for local communities. I was proud to support this bill in the Senate and hope the House passes it soon so it can be signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 highlights the health benefits milk provides to students, including better bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or Type 2 diabetes. According to the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), milk is a source of two under-consumed nutrients, calcium and vitamin D. In addition, recent scientific and medical research indicates that higher-fat milk consumption by children is associated with lower childhood obesity and other positive health outcomes.\n\nSchools participating in the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) national school lunch and breakfast programs have not been permitted to serve whole milk since 2012, when they aimed to align school meal menus with the DGAs, which proposed limiting fat consumption in children. However, more recent analyses of existing scientific studies suggest that children who drink whole milk could have lower levels of obesity. More varieties and options will increase the amount of milk students will drink, allowing them to benefit from the nutritional content of numerous milk varieties.\n\nThe text of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act can be found HERE.\n\nThe dairy industry is one of New York's largest contributors to the agricultural economy. According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Dairy statistics, there are nearly 3,000 dairy farms in New York that produce over 16.1 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation\u2019s fifth largest dairy state. In Columbia County, there are 6,700 dairy cows across 7 farms that produced more than 8,600 pounds of milk in 2024.\n\nFrom backing the Dairy Margin Coverage Program to fund monthly price support payments from the feds to dairy farmers to ensuring Greek yogurt is included in the USDA\u2019s school lunch program, Schumer has long fought for policies that support New York\u2019s dairy farmers and said this new legislation is a common-sense fix that will help Upstate dairy farms grow.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-whole-milk-for-healthy-kids-act-has-passed-congress-and-is-on-its-way-to-becoming-law-to-bring-more-milk-from-upstate-ny-dairy-farms-to-school-cafeterias-across-america", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT HAS PASSED CONGRESS & IS ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING LAW TO BRING MORE MILK FROM UPSTATE NY DAIRY FARMS TO SCHOOL CAFETERIAS ACROSS AMERICA", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Since 2012, Milk Has Been Restricted For School Meals By USDA, Hurting Upstate Dairy Farms And Stopping Kids From Getting Access To Delicious, Nutritious Milk Products, But Following Schumer\u2019s Advocacy Bipartisan Bill Will Fix\n\nSchumer Says This Is Win-Win To Support Upstate NY Dairy Farmers And Bring Nutritious New Milk Options To School Cafeterias\n\nSchumer: We Are FINALLY Bringing Back Whole & Reduced Fat Milk For Students\n\nAfter standing with Upstate NY dairy farmers to call on the House to take up critical legislation for NY dairy, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced the passage of the Schumer-backed bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which will bring back unflavored and flavored whole and reduced-fat milk to be offered in school cafeterias, which have been restricted since 2012, hurting Upstate NY dairy farms. Schumer said this bill has now passed both chambers and is now headed to the President\u2019s desk, where it will be signed into law.\n\n\u201cAt long last, whole milk will return to school lunches! Milk is one of the best and healthiest options to give students the nutrition they need to learn and grow, and it has been restricted in our schools, hurting Upstate dairy farmers, for far too long. That\u2019s why I was proud to stand with Upstate NY dairy farmers to call on the House to get the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act passed once and for all,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis critical bill now will soon become law and help bring whole milk to children across America. I have long fought to boost New York\u2019s dairy industry and will continue fighting to ensure our farmers\u2019 products are widely available.\u201d\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 highlights the health benefits milk provides to students, including better bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or Type 2 diabetes. According to the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), milk is a source of two under-consumed nutrients, calcium and vitamin D. In addition, recent scientific and medical research indicates that higher-fat milk consumption by children is associated with lower childhood obesity and other positive health outcomes.\n\nSchools participating in the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) national school lunch and breakfast programs have not been permitted to serve whole milk since 2012, when they aimed to align school meal menus with the DGAs, which proposed limiting fat consumption in children. However, more recent analyses of existing scientific studies suggest that children who drink whole milk could have lower levels of obesity. More varieties and options will increase the amount of milk students will drink, allowing them to benefit from the nutritional content of numerous milk varieties.\n\nThe text of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act can be found HERE.\n\nThe dairy industry is one of New York's largest contributors to the agricultural economy. According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Dairy statistics, there are nearly 3,000 dairy farms in New York that produce over 16.1 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation\u2019s fifth largest dairy state.\n\nFrom backing the Dairy Margin Coverage Program to fund monthly price support payments from the feds to dairy farmers to ensuring Greek yogurt is included in the USDA\u2019s school lunch program, Schumer has long fought for policies that support New York\u2019s dairy farmers and said this new legislation is a common-sense fix that will help Upstate dairy farms grow.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-completes-tour-of-all-62-new-york-counties-for-historic-27th-year-in-a-row-senator-continues-to-travel-to-every-corner-of-the-state-meeting-with-new-yorkers-from-all-walks-of-life-and-fighting-to-lower-costs-protect-health-care-and-deliver-for-the-empire-state", "SCHUMER COMPLETES TOUR OF ALL 62 NEW YORK COUNTIES FOR HISTORIC 27th YEAR IN A ROW; SENATOR CONTINUES TO TRAVEL TO EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, MEETING WITH NEW YORKERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE & FIGHTING...", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Vowed To Visit Every Single NY County Each Year During His First Senate Election & The Tradition Continues For A Record 27th Year, Serving As His Motivation & Inspiration To His Daily Work As Leader In Congress\n\nSchumer: I Will Keep Traveling All 62 Counties, Listening To Voters, Fighting For New Yorkers & Delivering Resources And Policy Results\n\nWith his final stop today in Columbia County pushing legislation to both help dairy farmers across Upstate NY and boost nutrition in schools, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer today completed an annual tour of all 62 New York State counties, for the record 27th year in a row.\n\n\u201cTraveling to every corner of the Empire State, meeting with New Yorkers from every walk of life, it\u2019s what energizes me. Every year, I am reminded of why I do this tour. Every person I meet, every story stays with me and inspires my daily work in Washington,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI\u2019ve always said, \u2018Senators who stay in Washington and never return home are simply not doing their job.\u2019 This year, more than ever before, visiting all 62 counties pushed me to fight even harder to help lower costs for families, protect healthcare, and deliver for New York. That is why you can always find me mixing and mingling in every crowd from Buffalo to Brooklyn to hear directly from people about what is important to them. There\u2019s still so much work to be done \u2013 I can\u2019t wait to get back on the road visiting all 62 counties again next year \u2014 listening to voters and delivering for New Yorkers.\u201d\n\nDuring his first Senate election, Schumer pledged to visit every single New York county every year, meeting with New Yorkers from every walk of life. Schumer is the first New York public official to start a tour of every county in the state and has proudly continued this tradition throughout his tenure in the Senate.\n\nSchumer said the people and communities he has met with on the 62 county tour are what have helped him understand the issues facing people and have served as the foundation for major pieces of legislation he has championed from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law where he fought to secure provisions to help close the digital divide and expand broadband for communities like Upstate NY and the CHIPS & Science Law which has brought unprecedented investment and thousands of good paying jobs to NY State.\n\nThis year on the tour, Schumer continued to fight to deliver for New Yorkers, from securing major federal funding for critical water infrastructure on Long Island to helping land major new employers, from Chobani\u2019s major expansion in the Mohawk Valley to saving the legacy bus manufacturing plant in Plattsburgh. The senator met with communities facing unprecedented struggles from small businesses facing rising costs from tariffs across Western NY & the northern border to rural hospitals and families facing direct attacks on healthcare to learn and listen from them as he continues to fight for them in Washington. Schumer said the tour and meeting with people firsthand are essential to effectively doing his job.\n\nSchumer concluded, \u201cSome doubted I would be able to keep the tour going when I became Leader. But God gave me a lot of energy, and there is nothing that motivates me more than fighting for the people of New York. I may have gained a new fancy title of Senate Leader, but my two favorite titles have been and will always be: New York\u2019s senator, and above all else, New Yorker. \u201c\n\nSchumer delivered for New Yorkers in every corner of New York State this past year, with some highlights including:\n\nWESTERN NEW YORK\n\nLed The Charge To Protect The FAA\u2019s 1,500-Hour Flight Rule: Building on years of work with the families of victims of the tragic Flight 3407 plane crash in Western NY, Schumer worked relentlessly with the victims\u2019 families in the wake of new threats to roll back the 1,500-hour rule. Schumer successfully pushed Secretary Duffy to meet with the families, stood against Trump\u2019s nominees threatening to roll back basic air safety standards, and stood with families to ensure the 1,500-hour rule remains protected.\n\nSecured $25 Million For Olean\u2019s West State Street Project: In January, Schumer secured a whopping $25 million in federal funding for the City of Olean\u2019s Reconnecting Communities Project, one of the largest grants in the city\u2019s history. The funding will better connect the main streets with major hubs like the St. Bonaventure University campus with safer, more modern roadways for the community.