{"id":110258,"date":"2019-12-24T11:08:14","date_gmt":"2019-12-24T16:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=110258"},"modified":"2019-12-24T11:08:14","modified_gmt":"2019-12-24T16:08:14","slug":"december-news-from-rep-anthony-brindisis-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=110258","title":{"rendered":"December news from Rep. Anthony Brindisi\u2019s Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Rep. Anthony Brindisi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi Announces\n$250,000 USDA grant to promote local food in Oneida County<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congressman Anthony Brindisi announced a $250,000 United\nStates Department of Agriculture grant was awarded to Cornell Cooperative\nExtension. The grant funds, authorized by the Farm Bill, will be used to\ncontinue the Oneida County Public Market Local Food Outreach Education and\nMarketing Enhancement Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cThe Mohawk Valley\nproduces some of the highest quality food in the world and connecting more\nconsumers to this product will help our farmers and our communities,\u201d Brindisi\nsaid. \u201cThese funds are critical to the excellent work being done by our\nfarmers, Cornell, and Oneida County. As your representative, I\u2019ll always fight\nto bring resources back to Upstate New York.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Oneida County Public Market Local Food Outreach\nEducation and Marketing Enhancement Initiative promotes local farmers and\nranchers by enhancing venues for local farmers and producers to sell directly\nto consumers, and attracting low-income and low-access community members to the\nmarket. The project provides farmers with business education including food\nsafety, marketing, legal and finance advising through a collaboration with the\nFarm and Food Business Incubator at Mohawk Valley Community College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi secures $18 million\nfor missions conducted at Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi secured key victories for Upstate New York in the\nfinal National Defense Authorization Act. Brindisi fought for an $8 investment\nfor a Quantum Innovation Center at Rome Lab and an additional $5 million for\nquantum science research. In total, the mission at Rome Lab will receive nearly\n$18 million in crucial investment. Earlier this year, Brindisi secured key wins\nin the House version of the NDAA. Brindisi, a member of the House Armed\nServices Committee, fought to include them in the final bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a big win for Upstate New York and our troops,\u201d\nBrindisi said. \u201cSecuring these critical funds for Rome Lab will allow the\nMohawk Valley to continue to innovate and lead in the development of\ncutting-edge military technology. Keeping our country safe is my top priority\nand the mission at Rome Lab is critical to protecting our national security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi led an amendment to authorize $8 million to\nestablish a Quantum Information Science Innovation Center. The Rome Air Force\nResearch Laboratory is leading in quantum information technology for the Department\nof Defense. In 2017, Rome Lab took a major step in its quantum research by\nbecoming the first Department of Defense Lab to trap an ion, which was a major\nbreakthrough in the development of quantum capabilities for the Air Force.\nQuantum research and technology development is being aggressively pursued by\nother countries, including China, who recognize the massive potential of\nquantum technologies. AFRL\u2019s efforts to develop Quantum technologies has\nimmense national security implications, and it is crucial that the United\nStates does not fall behind adversaries in this field. The QIS Innovation\nCenter would seek to provide an environment where researchers from the Air\nForce, Government, industry, and academia can collaborate to solve difficult\nproblems using Quantum Computing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi statement on\nUSMCA deal announcement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi applauded the bipartisan deal on the United States-Mexico-Canada\ntrade agreement. Congressional leaders announced a deal between organized\nlabor, the Administration and members of Congress on the historic trade\nagreement. Brindisi was one of six lawmakers who met with Vice President Mike\nPence to discuss USMCA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI worked hard with members of both parties and this\nAdministration to get this deal to the finish line, and now it is time for\nCongress to vote on this trade deal,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cUSMCA will hold Mexico\nand Canada accountable, help our family farms, and protect American jobs. We\nneed to make sure our workers, farmers, and small businesses have a fair shot\nat success. I will continue to work with anyone to find solutions that work for\nUpstate New York.