• Statement on South Florida School Shooting
• Upstate New York Needs Infrastructure Investment
• Honoring an American Hero
• Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Funding for Departments Now Open
• Discussing Scaffold Law with Habitat for Humanity
• Upstate New Yorkers Visit DC
• Working in the Climate Solutions Caucus

My Statement on the South Florida School Shooting

As we learn more about the senseless and tragic shooting in Florida, my prayers are with the victims and all the students, teachers, law enforcement and families impacted by this violent attack.

Clearly the shooter shouldn't have been eligible to purchase a firearm and it appears that citizen warnings about him went unheeded. We will only know more when full details are known by law enforcement.

Additionally, we must do better to further understand how to recognize warning signs and better protect our communities.

Upstate New York Needs Infrastructure Investment

This week, the administration released an outline for new infrastructure legislation. The outline is an ambitious vision for new infrastructure efforts. Upstate New York needs investments for expanding broadband access and rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges.

With such a large need, Congress will have to look at new funding sources, such as my infrastructure bank proposal that will leverage private investment to fund worthy projects. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in putting together an infrastructure package that aggressively invests in Upstate New York.

Honoring an American Hero

I had the pleasure of participating in the 'Rensselaer County Honor a Vet Ceremony' to recognize the life and service of Thomas P. Ryan of Troy. Mr. Ryan served our country honorably in World War II as a Seaman First Class aboard the USS Lindsey. Following the War, he worked for forty years at the Norton Company in Watervliet, New York. Pleased to be joined by Rensselaer county executive Steve McLaughlin and Congressman Paul Tonko at this event. 

Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Funding for Departments Now Open

The application process for Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant funding is now open. FP&S grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and are targeted for projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters.  

$34.5 million is available for fire prevention and firefighters health and safety activity under the program for FY17. The application process is currently open and closes on Friday, March 16th, 2018 at 5:00 PM (Eastern).

More details on the application process are here: https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program. Fire departments wishing to apply for a grant must first register with the System for Award Management (SAM): https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/##11.

Fire departments with questions can contact my Kinderhook office at (518) 610-8133. Letters of support are also available for qualifying fire departments.

Discussing Scaffold Law with Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity has been a strong partner in the effort to make New York a better place for federal investment and new construction. By requiring projects that utilize federal funding to use a comparitive negligence standard, we are cutting down on unnecessary overhead costs that do not improve safety and only waste taxpayer dollars. Moreover, my proposal would utilize the negligence standard in place in 49 other states and will lower taxpayer costs on federally funded construction. 

The Scaffold Law is a barrier to Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building affordable housing in New York. I’m always happy to meet with Habitat and hear updates on their important work.

Upstate New Yorkers Visit DC

Leslie Kudlack is a foreign language teacher with the Greenville Central School District in Greene County. I was happy to discuss the importance of foreign language programs in schools and how we can support these programs as components of a well-rounded education. Leslie advocated for legislation that would strengthen foreign language education in K-12 schools. After our meeting, I intend to support the legislation.

The Climate Solutions Caucus is a bipartisan group of lawmakers who explore ways to tackle issues and challenges that impact our changing climate. This week, we met to discuss the need to increase energy efficiency efforts and explored new ways to promote energy efficiency in construction of new buildings and transportation. I am also sponsoring legislation with Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-IL to create an innovation competition for new technologies which will reduce climate change.