\n\nDelivered $67 Million Pension Fix for Niagara County Laborers\u2019 Local No. 91: After years of advocacy to secure relief for ailing multiemployer pension plans for union workers, Schumer announced the Laborers\u2019 Local No. 91 Pension Plan covering construction workers in Niagara County will receive an approximately $67 million pension fix from the Schumer-led American Rescue Plan.\n\nROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES\n\nSecured $100 Million For Rochester Inner Loop Highway Removal: After Schumer personally called U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, advocating for federal funding, he announced a whopping $100 million for Rochester\u2019s Inner Loop North Transformation Project to reconnect disadvantaged neighborhoods to Rochester\u2019s downtown in January. The project will eliminate a major barrier in the heart of Rochester while re-investing in the Rochester communities harmed by the construction of the Inner Loop and creating more jobs.\n\nEnsured Ryan Corbett Returned Home Safely After Two Years of Taliban Detention: After years of working tirelessly with senior national security officials and a bipartisan Congressional coalition, Schumer\u2019s persistent advocacy helped bring Ryan home to his family and Finger Lakes community after over two years of being wrongfully detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban.\n\nSecured Federal Cancer Center Designation For Wilmot Cancer Institute: After more than a decade of Schumer\u2019s persistent advocacy, Wilmot was named a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center, unlocking access to increased federal funding, cutting-edge clinical trials, and top-tier cancer research opportunities.\n\nPushed CSX To Restore The Gillett Road Bridge: The CSX-owned Gillett Road Bridge was forced to close indefinitely due to structural deficiencies. After a year of inaction from CSX, Schumer visited the site in Monroe County and directly called the CSX CEO about reopening the bridge, leading to the company agreeing to repair the bridge, restoring a critical link for the local community.\n\nCAPITAL REGION\n\nSuccessfully Helped SUNY Schenectady\u2019s Air Traffic Control Program Finally Take Off: Schumer successfully pushed the Federal Aviation Administration to designate SUNY Schenectady in the FAA\u2019s Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Program. This will help address the national shortage of air traffic controllers, while creating new, high-paying career pathways for students in the Capital Region and beyond.\n\nSupported Growth Of GlobalFoundries In Capital Region, Welcoming New $3 Billion Investment And Securing $75 Million In New Federal Investment: Schumer applauded GlobalFoundries\u2019 latest $3 billion investment to expand its Malta campus. Schumer also delivered an additional $75 million from his CHIPS & Science Law to support GlobalFoundries in creating a first-of-its-kind advanced semiconductor packaging and testing facility in Saratoga County. This new investment follows the $1.5 billion in CHIPS funding Schumer secured the previous year to expand GlobalFoundries' footprint in the Capital Region.\n\nSecured $21+ Million To Expand And Modernize Albany International Airport: Schumer secured $21.9 million in federal funding for Albany International Airport through the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law, which he led to passage. The funding will help reconstruct 60,000 square feet of terminal space, including the main entrance, lobby, security, baggage areas, and sidewalks.\n\nDelivered $31+ Million To Capital District Transportation Authority To Purchase New Hybrid Buses: Schumer delivered $31,787,140 for the Capital District Transportation Authority to purchase new hybrid buses and to implement a new Enterprise Asset Management System from the Federal Transit Administration\u2019s Low or No Emission Grant Program, which he boosted in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law.\n\nNORTH COUNTRY\n\nHelped Bring Micro Bird To Plattsburgh After Nova Bus Announced Plans To Shutter North Country Facility: Last year, Volvo announced it would shutter its Nova Bus facility in Plattsburgh, but it was their policy not to sell the facility to another bus manufacturer. Schumer made a direct plea to the CEO of Volvo to allow the site to be purchased by Micro Bird bus. As a result, Micro Bird committed to investing $38 million in acquiring and reactivating the plant, and this year officially opened a 156,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which Schumer visited. The reopening preserved hundreds of good-paying manufacturing jobs in the North Country.\n\nSuccessfully Pushed US Army To Reverse Course On Decision To Close Clarkson Golden Knights ROTC program: Following his push, Schumer announced the Army\u2019s complete reversal on plans to shut down the popular and effective ROTC unit at Clarkson University for North Country cadets. Clarkson University hosts one of the only Army Senior ROTC (SROTC) programs for college students in the North Country.\n\nHelped Alcoa Secure Another Clean Energy Deal To Protect Hundreds of Good-Paying Jobs & Invest Tens of Millions In Massena Plant: After helping Alcoa broker deals in 2009, 2015, and 2019 to secure over 15 years of low-cost, clean hydropower for their Massena plant and protecting hundreds of good-paying local jobs, Schumer again worked with the New York Power Authority, State of New York, and the United Steelworkers to help Alcoa land a new power deal growing the company\u2019s Massena workforce to at least 500 for the next ten years.\n\nMOHAWK VALLEY\n\nWelcomed Chobani\u2019s Over $1 Billion Investment To Build New Massive Manufacturing Facility: Following years of work to help Chobani grow in Upstate NY, Schumer welcomed Chobani\u2019s $1 billion investment, building a new Greek yogurt manufacturing plant at the Griffiss Triangle Site in Rome, creating 1,000 new, good-paying jobs, one of the largest investments in natural food manufacturing in U.S. history.\n\nDelivered $24 Million To Upgrade Utica\u2019s Wastewater And Stormwater Infrastructure: Schumer secured $24.1 million in State and federal grants and interest-free financing for the City of Utica to advance multiple combined sewer overflow improvement projects. This major investment will help modernize Utica\u2019s aging wastewater system, reduce pollution, protect public health, and strengthen the city\u2019s environmental resilience for years to come.\n\nCelebrated Breaking Ground On Mohawk Valley Community College\u2019s New Applied Technology Center: Schumer celebrated breaking ground on the new Applied Technology Center after delivering $2 million in federal funding to help build and equip the two-story, 63,760-square-foot facility with 16 specialized laboratories ranging from automation and fabrication to HVAC, welding, chemistry, and more. The Applied Technology Center will help prepare members of the Mohawk Valley and Upstate NY communities with the skillsets needed to land one of the many good-paying new jobs at employers in the region\u2019s nationally recognized technology ecosystem, including Micron, Wolfspeed, Indium Corporation, and Fabmatics.\n\nLanded up to $300 Million in Air Force Funding for Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity at Assured Information Security in Rome. Schumer, a longtime champion of AIS and Rome Lab in the annual federal budget, celebrated landing up to $300 million in new federal funding for AIS to research, prototype and deploy their cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions in support of US military operations. This Engineering for Virtualized Enterprise and Remote Access Technology (EVEREST) contract builds on $95 million in previously awarded funding and will help AIS protect dozens of good-paying jobs in the Mohawk Valley.\n\nCENTRAL NY\n\nSecured Nearly $44 Million For Syracuse\u2019s JMA Wireless To Boost American-Made 5G Manufacturing: Schumer delivered $43.94 million from his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law to JMA Wireless, the nation\u2019s only major American-owned 5G manufacturing facility, to pioneer production of next-generation O-RAN\u2013compliant 5G radio units. The funding will support more than $30 million in additional private investment and create up to 30 new, good-paying jobs in Central NY.\n\nLanded Second Daily United Airlines Flight from Syracuse to Denver at Hancock International Airport: After personally urging United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, Senator Schumer announced the airline will add a second daily summer flight between Syracuse Hancock International Airport and Denver International Airport. This long-sought expansion improves access to key West Coast, and markets key to CNY\u2019s growth.\n\nDelivered $9+ Million For CNY Regional Transportation Authority To Bring Bus Rapid Transit To Syracuse: Schumer delivered $9,280,000 for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority to buy new buses for its future Bus Rapid Transit system in Syracuse.\n\nDelivered $2 Million For Cutting-Edge Cancer Diagnostic Equipment At Auburn Community Hospital: Schumer announced federal funding he previously secured enabled Auburn Community Hospital to open a PET-CT scanner and nuclear camera, essential tools for diagnosing cancer and tracking treatment progress. Previously, patients had to travel to Rochester or Syracuse and often waited weeks for these scans.\n\nCelebrated Major Milestones Driven By Years Of Tireless Advocacy & Hundreds Of Millions In Funding Secured For Syracuse\u2019s I-81 Viaduct Project: Funding secured by Schumer helped realize the award of more than $250 million for the final phase one construction contract, tens of millions for completion of new flyover, entrance, and exit ramps, and bridge rehabilitation. This year marks the start of removing portions of the viaduct, constructing the Community Grid, and reconnecting communities in Syracuse that have been divided by the viaduct for generations.\n\nSOUTHERN TIER\n\nWorked With BAE Systems To Launch $65 Million Expansion In Endicott, Creating 130+ New Jobs: Schumer worked closely with BAE Systems to secure a $65 million expansion at its Endicott facility, a key center for cutting-edge electronic systems used in aviation and energy, leveraged by the federal designations and associated funding for energy storage, he delivered to NENY and the Southern Tier Region. The expansion will add an automated production line, advanced engineering lab, and aftermarket support center, bringing over 130 new good-paying jobs to the region.\n\nHelped Close The Digital Divide With New Broadband Funding For Tompkins County: Schumer delivered $11.6 million to provide fast and reliable internet access to the Town of Caroline. This funding will provide support to reach 2,711 households, build 143 miles of fiber, and helps expand access for over 6,000 residents. This expansion is a major boost for broadband in Tompkins County.\n\nBrought $800,000 For Broome-Tioga BOCES Workforce Training Campus Expansion: Schumer delivered $800,000 in federal funding for The Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to help renovate a building to serve as a BOCES satellite campus and adult education facility in Tioga County. The funding will help meet the region\u2019s increased need for local access to career and technical education programs, create workforce pipelines that support the needs of regional employers, and ensure that both students and adult learners can access specialized training without long, prohibitive commutes.