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi, Schumer\nBuy-American provisions to create good-paying jobs at Sherrill Manufacturing in\nOneida County included in must-pass legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi and Senator Chuck Schumer secured a key victory for\nUpstate New York in the final National Defense Authorization Act. Brindisi and\nSchumer fought to include the Support Procurement of our Nation\u2019s Stainless\nSteel Act in the final conference report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The measure, sponsored by Brindisi in the House and included\nin the NDAA, would reinstate the Berry Amendment\u2019s long-standing Department of\nDefense domestic sourcing requirement for stainless steel flatware. Brindisi\nsecured this provision in the House NDAA and Schumer worked to ensure it was\nincluded in final passage. The SPOONSS Act was introduced in previous years but\nwas defeated each time it came to a vote. Now, it is included in must-pass\nlegislation that will head to the President\u2019s desk before the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStick a fork in it, my SPOONSS Act will help upstate\ncompanies like Sherrill Manufacturing sell more flatware and employ more people\nin our community,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cI am thrilled to see the SPOONSS Act\nincluded in the NDAA. I fought hard to get this legislation included because it\nwill create good-paying jobs in Oneida County. I want to thank Senator Schumer\nfor his hard work to keep this provision included in the final bill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful realization of a goal we have long\npursued: getting the United States government to use its buying power to\nsupport the world-class workers at Sherrill Manufacturing, the very last\nflatware maker in the good ol\u2019 US of A,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m\nso proud I worked with Congressman Anthony Brindisi to finally put a fork in\nthis issue and include our provision requiring our military to purchase\nutensils and flatware from American manufacturers like Sherrill Manufacturing\nin this year\u2019s NDAA, which is expected to pass Congress next week. Not only\nwill this law ensure that our military have the highest quality silverware\navailable, made by hardworking Americans, but will also provide a valuable shot\nin the arm to the Mohawk Valley economy, America\u2019s only remaining\nflatware-maker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi welcomes groundbreaking\nof the New Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Center in Utica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Mohawk\nValley Health System medical center in Utica. As a member of the state\nAssembly, Brindisi was instrumental in securing $300 million in capital funding\nfor this project by working across the aisle with his Republican colleague\nSenator Joe Griffo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is an important day for the Mohawk Valley, delivering\non a years-long promise to build a state-of-the-art hospital right here in\nUtica,\u201d said Brindisi \u201cThroughout this process, the most important priorities\nfor me with this hospital development have been access and accessibility for\npatients, and this project will provide easier access for residents and\ngenerate real economic development downtown. This was truly a collaborative\neffort, and I was proud to work with Senator Griffo to secure a $300 million\nstate Health Care Facility Transformation grant, as well partner with County\nExecutive Picente, Mayor Palmieri, Governor Cuomo, and the local leadership in\nOneida County to make this project a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2015 New York State budget first included $1.4 billion\nin capital funding for supporting new hospitals, including in Utica.\nThen-Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi and Senator Griffo first secured $300 million\nfor this project (SOURCE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2016, then-Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi and Senator\nGriffo announced $300 million in funding for this new hospital was firmly\nsecured in the New York State Budget (SOURCE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi votes to\nbring down prescription drug prices and hold big pharma accountable:<\/strong> \u2018Congress\nmust work to get money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi voted to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower\nDrug Costs Now Act, through the House of Representatives. This historic\nlegislation would allow Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical\ncompanies and cap out-of-pocket costs for the millions of Americans enrolled in\nMedicare Part D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is the number\none issue I hear about from hardworking Upstate New Yorkers, and unfortunately\ntheir stories are not unique,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cWe delivered on our promise to\nhelp fix our country\u2019s broken health care system. I will continue working to\nfind responsible, bipartisan solutions for Upstate seniors and working families\nto ensure that nobody has to choose between paying the bills and getting the\nmedicine they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to AARP, the average annual cost of prescription\ndrugs rose nearly 58 percent between 2012 and 2017. Prices in 2019 increased\nfor 3,400 drugs on the market, with an average price increase of 10.5 percent,\na rate roughly five times the inflation rate. In New York\u2019s 22nd Congressional\ndistrict alone, H.R. 3 would help lower out-of-pocket costs for the 117,000\npeople enrolled in Medicare Part D and another 467,000 who have private health\ninsurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi has championed efforts to lower drug costs during\nhis time in Congress. Earlier this year, Brindisi held roundtables to hear\ndirectly from Upstate New Yorkers about the cost of prescription drugs. He\nhelped introduce the bipartisan Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act, a bill\nthat would crack down on tactics used by pharmaceutical companies to delay\ngeneric drugs from coming to market. Additionally, Brindisi joined Democrats\nand Republicans to outline principles for legislation to increase transparency\nand competition in the drug marketplace. He also helped introduce the\nbipartisan ACCESS to Biosimilars Act, a bill that would increase competition by\neliminating