• Enrollment for the Dairy Margin Protection Program Reopens April 9th
• Punishing Russia’s Oligarchs
• 2018 Congressional Art Competition Open for Submissions
• Raising Awareness and Increasing Research of Lyme disease
• Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• Discussing Regulations with Tuthilltown Distillery
• Sullivan County Naturalization Ceremony
• Visit to Ducommun AeroStructures
• Zumtobel Visit
• Sono-Tek Corporation
• Discussing Sustainable Energy with Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Small Business Owners, & Bard College

Enrollment for the Dairy Margin Protection Program Reopens April 9th

Dairy farmers are in the midst of a prolonged economic crisis as market conditions, trade barriers, consumption patterns and ineffective government policies have created a perfect storm of damaging factors. Farmers are receiving milk checks which are approximately 25% below their cost of production. After consultation with dairy farmers in the district and my Ag Advisory Committee, I have been working with my colleagues to bring changes to the Margin Protection Program enacted in 2014. The existing MPP program has simply not worked and has been quite expensive for farmers who participated. With recent changes enacted last December, the Agriculture Department is in a position to redesign the program, which will afford farmers a modicum of relief.

Dairy farmers are critical to the Upstate economy. In New York, the dairy industry accounts for $2.4 billion a year in business, which is roughly 45% of farming revenue in the state. I’ve also written school superintendents alerting them to positive changes in the school lunch program, allowing districts to provide flavored, 1% milk to students.  This will provide necessary nutrition for our students while modestly increasing consumption of fluid milk. 

On Monday April 9^th, enrollment for the improved Dairy MPP program will reopen.  More information about the program, including guidance on how to enroll in the program, is available here.

Punishing Russia’s Oligarchs

The Treasury Department issued new sanctions against Russian oligarchs and related entities in response to Russia’s destabilizing and malign activities across the globe. Through the assistance of these oligarchs, Russia pursues its military and diplomatic goals by seeking to undermine faith in democracies across the globe, including in the United States and our allies. These new sanctions punish those who benefit from Russia’s destabilizing activities and send a clear and declarative message. These new steps come about after convincing evidence was revealed of Russian efforts to kill a former Russian spy and his daughter living in Great Britain.

Additional information on the new sanctions can be found here.

2018 Congressional Art Competition Open for Submissions

My office is now accepting submissions for the 2018 Congressional Art Competition. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district. I am very proud to be a part of this nationwide art competition, which provides me with a great opportunity to showcase the talents of creative high school students in the 19th District of New York.

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition. The overall winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.

School administrators have already been sent details. A shareable flyer is available here.

More information, including the rules and regulations plus the student release form, are available here on my website.

Raising Awareness and Increasing Research of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is an often misunderstood and complex illness. Both of these factors make curbing Lyme disease a far more difficult task, especially when trying to diagnose and provide care.

Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses are growing rapidly, and it is critically important that as a society we do what we can to educate the public on this epidemic so our communities and families can take the necessary steps to comprehensively address this issue.

I introduced legislation to raise money for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illness research through the sale of a USPS semipostal stamp. We need to continue to raise public awareness and fund robust research of tick-borne illnesses.

Read more from the Poughkeepsie Journal on Lyme disease and how efforts to curb it are made more difficult.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Earlier this week, we stopped to reflect as fifty years have passed since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Dr. King’s message outlined the future for a better America, one where all men and women – no matter their race or walk of life – are treated equally. His enduring legacy reminds us that we are a united people, striving to form a more just society and a better America.

Discussing Regulations with Tuthilltown Distillery

I visited the Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery to learn more about the local spirits industry and discuss government policy that affects their business. The owners of Tuthilltown have been staunch advocates for the Craft Beverage Modernization Act, which had over 300 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and was enacted into law late last year. I was a co-sponsor of that proposal and am glad that beverage producers in Upstate will be more competitive after the change.

Sullivan County Naturalization Ceremony

On Thursday, I attended a naturalization ceremony in Sullivan County as prospective citizens completed the final step in the naturalization process. The ceremony was presided over by Sullivan County Judge Frank LaBuda and County Clerk Dan Briggs. I was proud to attend and witness so many deserving New Yorkers become United States citizens.

More pictures from the ceremony are available here

Visit to Ducommun AeroStructures

Ducommun AeroStructures employs two hundred and forty people in their Coxsackie facility, where they manufacture components for military and civilian helicopters and aircraft. I have advocated for acquisition of new Black Hawk helicopters for our military forces and was pleased that the defense appropriations legislation included such funding. Ducommun, and its predecessor company Dynabil,  has long been a fixture in the Greene County economy.  With an excellent workforce and management team, we expect the company to have a bright and growing future in Coxsackie.

I had the chance to tour the facility and learn more about their innovative manufacturing process that accelerates delivery time while also maintaining top-notch quality.

Sono-Tek Corporation

I also visited Sono-Tek Corporation, located in Milton and took a tour of their manufacturing and technology operations facility. This Ulster County company has patented many innovative devices, including atomizing nozzles which apply spray coatings used in the semiconductor and medical device industries. Their high-tech manufacturing processes make them a leader in their field.  After the tour, we had the opportunity to have lunch with employees and to answer their questions about topics of concern.

Discussing Sustainable Energy with Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Small Business Owners, & Bard College

I met with representatives from Citizens Climate Lobby, local sustainable energy business owners, and Bard College officials to discuss the importance of clean energy jobs to Upstate New York.

The private sector has great potential to move forward efforts to address the changing climate. Just recently, I joined with my colleague Rep. Lipinski (D-IL) to introduce a bill to spur innovation in the private sector that will increase efficiency and continue technological development in clean energy. We should do all we can to incentivize progress and assist the private sector economy in innovating and inspiring technological changes which will reduce the impact of climate change.