\n\nDelivered $6.5 Million For Steuben County To Recover From Devastating Flooding: After years of advocacy to help Steuben County in its flood recovery, Schumer announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded over $6.5 million for Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District and Steuben County to recover from devastating flooding from Tropical Storms Fred and Debby. This funding will help the County repair the road and reimburse the school district for costs from cleanup and restoration measures taken to protect the building from further damage from the flood, which is essential for helping the school district move forward.\n\nHUDSON VALLEY\n\nSuccessfully Reversed Damaging Cuts To 9/11 Survivor Health Program: Following an announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that they would be cutting research grants and staff to the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) under pressure from Elon Musk and the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Senator Schumer aggressively publicized and pushed back against this foolhardy decision that would imperil resources for 9/11 first responders and survivors dealing with the crippling health effects of 9/11-related illnesses. Following a wave of scrutiny and public pressure, the administration backed down and reversed the cuts.\n\nLaunched The New Hudson River Water Quality Portal with Riverkeeper: Schumer worked with Riverkeeper to launch a new water quality portal, allowing users to track when and where it is safe to swim, which fish are safe to heat, and how clean their drinking water is. As Trump\u2019s Environmental Protection Agency pulls back on federal investments to monitor and protect public health, local resources like this are even more critical for Hudson Valley communities.\n\nCelebrated Opening Of The Center for Discovery\u2019s New Children\u2019s Specialty Hospital: After securing an unprecedented $48 million loan from USDA to jumpstart the project and an additional $620,000 federal grant to support design and construction, Schumer celebrated the opening of The Center for Discovery\u2019s (TCFD) first-of-its-kind Children\u2019s Specialty Hospital in Sullivan County. This innovative facility is dedicated to supporting children and adolescents with complex disabilities, including autism, through specialized short-term inpatient care, creating over 400 healthcare jobs and 150 construction jobs in Sullivan County while improving access to quality care and services for Upstate New York\u2019s most vulnerable.\n\nLONG ISLAND\n\nRestored $300 Million In Pension Funds For Long Island Retirees: Thanks to his leadership and his fight to include the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Relief Act in the Schumer-led American Rescue Plan, Schumer delivered approximately $300 million in federal relief for three financial insolvent union pension funds. The United Wire pension fund received $248.7 million, the Local 1922 Pension Plan received $16.2 million, and the Local 1102 Retirement Trust received $35.4 million.\n\nDelivered $54 Million In Federal Funding To Rebuild Long Beach\u2019s Wastewater Infrastructure After Superstorm Sandy: Schumer secured a $54 million FEMA grant to repair and strengthen the City of Long Beach\u2019s wastewater treatment plant and pump stations, which suffered major damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. This critical federal investment will fully restore the city\u2019s water and sewer infrastructure and help safeguard it against future storms, ensuring greater resilience and protection for residents.\n\nSecured $39.5 Million Grant To Modernize and Expand Suffolk County Sewer Infrastructure: Schumer delivered a whopping $39.5M FEMA Hazard Mitigation grant, originally applied for after Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on Long Island infrastructure, this grant will help Suffolk harden and expand its sewer infrastructure and get homeowners off costly and inefficient septic systems. With this investment, Suffolk County can install installation of 35,750 feet of low-pressure sewer mains, enough to service 420 local homes, creating local union jobs and lessening groundwater pollution in the process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://latimer.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-latimer-colleagues-send-letter-treasury-and-dhs-potential-tariff-refunds", "Rep. Latimer, Colleagues Send Letter to Treasury and DHS on Potential Tariff Refunds for Small Businesses", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "George Latimer", "L000606", "latimer.house.gov", "latimer", "https://latimer.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative George Latimer (NY-16) led 20 of his colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concern over the preparedness of the Departments of Treasury and Homeland Security to handle the large influx of protests likely to be filed in the event the United States Supreme Court determines that tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are illegal.\n\nThe letter also calls on both departments to immediately dedicate sufficient resources and personnel ahead of the Court\u2019s decision, with a focus on aiding America\u2019s small businesses and sparing them irreparable financial damage resulting from the termination of this policy.\n\nThe letter reads \u201cIn light of what is truly an emergency, we respectfully ask that the Departments commence with preparing for the deluge of protests likely to ensue upon the Court\u2019s decision. We urge that sufficient staffing and resources be allocated for the efficient intake, processing, hearing and determination of protests against tariffs imposed under the Executive Order and subsequently determined unlawful, with the aim of providing tariff refunds on an expedited basis to all eligible petitioners. We also ask that a wide-reaching informational campaign be quickly implemented by the Departments targeted to American small businesses so that they may have all the resources available to enable them to navigate the complexity of the protest process without the disadvantage of lacking the resources of a large company. Finally, we offer as members of Congress our engagement to work collectively with you to help see the American small business sector - its owners and employees - through this crisis, and to ensure that this unfortunate episode is resolved and never repeated again.\u201d\n\nRep. Latimer was joined in this letter by Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez and Representatives Barrag\u00e1n, Carson, Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Conaway, Goodlander, McBride, McIver, Meng, Morrison, Pappas, Pettersen, Quigley, Randall, Ross, Salinas, Simon, Titus, and Tokuda.\n\nTo read the full letter, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://latimer.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-latimer-bresnahan-introduce-legislation-prevent-bridge-strikes-large", "Reps. Latimer, Bresnahan Introduce Legislation to Prevent Bridge Strikes by Large Trucks", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "George Latimer", "L000606", "latimer.house.gov", "latimer", "https://latimer.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman George Latimer (D-NY) and Congressman Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (R-PA) introduced the Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to tackle the issue of bridge strikes by large trucks and commercial motor vehicles.\n\nThroughout the country, highways and local roads with low clearance bridges are vulnerable to strikes by large trucks. Too often, commercial drivers have a lack of awareness of their vehicle\u2019s size when driving on roads with low clearance bridges. This problem is exacerbated by our increased reliance on GPS systems, many of which are not designed to consider vehicle size on roadways meant solely for passenger vehicles. In Pennsylvania, there were more than 600 strikes to bridges and other overhead structures between 2013 and 2023. In New York, there were 350 bridge strikes in 2024 alone, usually involving large truck operators failing to recognize warning signs or vehicle height. However, these strikes are preventable.\n\n\u201cBridge strikes by large trucks are preventable and are a real problem in the New York metropolitan area,\u201d said Congressman Latimer. \u201cThey strain local governments who often bear the financial burden of fixing damaged bridges or redesigning infrastructure to prevent future strikes. They also burden local law enforcement who must divert resources to remove trucks from under bridges and redirect traffic to alternative routes. In the past, I made eliminating bridgestrikes a priority and worked closely with state and local officials to find solutions. I am proud to continue that work as a member of the House of Representatives and working across the aisle with Rep. Bresnahan to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many local bridges in NEPA are already in rough shape, the last thing they need is trucks driving into them,\u201d said Congressman Bresnahan. \u201cWhen these crashes happen, it is our local communities that get stuck having to shuffle transportation dollars away from other much-needed projects just to fix the damage. The Bridges Not Bumpers Act will use modern technology, boost driver awareness, and identify high-risk locations so we can finally stop these preventable strikes before they happen.\u201d\n\n\u201cBridge strikes are a serious safety hazard for both motorists and rail operations,\u201d said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. \u201cWith drivers increasingly relying on GPS, we have a real opportunity to ensure those tools are powered by accurate clearance data empowering drivers to make safer choices. Reps. Latimer and Bresnahan's legislation also provides the foundation for railroads and public agencies to better prioritize critical infrastructure investments that can further enhance safety.\"\n\n\"Bridge strikes not only damage critical infrastructure, but can also put other drivers at risk and create major traffic delays,\u201d said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. \u201cAll drivers have a responsibility to pay attention to their surroundings, read signs, and keep our roadways safe. ATA appreciates the leadership of Representatives Bresnahan and Latimer for including the trucking industry in this effort to increase education and resources to help prevent these crashes.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn addition to the harm created by the originating accident, bridge strikes can cause economic disruption to a region for an extended period of time as repairs are underway \u2013 particularly if the bridge is part of a railway line,\u201d said American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker. \u201cShort line freight railroads privately own and maintain tens of thousands of bridges in the Unites States. ASLRRA supports H.R. 6531, the Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025, as it will improve safety for the public and railroads. The bill provides for education of motorists, particularly commercial truck drivers, an easily accessible bridge inventory and identification of bridge heights in GPS units, and funding to identify and implement countermeasures for reducing bridge strikes. We appreciate Representatives Latimer and Bresnahan\u2019s focus on eliminating these largely avoidable accidents.