{"id":109671,"date":"2019-11-01T11:08:56","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T15:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=109671"},"modified":"2019-11-01T11:08:56","modified_gmt":"2019-11-01T15:08:56","slug":"news-from-brindisis-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=109671","title":{"rendered":"News from Brindisi’s office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Rep. Anthony Brindisi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi to Host Veterans Breakfast in Utica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congressman to honor veterans for their service with\ncommunity breakfast<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One week before Veterans Day, Congressman Anthony Brindisi\nis hosting a Veterans Appreciation Breakfast in Utica. Brindisi will share how\nhis office and local Veterans organizations can be of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This event is free and open to area Veterans. Space is\nlimited so Veterans are encouraged to RSVP by calling Brindisi\u2019s Utica office\nat 315-732-0713. Media outlets are encouraged to attend and help share the\nevent with local Veterans. A flier to share on social media can be found HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO: Congressman Anthony Brindisi, 22nd Congressional\nDistrict Veterans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT: Veterans Breakfast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHERE: 72 Tavern at the Adirondack Bank Center, 400 Oriskany Street W, Utica, NY<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHEN: Monday, November 4 at 8:30 am\u201410:15 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi launches #FloodTheIJC campaign to hold IJC accountable\nto Lake Ontario property owners <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi launched the #FloodTheIJC campaign today. Brindisi\nannounced that he will be sending a letter a week to the International Joint\nCommission (IJC), the governing body for Lake Ontario water levels, and is\nencouraging Lake Ontario property owners to share their stories with him<\/a> and the IJC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the failure of the IJC to present a clear and\ncohesive solution to the continued flooding in Oswego County, Brindisi joined\nlocal community leaders to demand action. Brindisi plans to send a letter a\nweek to the IJC highlighting current water levels compared to the same time in\n2017, a year with widespread flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve met with flood victims, toured the impacted\nbusinesses, and spoken with community leaders and we all agree: enough is\nenough,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cThe IJC needs to be held accountable and if\nthey aren\u2019t being responsive to the communities\u2019 needs then the IJC needs to\nhear these concerns each and every week. As their Congressman, I will not stop\nuntil the IJC listens and responds to the concerns of this community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi addressed his letter to Canadian Section Chair\nPierre B\u00e9land and American Section Chair Jane Corwin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am deeply concerned that the current course of action by\nthe IJC will again result in flooding along the North and South shores of Lake\nOntario in 2020,\u201d Brindisi wrote in his letter. \u201cIn January 2019, Lake\nOntario water levels stood at 245.34 feet, and as you know we experienced the\nsecond year of devastating flooding. We cannot see another year where\nresidences, businesses, and infrastructure across the Upstate New York and\nCanadian shorelines are under water, hurting our economy and our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, Brindisi brought members of the IJC to\nOswego County for a roundtable discussion. Brindisi continued his fierce\nadvocacy by bringing community leaders before members of the IJC<\/a> to\nfollow-up on their concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August, Brindisi and Congressman John Katko (NY-24) secured a Government Accountability Office study<\/a> of\nthe IJC\u2019s Plan 2014. Brindisi continues to hold the IJC accountable\nand call for a fix to Plan 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents interested in joining the #FloodtheIJC campaign\ncan fill out Congressman Brindisi\u2019s survey HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full text of Brindisi\u2019s letter is below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Chairpersons Corwin and B\u00e9land, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 24, 2019 I joined with my colleagues\nCongressman Morelle (NY-25) and Congressman Katko (NY-24) to call on the\nInternational Joint Commission (IJC) to \u201ctake aggressive preemptive action to\ndeter flooding in the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system ahead of spring\n2020.\u201d We requested a plan from the IJC by October 7, 2019. That date has come\nand gone with no response from the IJC. I have enclosed a copy of that\ncorrespondence for your convenience. It has been nearly 30 days since that\nrequest, and I will be corresponding with you every week until we have received\na satisfactory response to our inquiry.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am deeply concerned that the current course of action\nby the IJC will again result in flooding along the North and South shores of\nLake Ontario in 2020. In January 2019, Lake Ontario water levels stood at\n245.34 feet, and as you know we experienced the second year of devastating\nflooding. We cannot see another year where residences, businesses, and\ninfrastructure across the Upstate New York and Canadian shorelines are under\nwater, hurting our economy and our communities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have heard from experts in our community that the\nJanuary 2020 lake level must be 244 feet or below in order to prevent another\nround of flooding, assuming another year of heavy rainfall. As of October 16,\nLake Ontario stands at 246 feet. This is half a foot higher than at the same\npoint in 2017, the last time these communities faced widespread flooding.