• My Statement on the Government Shutdown
• ‘One-Stop’ Shop to Address the Needs of Veterans
• We Need a Permanent Legislative Solution to Protect DACA Participants
• Providing Relief to New Yorkers Pre-Paying their Property Taxes
• Learning from Others
• Honoring Martin Luther King’s Legacy and Mission
• One more thing before you go…

My Statement on the Government Shutdown

The government shutdown was completely avoidable and absolutely unnecessary. It’s extremely disappointing that Senate Democrats have shut down the government, blocking military pay and a full extension of the CHIP program, over a non-budgetary issue.

The House passed a bill that would have kept the government open, our troops paid, veteran benefits cases being processed and every other function of our government operating properly. Instead, Senate Democrats voted against this bill because they’re taking hostages over the DACA issue. The DACA deadline is March 5th and bipartisan negotiations are close to resolving that issue.

This is a cynical ploy designed to placate the radical left wing in the Democratic party who prefer a government shut down in order to get what they want on DACA. Senate Democrats need to put the interests of the entire nation first and end their shutdown extortion game now.

‘One-Stop Shop' to Address the Needs of Veterans

On Saturday, even though I was still in Washington, I hosted a Veterans Resource Fair in Nassau to serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for veterans to ask questions or raise concerns about the benefits or services they earned. Thank you to all the veterans and groups that helped make it a successful event.

 

We Need a Permanent Legislative Solution to Protect DACA Participants

Each day that Congress fails to act, we put the futures of those covered under DACA at risk. I have been consistent in calling for a permanent legislative solution that provides a legal status for those brought into the country prior to 2007 as minor children and strengthens US border security with 21st century technology. Given political realities, it is necessary to combine any fix to the DACA issue with enhancements to better secure the border to prevent illegal immigration.

I joined a bipartisan coalition of over 40 of my colleagues by introducing the USA Act. This bipartisan bill will permanently address the status of approximately 800,000 young people who were brought to the United States as children, while also strengthening our national security. This bill is a common-sense approach to resolving this issue and improving our immigration system.

Providing Relief to New Yorkers Pre-Paying their Property Taxes

New York’s property and income taxes are extraordinarily high and recent changes to the federal tax code could impact those taxpayers who currently have itemized deductions in excess of the new standard deduction. The new standard deduction for the 2018 tax year will be $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly.  If your potential deductions are less than the standard deduction, you won’t have to worry about losing deductibility of mortgage interest or state and local taxes.  However, if a taxpayer has more potential deductions than the standard deduction, limiting state and local tax deductions to $10,000 could cause higher taxes for such filers.

I joined a bipartisan coalition of my colleagues in introducing legislation to allow individuals who paid any or all of their 2018 property taxes in 2017 to deduct them on their current 2017 tax bill, regardless of when the taxes were assessed.

Due to the speed between passage of tax reform and implementation of the new code, this legislation is a common-sense step that helps all New Yorkers that chose to prepay their property taxes, and ensures they receive the 'deductibility' that they had expected.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017, does not prevent the deductibility of prepaid 2018 state and local property taxes. As a result, many individuals prepaid their entire 2018 property tax liability prior to the IRS Advisory on December 27^th.

Learning from Others 

The Pawling Human Library Project is an innovative and fun way to learn about the perspectives and the experiences that shaped the lives of other people. This was the second year that the Pawling Schools and Pawling Public Library teamed up to put on this great event. Thank you for inviting me to participate and I hope to do it again next year.

Honoring Martin Luther King’s Legacy and Mission

I recall seeing Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech on the news when I was young -- it is one of the most inspirational and profound speeches given in American history. The Hudson Interfaith Council's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. service is a great celebration of Dr. King's legacy.

One more thing before you go…

I had the opportunity to visit with three young men who attend John Coleman High School. They traveled all morning to Washington for the March for Life and a cause they believe in. We were able to provide a short tour of the US Capitol to these high school seniors where they got to observe the House of Representatives in action.