\u201d\n\nThe Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025 would:\n\nDirect the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Bridge Clearance Strike Working Group to make recommendations on, among other things, (1) ways to improve public-private data sharing regarding bridge clearance and truck route data, (2) ways to improve the availability of truck specific information and route signs on GPS navigation tools, and (3) ways for companies that rent trucks to clearly label their vehicles with height and weight information.\n\nDirect the Secretary of Transportation to create a National Clearinghouse for Bridge and Tunnel Clearance Strikes to serve as a centralized repository for data collection and dissemination of best practices to prevent bridge strikes by commercial motor vehicles.\n\nDirect the Secretary of Transportation to create a grant program to conduct research using the Clearinghouse to (1) identify locations for potential infrastructure improvement projects to mitigate bridge and tunnel clearance strikes, (2) conduct preliminary engineering tasks to analyze alternative bridge strike mitigation options and identify preferred mitigation alternative recommendations, and (3) assess the effectiveness of currently implemented and future countermeasures against bridge and tunnel clearance strikes and strategies and programs to reduce such strikes.\n\nAdditional cosponsors include Reps. John Larson, Ryan Mackenzie, and Tim Kennedy. This bill is endorsed by the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and the American Trucking Associations.\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nWatch Rep. Latimer\u2019s floor speech here.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/14/leader-jeffries-statement-on-antisemitic-terrorist-attack-in-australia/", "LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON ANTISEMITIC TERRORIST ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA", "2025-12-14", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Know Your Immigration Rights\n\nIf you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.\n\nAsk for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.\n\nYour right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.\n\nAlways consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.\n\nThe New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor\u2019s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say \u201cAction NYC,\u201d call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-the-antisemitic-terrorist-attack-in-australia/", "Gillibrand Statement On The Antisemitic Terrorist Attack In Australia", "2025-12-14", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement on the antisemitic terrorist attack in Australia:\n\n\u201cOn the first night of Hanukkah, a celebration of Jewish resilience and determination, I stand with the Jewish people around the world and in Australia following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney. As antisemitism continues to rise around the globe, we must all reject this targeted hatred and join together to denounce these despicable acts against the Jewish community in the strongest possible way.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/12/leader-jeffries-on-cnn-all-we-need-are-four-republicans-to-join-us/", "LEADER JEFFRIES ON CNN: \u201cALL WE NEED ARE FOUR REPUBLICANS TO JOIN US\u201d", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN News Central, where he made clear that Democrats will continue to fight to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and find bipartisan common ground where possible to make life better for everyday Americans.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: Alright, with us now is the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Congressman, thanks so much for being with us. Those words from the President overnight aside, the reality of where Congress is right now is that the government was shut down for 43 days, and all Democrats really got out of it was this vote yesterday in the Senate that went nowhere. So was it worth it?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Donald Trump and Republicans made the decision to shut down the government as part of their my-way-or-the-highway approach. As Democrats, we just made clear, we\u2019ll work together with our Republican colleagues, sit down, talk about the things that need to happen for the American people, anytime, anyplace. We repeatedly made that clear. But we also made clear we were not going to support a partisan spending bill that continued to gut the healthcare of the American people and failed to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits when tens of millions of Americans are now about to experience dramatically-increased health insurance premiums. That\u2019s totally unacceptable.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: You talk about needing to sit down and talk, somewhat the need to compromise there. There are two measures now, two discharge petitions, bipartisan, that would extend Obamacare subsidies one by one year, we just heard from Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer on that. Another would extend them by two years, again which has bipartisan support. Why not throw Democratic leadership strength behind one of those two efforts?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: As Democrats, when we reconvene early next week, we\u2019ll sit down, we\u2019ll have a conversation to look at the options that are in front of us. One option we know is that 214 Members of the House of Representatives support our petition to trigger an up-or-down vote on a clean extension to the Affordable Care Act tax credits. That means all we need are four Republicans, John. There are 220 of them. All we need are four to join us, and we can deal with this issue in the House of Representatives in a manner that will provide certainty to working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act tax credits to go see a doctor when they need one.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: You don\u2019t have those four Republican votes now. Both of the other discharge petitions have enough Republican votes that with all Democratic votes would be enough to pass. So why not support one of those two measures? Are you saying a three-year extension or bust?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: What I\u2019m saying is that we\u2019re open to having a conversation with my Republican colleagues about finding common ground and a path forward. We know that conversation is not going to take place with Speaker Johnson or House Republican leaders because they\u2019ve been clear. All they want to do is rip away the Affordable Care Act tax credits and take away healthcare from the American people.This is the same group of folks who earlier this year enacted their One Big Ugly Bill, where they cut Medicaid by the largest amount in American history and in the process took healthcare away from 14 million Americans. And hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all across the country. So as we\u2019ve always said, we\u2019ll sit down, talk to our Republican colleagues anytime, anyplace, particularly those who have now expressed an interest in dealing with this healthcare issue and finally perhaps addressing the Republican healthcare crisis that\u2019s breaking the American people.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: But you won\u2019t commit to supporting either one of those measures now, yes or no?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: No, I haven\u2019t ruled anything in or I haven\u2019t ruled anything out because we have to have a conversation with ourselves as a House Democratic Caucus familyand of course Republicans if they\u2019re interested in good faith in trying to find common ground.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: So there was a vote on a resolution yesterday in the House, pushed by some, a handful of Democrats, to impeach President Trump. You and Democratic leadership voted present on this. In June, on a separate push, you voted no. You voted to block it affirmatively. So why did you move from no on impeachment in June to sort of meh yesterday?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Well we issued a statement that speaks for itself, but essentially we\u2019ve said impeachment is a serious issue, it requires a serious process, and that process was missing as it relates to the resolution that we voted on yesterday.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: Finally, the President pardoned Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas last week. He was charged in federal crimes, basically taking $600,000 in bribes. After that pardon, you sort of welcomed it and welcomed Congressman Cuellar back into the fold. There\u2019s an op-ed in the New York Times today written by a couple of former federal prosecutors who worked for Special Counsel Jack Smith, who took issue with your moves after the pardon. They said \u201cHakeem Jeffries welcomed the pardon and engaged in shameful pandering, apparently to maintain Mr. Cuellar\u2019s party loyalty. Most disturbingly, Mr. Jeffries did so by attacking the legitimacy of the criminal case against Mr. Cuellar, publicly dismissing the indictment against him as \u2018very thin.'\u201d What do you say to this? Because Democrats have been very critical of a lot of the pardons that President Trump has made, but in this case, where it may benefit you, you seem to support it.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: I didn\u2019t welcome the pardon. I basically made a factual observation based on how I saw the indictment that in my view it was thin. These prosecutors are free to go out there and defend whatever they want to defend, say whatever they want to say. They have a track record that they need to be able to articulate and justify to the American people. I\u2019m unfamiliar with these particular individuals, so I can\u2019t really comment on what they may have said. But the reality is anyone, any American, whether you\u2019re a Congressperson, an everyday American, whether you serve in office, don\u2019t serve in office, you are entitled to the presumption of innocence.You are innocent until proven guilty. It\u2019s shocking to me that these people would take issue with that reality.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: Well, they were charged. I mean, it\u2019s not an issue of being innocent till proven guilty here. He was charged. Congressman Cuellar was charged and it never went to trial because of the pardon. It\u2019s not an issue of innocence or guilt now, it\u2019s an issue of pardoning someone before there is that determination, correct?\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: No, it\u2019s an issue that if you if you are charged but you\u2019re not convicted, you are presumed innocent. That\u2019s what the whole presumption of innocence is all about.\n\nJOHN BERMAN: All right, Leader Hakeem Jeffries, we appreciate your time this morning. You have a busy few weeks before the end of the year. Thank you.\n\nFull interview can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/12/12/leader-jeffries-the-american-people-are-rejecting-republican-extremism-and-embracing-our-focus-on-driving-down-the-high-cost-of-living/", "LEADER JEFFRIES: \u201cTHE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE REJECTING REPUBLICAN EXTREMISM AND EMBRACING OUR FOCUS ON DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH COST OF LIVING\u201d", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he reiterated that while Republicans continue their extreme go-it-alone approach, Democrats remain committed to lowering the high cost of living, cleaning up corruption and fixing the GOP healthcare crisis, starting with extending the ACA tax credits.