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families and businesses on both sides of Lake Ontario are\ndepending on your assistance to ensure that the trigger levels in Plan 2014 do\nnot result in yet another damaging and difficult year for riparians. Thank you\nfor your urgent attention to this matter and I look forward to your response.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi, Katko, Craig announce bipartisan mental health\nlegislation to assist farmers and rural communities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representatives Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), John Katko\n(NY-24), and Angie Craig (MN-02) are fighting to increase mental health care\noptions for producers and rural communities across the country. Brindisi led a\ngroup of Democrats and Republicans to introduce the Seeding Rural\nResilience Act, a bipartisan bill to help address the growing rate of suicide<\/a> in rural parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA career in agriculture is a difficult but rewarding\nlife,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cOur Upstate farmers help feed the world, but\nunfortunately, many bear incredible burdens. Whether it\u2019s low prices, a trade\nwar, or Mother Nature, much of a farmer\u2019s bottom line is out of their control,\nand that uncertainty can add to daily stresses. Our bill will help eliminate\nthe stigma surrounding mental health in our rural communities and ensure all\nfarmers have better access to mental health care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCentral New York\u2019s economy is largely driven by the local\nfarms that have been passed down from generation to generation. But, the\ncurrent rate of suicide in rural communities is 45% higher than it is in urban\nareas,\u201d said Rep Katko (NY-24). \u201cFacing isolation and stigma\nassociated with seeking mental healthcare, farmers often fail to seek out care.\nWe must ensure these families in our region have access to the mental health\nresources that they need. As co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, I\nhave prioritized improving access to mental healthcare for all Americans \u2013 and\nI am proud now to join Representatives Brindisi and Craig in introducing The\nSeeding Rural Resilience Act, bipartisan legislation that aims to improve\nmental healthcare for farming families by implementing suicide prevention\ntraining programs and promoting awareness of mental illness in rural areas. I\nam confident this legislation will make meaningful progress to improve mental\nhealthcare for our region\u2019s rural communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’ve talked with farmers whose families have farmed on the\nsame land for generations describe the stress inflicted by the current farm\ncrisis. Earlier this year I held a roundtable focused on rural mental health in\nWabasha, I\u2019ve also walked with farmers on their land as they describe the sense\nof isolation that can set in with uncertain markets and low commodity prices,\u201d said\nRep. Angie Craig (MN-02). \u201cI understand that right now we must expand\nmental health resources to support Minnesota farmers, and I\u2019m proud to expand\nresources that meet farmers where they live.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 1999 to 2016, suicide rates grew in nearly all 50 states<\/a>. New York\u2019s 22nd Congressional district has a higher rate of suicide than the state average<\/a>.\nAnd according to the Center for Disease Control, the suicide rate is 45 percent higher in rural areas than in urban areas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi\u2019s bill was praised by Upstate New York farmers and\nadvocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We appreciate Congressman Brindisi recognizing the\nstruggle that some NY farmers are currently experiencing,\u201d said Upstate\nNew York farmer Bret Bossard. \u201cMental health awareness is a positive step in\nthe right direction towards bringing awareness to this growing problem.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNew York Farm Bureau supports efforts to increase both\nmental health awareness in the farming community and resources available to\nassist farmers facing high levels of stress,\u201d said New York Farm Bureau\nPresident David Fisher. \u201cTimes remain tough for many farmers, and it is\nimperative that agency staff, who are regularly meeting with farmers, know how\nto identify people who may be struggling and direct them to appropriate help.\nIn addition, efforts to educate rural communities on mental health issues can\nprovide an opportunity to open up a dialogue and reduce the stigma often\nsurrounding it. This support could not only save a farm, it could save a life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to thank Anthony Brindisi for his continuous efforts\nto bring services to rural America,\u201d said Remsen farmer Ben Simons. \u201cAs\na longtime farmer and active member of the agricultural community, I can tell\nyou that a lot of farmers struggle with their mental health whether it is from\nthe stress of running a business that deals with a lot of uncertainties or\nbecause of factors like low milk prices and a tough economy. The Congressman\u2019s\nSeeding Rural Resilience Act will increase access to programs to help farmers\nidentify and manage their stress and to know that there is help when you need it\nis crucial to the health of our agricultural and rural communities. Farmers are\nvery resilient, but everyone needs support from time to time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bipartisan legislation would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n