Congressman Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) fought for Upstate New York priorities this week during debate of a second government funding package. Brindisi secured meaningful investment in veterans’ health care and rural broadband which will benefit the region.
“Taking care of our veterans and ensuring folks in the district have access to reliable internet are two things that come up at nearly every town hall I have in the district,” Brindisi said. “This legislation will improve care for our veterans, help protect our Bainbridge clinic from bureaucrats, and invest in rural broadband across our district. I will continue to work to ensure these priorities make it through the Senate and onto the President’s desk.”
Brindisi, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, fought for strong investment in veterans’ services. He supported $222 million in suicide prevention funds and $47 million in Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing funding. Brindisi also co-led an amendment increasing funding for the HUD-Veterans Affairs and Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. This amendment was adopted unanimously. As part of his plan to protect Upstate New York veterans, Brindisi secured language in the underlying legislation that would require a market assessment to take place before Albany VA could move the Bainbridge clinic in Chenango County. Brindisi testified before the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee about this language in April.
Additionally, Brindisi championed the needs of rural New Yorkers by securing more funds for USDA’s Re-Connect program. Brindisi, a member of the Rural Broadband Taskforce, voted to invest more than $600 million in Re-Connect, which provides grants and loans for broadband access in rural areas. These funds will encourage competition and investment in rural America.
This legislation (H.R. 3055) covered the Commerce-Justice-Science, Agriculture, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD appropriations packages. The bill now moves to the Senate.