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: There are only five legislative days left before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. And we have yet to see a Republican plan to prevent tens of millions of Americans from experiencing dramatically-increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. We know that premium increases in some cases will be $1,000 or $2,000 per month. This is going to make healthcare unaffordable for millions of working class Americans, middle class Americans and everyday Americans. And yet Republicans are continuing to bury their heads in the sand, completely and totally uninterested in finding common ground to make life better for the American people, in this instance by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. House Democrats remain ready, willing and able to sit down with our Republican colleagues anytime, anyplace and anywhere in order to enact a bipartisan agreement that protects the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans, to fix our broken healthcare system and to deal with the Republican healthcare crisis decisively, which is crushing the American people.\n\nBut Republicans continue to pursue a my-way-or-the-highway approach, which has gotten them nowhere this year, and it\u2019s consistently hurt the American people. All across the country, we are seeing Republican extremism being rejected, most recently in the city of Miami, a city that is more than 70% Latino, in a county, Miami-Dade, that Donald Trump just won in 2024. And a year later, a Democrat was elected as Mayor of Miami for the first time in nearly three decades by 20 points. And yet Republicans continue to ignore the reality that is unfolding all across the country. The American people are rejecting your extremism and embracing our focus on driving down the high cost of living, dealing with the affordability crisis\u2014which is real, it\u2019s not a hoax\u2014and fixing our broken healthcare system. And at this point, all we need are four Republicans in the House. There are 220 of you. All we need are four Republicans to partner with us. Let\u2019s find a path forward, and we can extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.\n\nFull press conference can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-fights-safeguard-americans-right-vote", "CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE FIGHTS TO SAFEGUARD AMERICANS\u2019 RIGHT TO VOTE", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Joseph D. Morelle", "M001206", "morelle.house.gov", "morelle", "https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2014Today, Congressman Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, announced he participated in a Subcommittee on Elections hearing titled \u201cExamining Potential Updates to the NVRA.\u201d Morelle reiterated that any changes to the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) must be focused on removing barriers to the ballot box, not adding more.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump and his allies have made clear they\u2019re not interested in fair elections. They want control so they can game the system and put their finger on the scale,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cAdding new barriers to voter registration is just the latest tactic in their efforts to cheat Americans of their right to vote. I\u2019m committed to ensuring that any changes to the NVRA strengthen access and protect every eligible American\u2019s right to register.\u201d\n\nThis hearing comes as President Trump\u2019s Department of Justice seeks voter rolls from states and House Republicans continue to try to make it harder for eligible Americans to register to vote. Earlier this year, the President also issued an executive order that would obstruct, disrupt, and sow unfounded doubt into our elections.\n\nVideo footage of Congressman Morelle\u2019s remarks from the hearing can be found here. Full footage of the hearing is also available here.\n\nTo learn more about Congressman Morelle\u2019s work as Lead Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, visit the committee\u2019s website here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-natural-resources-committee-dems-uncover-puerto-rico-tax-break-ultra", "House Natural Resources Committee Dems Uncover Puerto Rico Tax Break for Ultra-Rich Could Cost American Taxpayers Millions", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "O000172", "ocasio-cortez.house.gov", "ocasio-cortez", "https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "New GAO Report finds Tax Break Provides Little Evidence of Economic Benefit for Puerto Rico\n\nWashington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Representatives Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) released a Government Accountability Office report exposing how special tax breaks for the wealthy are costing the rest of American taxpayers \u201chundreds of millions of dollars per year\u201d with little evidence they\u2019re delivering economic benefits to the people of Puerto Rico.\n\n\u201cThe GAO's findings show that wealthy mainland Americans are using Act 60 to avoid paying hundreds of millions of dollars in federal taxes per year without actually residing in Puerto Rico. Not only is this policy driving up wealth inequality on the island, it is also stealing valuable federal tax revenue used to fund Social Security, Medicare, and other essential federal programs out of American\u2019s pockets. I urge the IRS to implement the recommendations in this report and crack down on the severe level of abuse driven by Act 60 and the wealthy who profit from it,\u201d said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\n\n\u201cWhile families across Puerto Rico struggle to make ends meet, millionaires and billionaires are swooping in to exploit the island as a personal tax shelter,\u201d said Ranking Member Huffman. \u201cThis watchdog report confirms exactly what we've suspected: these tax breaks are draining hundreds of millions in federal revenue while delivering next to nothing for Puerto Rico's working families. And thanks to Trump gutting the IRS, there's barely anyone left to check if these wealthy transplants are even playing by the rules and meeting the basic residency requirements to justify these tax breaks, let alone contributing to the community. The people of Puerto Rico deserve real investment and economic opportunities that lift up families, not a rigged system that lets the ultra-rich dodge their taxes on the island's back.\u201d\n\nIn 2023, House Natural Resources Committee Democrats asked the GAO to investigate how certain tax breaks in Puerto Rico\u2019s Act 60 of 2019 could create an unfair tax haven for the ultra-wealthy and do nothing to benefit the people of Puerto Rico.\n\nThe report found that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) lost 38% of its enforcement staff during the Trump-Musk government purge, making it easier for wealthy people to cheat their way into getting tax breaks because there aren\u2019t enough staff to verify they meet eligibility requirements. One example of that fallout uncovered was 179 people getting the tax break despite not even meeting the basic requirement of living in Puerto Rico for at least half the year.\n\nThe report also raises the possibility that many millionaires would have moved to Puerto Rico even without a handout for the ultra-wealthy, wasting taxpayer money.\n\n\u201cGAO\u2019s findings confirm what many of us have warned for years: the IRS has not taken enforcement of Act 60 seriously, fueling tax evasion problems both on the island and the mainland. While the agency failed to implement basic checks, the wealthy were able to game the system and dodge millions in taxes, leaving Puerto Ricans to shoulder the consequences through rising housing costs, displacement, and underfunded public services. GAO\u2019s report provides a clear roadmap to fix this broken system, and the IRS must act quickly to implement these recommendations and bring real oversight and accountability,\u201d said Representative Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez.\n\n\u201cThis GAO report makes clear that Act 60 is falling far short of its promises. Despite the generous tax breaks it provides, there is little evidence that the program is delivering meaningful economic benefits for Puerto Rico. Without stronger oversight and real accountability for those who profit from these incentives, Act 60 risks functioning more as a loophole than a development tool. Puerto Rico deserves a program that truly strengthens its economy, not one that leaves its impact in doubt,\u201d said Representative Ritchie Torres.\n\nThe full report, entitled Puerto Rico: IRS Should Improve Oversight of Taxpayers Claiming Exemption from Federal Taxes (GAO-26-107225), can be accessed in English. The highlights page can be accessed in English or Spanish.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pat-ryan-introduces-repair-infrastructure-act-repair-expand-and", "CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN INTRODUCES \u201cREPAIR INFRASTRUCTURE ACT\u201d TO REPAIR, EXPAND, AND ENHANCE CRITICAL HUDSON VALLEY INFRASTRUCTURE", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Ryan\u2019s \u201cRestoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient (REPAIR) Infrastructure Act\u201d renews and increases funding for the Reconnecting Communities Program; without this legislation, the program originally funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will expire\n\nThe Reconnecting Communities Program (RCP) helps reconnect communities separated by ill-conceived transportation and infrastructure barriers, ensuring our neighborhoods are vibrant, safe, and accessible for Hudson Valley families\n\nKingston was awarded an RCP planning and design grant this year to reconfigure US Route 9-W, which bisects the city, cutting off community access for residents and limiting transportation options\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Pat Ryan introduced the \u201cRestoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient (REPAIR) Infrastructure Program Act.\u201d The bill would reauthorize and expand the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) Reconnecting Communities Program as the REPAIR Infrastructure Program. The program works to help reconnect communities separated by ill-conceived transportation and infrastructure barriers, ensuring more neighborhoods are vibrant, safe, and accessible for Hudson Valley families.\n\nKingston was awarded an RCP planning and design grant this year to reconfigure US Route 9-W, which bisects the community. This grant funding will ease mobility for Kingston residents and bring new housing and economic opportunities throughout the current 9-W corridor.\n\nThe legislation is led by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester, Jeff Merkley, and Raphael Warnock in the Senate, and is co-led by Congressman Shomari Figures in the House.\n\n\u201cHudson Valley families and commuters deserve cohesive, safe neighborhoods, connected to good schools, high-paying jobs, and local businesses. That\u2019s exactly what my bill does, \u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cWhether it's improving the safety of a dangerous highway crossing, like 9-W in Kingston, working to prevent pedestrian and cyclist deaths at roadway intersections, or making access to our community spaces easier for everyone, the REPAIR Infrastructure Act is going to deliver the safer, more accessible Hudson Valley all of our families deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it is important to me that we prioritize making investments in enhancing and modernizing transportation infrastructure in our communities,\u201d said Congressman Figures. \u201cThe Trump Administration recently cancelled a 36.6 million dollar Reconnecting Communities Grant in Montgomery. I am committed to seeing that funding restored, and I\u2019m proud to join my Democratic colleagues in the Senate to make sure other communities in Alabama have the opportunity to access this same funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are thrilled that Congressman Ryan is introducing legislation that would reauthorize and expand on a much-needed funding stream, which will help Kingston build crucial housing, create jobs, and allow us to reinvest in a neighborhood that was negatively impacted by Urban Renewal,\u201d said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. \u201cThe REPAIR Infrastructure Act would do just that- repair a wrong that was done in the 1960s by helping us reconnect our neighborhoods and mending vital infrastructure. The benefit of this program in Kingston is immeasurable.\u201d\n\n\u201cReauthorizing the REPAIR Infrastructure Program is vital for the City of Poughkeepsie, helping us reconnect neighborhoods and ensure residents can safely access daily needs like grocery stores and childcare,\u201d said Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers. \u201cThis investment supports our ongoing efforts to modernize streets, utilities, and public spaces, while expanding equitable access to opportunity for all. We thank Rep. Ryan for championing this program and giving cities like ours the tools to create lasting, meaningful improvements.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe City of Port Jervis has benefited from federal funding to make rail crossings safer for our community and to ensure people can get to where they need to go safely,\u201d said Port Jervis Mayor Steve Cicalese. \u201cAs we have seen first-hand how this funding can work to improve health and safety, we support the introduction of the REPAIR Infrastructure Act, that would reauthorize a version of the Reconnecting Communities Grant Program and connect people to jobs, essential services, and economic opportunity.\n\n\u201cWhen my colleagues and I were shaping what would become the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, I made sure it included significant funding for communities to correct historic injustices that resulted from past infrastructure policies. Now, the time has come to reauthorize and expand that program,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cOver the last four years, the Reconnecting Communities Program has proven successful, including critical work done in Delaware. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance the REPAIR Infrastructure Act and invest more of this critical funding into communities across our nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Raphael Warnock, and Representative Pat Ryan for stepping up to continue the work of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to heal historic harms caused by divisive infrastructure,\u201d said Beth Osborne, President and CEO of Smart Growth America. \u201cThe work of reconnecting communities has brought significant economic and community benefits to the places that have pursued it. By providing additional funding and greater flexibility, the REPAIR Infrastructure Act would allow more communities, from our most rural towns to urban centers, to build transportation systems that better serve the people who live there. Moreover, this legislation is crucial to help set the tone in Congress for what the upcoming surface reauthorization must prioritize: safety, connectivity, and rethinking how, why, and for whom we build transportation infrastructure.\u201d\n\nThe Reconnecting Communities program awards are designed to re-establish routes between communities that were cut off by overbuilt transportation infrastructure built decades ago, during the era of urban renewal. This overdevelopment left entire neighborhoods cut off from accessing essentials like grocery stores, medical centers, and places of worship.\n\nBetween fiscal years 2022 and 2024, there was an average of $4.6 billion in unmet funding requests for the Reconnecting Communities Program. During the same period, there were nearly 1,500 applications from communities in all 50 states for projects eligible under the REPAIR Infrastructure Act, demonstrating a desire for this funding across the nation.\n\nUltimately, DOT has funded 257 projects in 47 states. Those projects have helped communities redesign streets, spur economic development, address outdated highways, improve multimodal access, and enhance transit options.\n\nThe \u201cREPAIR Infrastructure Act\u201d would:\n\nReauthorize the REPAIR Infrastructure program out of the Highway Trust Fund at $3B per fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.\n\nCodifies language to ensure REPAIR Infrastructure projects promote economic development, increase access to daily destinations, prioritize community involvement, and prevent displacement.\n\nAdds explicit eligibility for REPAIR Infrastructure projects to existing highway formula programs.\n\nThe \u201cREPAIR Infrastructure Act\u201d is endorsed by Smart Growth America, the American Society of Landscape Architects, America Walks, the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the League of American Bicyclists, the Living Streets Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Rails to Trails Conservancy, Safe Routes Partnership, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and a national coalition of 74 additional organizations.\n\nFull text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-ryan-and-wittmans-defense-modernization-caucus-delivers-critical", "CONGRESSMEN RYAN AND WITTMAN\u2019S \u201cDEFENSE MODERNIZATION CAUCUS\u201d DELIVERS CRITICAL WINS FOR DEFENSE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM IN NDAA", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Patrick Ryan", "R000579", "patryan.house.gov", "patryan", "https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This week, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY), founding co-chairs of the House Defense Modernization Caucus (HDMC), voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation included key wins that accelerate defense innovation and modernization efforts at the Pentagon, including strengthening counter-unmanned aerial systems capabilities, empowering the defense innovation ecosystem through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), prioritizing commercial solutions, and enabling more seamless collaboration between industry and the Department.\n\n\u201cThis NDAA made significant strides to modernize our defense acquisition system and industrial base. By streamlining processes that enable better collaboration with innovative defense firms and prioritizing a software-first approach to developing new systems, we are expanding the field for innovative ideas and solutions that give our forces the capabilities they need, when they need them. This legislation represents our commitment as co-chairs of the House Defense Modernization Caucus to pursuing innovative solutions to how the Department fields new technologies, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.\u201d \u2013 Rep. Rob Wittman\n\n\u201cI\u2019m damn proud to be an American today. Not only did the DMC help deliver a historic NDAA whose main focus was acquisition reform; we also secured a number of provisions directly focused on removing barriers to entry for small and non-traditional companies, driving the Pentagon to take a software-centric approach, and advancing crucial c-UAS capabilities,\u201d said Congressman Pat Ryan. \u201cOur mission is simple: develop the tools our warfighters need to succeed, and deliver them at the speed of combat. I want to thank Congressman Wittman for his continued partnership. Stay tuned \u2013 the push for making the FY27 NDAA the most disruptive in history starts now.\u201d\n\nCo-chairs Wittman and Ryan secured the following provisions that will:\n\nStreamline and expedite the Authorization to Operate (ATO) process\n\nAccelerate access and accreditation to sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIF) for industry\n\nExpand the Defense Innovation Unit\u2019s regional presence and outreach\n\nLeverage commercial sensor networks to support Air Force counter-drone base protection capabilities\n\nAccelerate the DoD\u2019s counter-unmanned aerial system capabilities and authorities to protect military operations and sensitive defense installations in the United States\n\nRequire DoD to develop and maintain a virtual sandbox environment for operational testing and development.\n\nIntegrate modern software practices at the Department by establishing a pilot program to leverage commercial software innovations for testing and evaluation\n\nReview the Department\u2019s approach to commercial purchasing and compliance with the commercial services acquisition approach\n\nFacilitate artificial intelligence and machine learning security in the Department\n\nRequire a Comptroller review and report on the Department\u2019s use of Other Transaction Authorities (derived from H.R. 6325)\n\nAdditional defense modernization priorities HDMC supported will: :\n\nEncourage the Department to leverage modular open system architectures (MOSA) when developing exquisite systems\n\nRequire the Pentagon to look to commercial-off-the-shelf solutions before embarking on costly programs to build exquisite systems\n\nProvide OSC with the authority to assess fees, ensuring its funding is allocated efficiently towards the goal of bridging new technologies into deployed capabilities\n\nEstablish the Bridging Operational Objectives and Support for\n\nTransition (BOOST) Program within DIU to align promising technologies with operational needs\n\nRequire the Department to streamline the qualification and approval of parts made with advanced manufacturing methods\n\nFormally establish the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) 401 as the entity with primary responsibility for counter-small unmanned aircraft systems\n\nAllow DARPA to continue expanding its talent pool by extending the authority to temporarily assign employees from nontraditional defense contractors to the Agency\n\nIn March, following the caucus\u2019s relaunch, HDMC opened an NDAA submissions portal, soliciting from industry and academia issues and ideas related to defense modernization. These submissions helped inform Congressmen Wittman\u2019s and Ryan\u2019s NDAA provisions. In November, the two sent an HDMC conference letter to House Armed Services Committee leadership encouraging them to prioritize issues of defense modernization and to specifically include several key provisions in the conferenced bill.\n\nCongressmen Ryan and Wittman founded the House Defense Modernization Caucus last year to accelerate innovation across the Department of Defense and deliver capabilities to the warfighter at speed and at scale. Ryan\u2019s experience as a military intelligence officer and tenure in the startup world, along with Wittman\u2019s deep ties to Virginia's shipbuilding ecosystem and leadership on the Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee brings two uniquely valuable perspectives, each keenly aware of the importance of modernization and apt to collaborate on the HDMC\u2019s goals.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/12/stefanik-joins-president-trump-with-legendary-miracle-on-ice-hockey-team-in-oval-office-ceremony-after-passing-law-to-honor-1980-team-usa-with-congressional-gold-medal", "Stefanik Joins President Trump with Legendary Miracle on Ice Hockey Team in Oval Office Ceremony After Passing Law to Honor 1980 Team USA with Congressional Gold Medal", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Elise M. Stefanik", "S001196", "stefanik.house.gov", "stefanik", "https://stefanik.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, joined President Trump for an Oval Office ceremony to present members of the historic 1980 U.S. Olympic Men\u2019s Ice Hockey Team with Congressional Gold Medals in recognition of their remarkable achievement at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York, following passage of Stefanik's and Rep. Pete Stauber's (R-MN) Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act.\n\nAt the ceremony, Stefanik thanked President Trump and expressed how \"meaningful\" the event was for her constituents. Watch her remarks here.\n\n\"Today's inspiring Oval Office ceremony is a culmination of years of legislative effort to honor the legendary 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team with Congressional Gold Medals. I was proud to co-lead this bill in Congress with my colleague Congressman Pete Stauber to honor these incredible Americans. Lake Placid in New York's 21st Congressional District is home to the famed Miracle on Ice game that was one of the most significant moments in sports history and even more important in 20th century world history. Thank you to the legendary team that earned its place in U.S. history with an extraordinary underdog victory that embodied the triumph, grit, and determination of the American spirit during the Cold War,\" said Stefanik.\n\nIn September, the House passed Stefanik's Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act to award today's Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the historic 1980 U.S. Olympic Men\u2019s Ice Hockey Team. Stefanik\u2019s original legislation was reintroduced in April 2025 by Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and co-led by Stefanik in the House.\n\nThe legislation designates three Congressional Gold Medals to be awarded to members of the team. These medals will be placed in three prominent locations: the Lake Placid Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY; the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, MN; and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, CO. These sites will serve as enduring symbols of the team\u2019s legacy and the profound impact their victory had on the nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://stefanik.house.gov/2025/12/stefanik-jordan-launch-probe-of-hochul-admin-demand-termination-of-nys-funding-for-ccp-linked-orgs-as-governor-s-former-aide-and-alleged-chinese-spy-faces-corruption-charges", "Stefanik, Jordan Launch Probe of Hochul Admin, Demand Termination of NYS Funding for CCP-Linked Orgs as Governor's Former Aide and Alleged Chinese Spy Faces Corruption Charges", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Elise M. Stefanik", "S001196", "stefanik.house.gov", "stefanik", "https://stefanik.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, along with Congressman Jim Jordan, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul citing concern of widespread political interference in her state's administration, warning that New York has become the national epicenter for Communist China's election interference, political intimidation, and systemic violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), among others.\n\n\"Last year, your own former deputy chief of staff, Linda Sun, was indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for acting as an unregistered agent of the People\u2019s Republic of China during her employment with you, along with other charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud. A statement issued by the IRS-Counter Intelligence New York Special Agent in Charge asserts, 'Not only did Sun allegedly use Chinese money and her influence in New York State to benefit the Chinese government, it is further alleged that she used her position to steer multi-million-dollar contracts to companies controlled by family members and friends,'\" the lawmakers wrote.\n\nAs a senior Member of House Leadership and as Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Stefanik and Jordan requested that Hochul's administration:\n\nTerminate all state funding and special tax-exempt privileges to nonprofits with verified ties to the CCP or its proxies;\n\nFully cooperate with federal investigations into FARA, Foreign Missions Act, and Internal Revenue Code violations;\n\nConduct a top-down review of all political appointees and staff for conflicts of interest with the CCP and other foreign countries;\n\nProvide us with documentation regarding the criteria your administration uses to award state grants or access to elected officials; and\n\nProvide us with documentation regarding the enforcement actions taken by your administration to mitigate the threat of CCP malign influence and interference activities in New York.\n\nLast week, Stefanik sounded the alarm on Hochul's compromised leadership after her alleged CCP-linked spy Sun admitted that the then-Lieutenant Governor was \"much more obedient\" than former Governor Andrew Cuomo.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-introduces-bill-to-crack-down-on-surveillance-pricing/", "Gillibrand Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Surveillance Pricing", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "As AI Tools Increasingly Allow Companies To Target Consumers And Drive Up Prices, Gillibrand Is Taking Action To Protect New Yorkers Against Unfair Pricing Practices\n\nLegislation Comes As New York Leads First-Ever State-Level Push to Expose Data-Driven Price Gouging\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation to outlaw surveillance pricing. The One Fair Price Act would prevent companies from being able to use customers\u2019 personal data to set individualized prices. Gillibrand introduced the legislation with Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).\n\n\u201cAs the holidays approach and New Yorkers shop for their loved ones, predatory companies are combing through our data and raising prices based on who they think is willing to pay more,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand.\u201cNo one should be charged more just because a company is digging into their background and exploiting their data. It\u2019s wrong, and I won\u2019t stop working until we get this bill across the finish line and end these abusive practices once and for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen you go to the grocery store, you expect to pay the exact same price for milk as the person in line behind you. But imagine if they charged you more for milk because they know you have growing kids at home and that you need it more than the person behind you. You\u2019d be outraged. It may seem far-fetched, but increasingly that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening, especially when shopping online,\u201d said Senator Gallego.\u201cGreedy corporations are compiling Americans\u2019 personal data and using AI to find their \u2018pain point\u2019 \u2013 the maximum they\u2019re willing to pay. That\u2019s not fair pricing, that\u2019s predatory pricing. My bill puts an end to it.\u201d\n\nIn January, initial findings from a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study showed that retailers frequently use customers\u2019 personal information \u2013 everything from their location to the type of device they are searching on \u2013 to set tailored prices for goods and services. Under the Trump administration, the FTC canceled an investigation into these unfair practices.\n\nThe One Fair Price Act would ban companies from charging different prices to different customers for the same product at the same time.\n\nA recent study found that predatory pricing practices are harming consumers as corporations use AI to gauge how \u201cprice sensitive\u201d each customer is. For example, a frequent Instacart user could see price swings of roughly $1,200 per year. New York became the first state to confront these practices by enacting a law targeting surveillance pricing and requiring retailers to disclose when prices are set by an algorithm.\n\n\u201cDystopian surveillance pricing schemes are fueling our country\u2019s affordability crisis, allowing corporations to weaponize personal data by filtering it through opaque algorithms to extract the maximum price consumers are willing to pay,\u201d said Lee Hepner, Senior Legal Counsel at American Economic Liberties Project.\u201cPrice discrimination shreds the social fabric by eroding consumer solidarity and our ability to hold predatory corporations accountable on equal terms. It is a direct threat to the financial independence of all Americans, and largely responsible for why our whole economy feels like a giant scam. The One Fair Price Act restores sanity to our economy, while protecting fair discounts and predictable prices. We\u2019re pleased to support and endorse this bill, and urge Congress to pass it swiftly.\u201d\n\nYou can find the full text of the legislation here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-urges-president-trump-to-follow-through-on-easing-federal-marijuana-restrictions/", "Gillibrand Urges President Trump To Follow Through On Easing Federal Marijuana Restrictions", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, amid reports that President Trump will direct federal agencies to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI was encouraged to see the Drug Enforcement Administration first move to reschedule marijuana under President Biden, and I urge President Trump to follow through on this effort. Common sense tells us marijuana should not be in the same category as deadly drugs like heroin, and reclassifying it is a long overdue and small step forward to create economic opportunity, support research into marijuana\u2019s medical benefits, and increase public safety. However, there is still far more work that must be done. I will continue to advocate for the full descheduling of marijuana and for expunging the records of Americans convicted of marijuana possession.\u201d\n\nUnlike other Schedule I substances, like heroin, marijuana is not associated with the same acute health risks and potential for addiction and abuse. It also shows potential for treating chronic pain, PTSD, and other debilitating conditions. Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III would reduce obstacles to its prescription and encourage investment and research into additional medical uses.\n\nSenator Gillibrand has repeatedly called for easing federal restrictions on marijuana, including completely descheduling it. In November 2023, sheurged the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to, at a minimum, reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance. The DEA heeded her call in April 2024 and began the rescheduling process. Gillibrand has also cosponsored the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, landmark legislation that would legalize marijuana and help reverse decades of failed drug policy that has disproportionately hurt communities of color and low-income communities, and the SAFER Banking Act, which would ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to critical banking and financial services.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/trump-is-scroogeing-new-yorkers-this-holiday-season-in-syracuse-gillibrand-slams-trump-for-hurting-small-businesses-with-tariffs/", "Trump Is Scrooge\u2019ing New Yorkers This Holiday Season: In Syracuse, Gillibrand Slams Trump For Hurting Small Businesses With Tariffs", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined the owners of Talking Cursive Brewing Company and local elected officials to denounce President Trump\u2019s tariffs, which she said are wreaking havoc on small businesses this holiday season.\n\nEarlier this week, Gillibrand called on President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to take immediate action to address the tariffs\u2019 devastating impact on small businesses and consumers. She is urging the administration to suspend the global tariffs to provide meaningful relief to small businesses, protect consumers, and ensure American families are not hit with higher prices or product shortages during the busy holiday period.\n\n\u201cThis holiday season, President Trump is hurting New Yorkers with anti-American tariffs that are raising costs and shutting down small businesses,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand.\u201cSmall businesses are a major economic driver in New York, employing almost half the state\u2019s workforce. Breweries like Talking Cursive are feeling the pressure from the president\u2019s tariffs, with rising aluminum prices making the canning process prohibitively expensive for them and for many of the more than 400 breweries across New York State. I urge President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to immediately suspend these tariffs and provide meaningful relief to the millions of Americans experiencing higher prices and product shortages during this time of year.\u201d\n\n\u201cTariffs are hitting small businesses and manufacturers like ours hard. Whether on aluminum, malts, or hops, tariffs are impacting us across the board, not only raising costs, but shrinking markets,\u201d said Andrew Brooks, Co-Owner of Talking Cursive Brewing Company. \u201cWe\u2019re just asking for a common-sense solution; repeal these tariffs so small businesses like ours can keep brewing, keep manufacturing, and keep contributing to our communities and the local economy. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand, for standing with small businesses and manufacturers in opposing these tariffs.\u201d\n\n\u201cTariffs are squeezing small businesses, which are struggling with rising inventory costs,\u201dsaid State Senator Rachel May. \u201cThank you, Senator Gillibrand, for visiting Syracuse to highlight how these tariffs are hurting small business owners in Central New York and for advocating to end these tariffs immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses like Talking Cursive are at the heart of New York\u2019s economy and our communities. They take risks, create jobs, and bring life to our neighborhoods \u2014 and they deserve every bit of support we can give them,\u201d said State Senator Chris Ryan. \u201cBut today, too many small businesses are seeing their fiscal bottom line squeezed by rising costs driven in part by the Trump administration\u2019s tariffs, putting added pressure on entrepreneurs, workers, and everyday consumers. I\u2019m grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her continued advocacy to ensure local businesses have the stability and resources they need to plan, grow, and succeed. When we stand up for our small businesses, we\u2019re standing up for the people and families who make New York strong.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall and local businesses are the backbones of our communities,\u201d said Assemblyman William Magnarelli. \u201cI support the measures to remove these tariffs, and thank Senator Gillibrand for her efforts on this.\u201d\n\n\u201cTariffs are driving up costs for City operations, squeezing small businesses, and exacerbating our housing crisis. These irrational Trump administration choices must be combatted with a meaningful affordability agenda that brings down the cost of doing business for everyone,\u201d said Syracuse city auditor Alex Marion.\n\nThe tariffs recently imposed by the Trump administration include a baseline 10% import tax on goods from dozens of countries, plus the European Union, with significantly steeper rates for many Canadian imports at 35%. These tariffs are creating major cost uncertainty for New York businesses. According to the New York State Tariff Disruptions Report, consumers in the state are facing an estimated 21% tax on imported goods, amounting to roughly $4,200 in increased costs per household annually.\n\nGillibrand has opposed the president\u2019s tariffs since the start of his administration, arguing that they increase costs for consumers and small businesses. Earlier this year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump\u2019s tariff tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.\n\nTalking Cursive Brewing Company \u2014 a woman- and veteran-owned business \u2014 is among those hurt by higher aluminum prices as a result of tariffs. Small businesses make up 99.8% of all businesses in New York and employ nearly 4 million people. Due to the fact that they often operate on tight margins and have limited flexibility in their supply chains, small businesses are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of tariffs.\n\nThe full text of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s letter to President Trump and Secretary Lutnick can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/trump-is-scroogeing-new-yorkers-this-holiday-season-in-williamsville-gillibrand-slams-trump-for-hurting-small-businesses-with-tariffs/", "Trump is Scrooge\u2019ing New Yorkers This Holiday Season: In Williamsville, Gillibrand Slams Trump For Hurting Small Businesses With Tariffs", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "THE GRINCH WON\u2019T STEAL CHRISTMAS, TARIFFS WILL\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand hosted a media availability to discuss the Trump administration\u2019s destructive tariffs.\n\nThis week, Senator Gillibrand called on President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to take immediate action to address the devastating impact these tariffs are having on small businesses and consumers. She is urging the administration to suspend the global tariffs in order to provide meaningful relief to small businesses, protect consumers, and ensure that American families are not met with higher prices or product shortages during this critical time of year.\n\nThe senator has opposed the president\u2019s reckless tariffs that are increasing costs on consumers and small businesses since the start of the administration. Earlier this year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump\u2019s tariff tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.\n\n\u201cThis holiday season, it won\u2019t be the Grinch stealing Christmas, it will be President Trump\u2019s tariffs,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cSmall businesses like Clayton\u2019s Toys are the backbone of downtowns across our state, and tariffs are making it harder and harder for them to keep their doors open. It\u2019s clear that with these tariffs, this administration wants to see a country filled with empty storefronts and sky-high costs. I urge President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to immediately suspend these tariffs to provide meaningful relief to the millions of Americans who are seeing higher prices and product shortages during this critical time of year.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe current Administration in Washington has made economic decisions that have impacted working families and small businesses negatively,\u201dsaid Christine Hunt, Mayor of Williamsville. \u201cWe are fortunate that elected officials like Senator Gillibrand are fighting back in Washington and supporting the American people and small businesses as we struggle with inflation, tariffs and uncertainty in these tough economic times.\u201d\n\n\u201cTariffs imposed by the Trump administration are disfavored by economists and legislators alike because of their negative impacts on American industry and Wall Street,\u201dsaid Assemblymember Karen McMahon. \u201cBut the President\u2019s tariffs have also hurt Main Street, needlessly pinching small businesses already trying to keep the doors open. I applaud Senator Gillibrand\u2019s effort to rescind global tariffs and her advocacy for the RELIEF Act which would reimburse businesses that have had to pay for these tariffs. I thank the Senator for coming to Williamsville to highlight the need for such action, and for spotlighting a historic small business impacted by this misguided economic policy.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt seems like everything, from the toys on our shelves, to the gift wrapping we give out, is getting more expensive,\u201d said Clayton\u2019s co-owners Kellie Klos and Tera McElligott. \u201cAs a small business, we can\u2019t afford to absorb the price hikes the same as some of the larger stores and so these tariffs are hurting our bottom line. We love the community and our customers, and don\u2019t want to raise prices on them, so something must change.\u201d\n\nClayton\u2019s has been in business for over 100 years and is the oldest continuously run toy store in America. Small businesses make up 99.8% of all businesses in New York State and employ nearly 4 million New Yorkers. Due to the fact they often operate on tight margins and have limited flexibility in their supply chains, small businesses are especially vulnerable to the negative impacts of tariffs. Clayton\u2019s has been particularly impacted by tariffs since about 75% of toys sold in the United States are made in China. New York State is the 5th largest importer of goods in the United States, with its largest source of goods coming from China, representing $22.5 billion in imports in 2024. Currently, the baseline tariff on all goods from China is 10%.\n\nThe full text of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s letter to President Trump and Secretary Lutnick can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2667, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "NY", "p1": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1839, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 828, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 2243, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 424, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "NY", "label": "NY", "count": 2667, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 2667, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-12-12,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Egillibrand~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress~2Frelease~2Ftrump-is-scroogeing-new-yorkers-this-holiday-season-in-williamsville-gillibrand-slams-trump-for-hurting-small-businesses-with-tariffs~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NY&year=2025&_next=2025-12-12%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Egillibrand~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress~2Frelease~2Ftrump-is-scroogeing-new-yorkers-this-holiday-season-in-williamsville-gillibrand-slams-trump-for-hurting-small-businesses-with-tariffs~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 1182.9922748729587, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}