copays on expensive biosimilars and expanding treatment options for\npatients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi-sponsored bipartisan Agriculture Labor Reform bill\nto modernize worker visa system passes House<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bill supported by New York Farm Bureau and other\nagriculture organizations will help dairy farmers across Upstate New York hire\nmore workers<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi announced that the Farm Workforce\nModernization Act<\/em> passed the House of Representatives this week. The\nlegislation, originally co-sponsored by Brindisi, is a compromise between\nRepublicans and Democrats to provide commonsense immigration and workforce\nreform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legislation includes key provisions from Brindisi\u2019s\nbipartisan Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act<\/a>. <\/em>Additionally,\nthe legislation will establish mandatory E-Verify provisions for all\nagricultural employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard from farmers across our region calling for\nresponsible, commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform and this bill\ndelivers,\u201d Brindisi said. \u201cOur\nlegislation will expand key visa programs for dairy farms and strengthen the\nelectronic verification process for all agriculture workers. Working together,\nwith Democrats and Republicans, shows that Congress can get things done for our\nfarmers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccess to a stable, year-round workforce continues to be a\nmajor challenge for upstate New York dairy farmers like me,\u201d said Morrisville farmer Bill Banker.\n\u201cWe milk our cows every day of the year, which means the current seasonal visa\nprogram can\u2019t meet our needs. Congress needs to act on ag labor reform to allow\nour dairy sector to continue to thrive for years to come. It\u2019s not just about\ntoday, it\u2019s about keeping us farming in the future. The bipartisan Farm\nWorkforce Modernization<\/em> Act takes critical steps to provide dairy\nfarmers with a means of obtaining the workforce they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the ever-tightening labor market in this country, it\nhas become nearly impossible for agriculture to meet its labor needs,\u201d said Homer farmer Mike McMahon. \u201cDairy\nespecially is at risk as it does not qualify for legally documented workers\n(H-2A). Finally, a bill has been introduced: the Farm Workforce\nModernization Act<\/em> which will open up the H-2A program. This will\naccommodate the needs of dairy to enable it to bring legalization to their\nimmigrant workforce through a current government program and eliminate the fear\nof reprisal and deportation of our labor force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legislation is also supported by<\/a> Chobani, National Milk Producers\nFederation, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., International Dairy Food\nAssociation, Cayuga Milk Ingredients, U.S. Apple Association, New York Apple\nAssociation, New York State Berry Growers Association, New York State Flower Industries,\nand the New York State Vegetable Growers Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Co-leading the bill are Representatives Lofgren of\nCalifornia, the Chair of the Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship\nSubcommittee, and Newhouse of Washington. For a one pager on this legislation,\nclick HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi statement on Articles of Impeachment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi issued the following statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President [Donald J.] Trump\nis my President, too. I\u2019ve always said I would work with him to get things\ndone, as I have demonstrated. President Trump signed my first bill into law to\nextend key housing and transportation programs to our nation\u2019s veterans who\nneed them. I worked together with the President to push a new trade deal with\nCanada and Mexico. Soon he will sign into law major provisions I championed in\nthe National Defense Authorization Act including huge support for Rome Labs,\nand my SPOONSS Act that will create jobs by requiring the military to buy\nAmerican-made flatware from Central New York. We have also passed the\nfirst-ever fentanyl sanctions legislation, cracking down on illicit drug\ntraffickers in China and Mexico that are flooding our streets with synthetic\nopioids.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I will always\nput Country first and stand up for what I believe in when I think he is wrong.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took an oath to\ndefend the Constitution. What the President has done is not something I can\npretend is normal behavior. It is also not okay for the President to block the\ntestimony of key subpoenaed witnesses that had direct knowledge of the\nadministration\u2019s actions. There is a difference between working with a\nPresident and checking that same President. My job is to do both. I will be\nvoting for the articles of impeachment and I look forward to getting right back\nto work to get things done for the American people.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi announces\nCongressional App Challenge winner <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi announced Luke Redmore is NY-22\u2019s 2019\nCongressional App Challenge winner. Redmore, a student at Seton Catholic\nCentral in Binghamton, designed and coded his app \u201cCatholic Schools of Broome\nCounty,\u201d as part of a school project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are so proud of Luke and his incredible accomplishment,\u201d\nsaid Brindisi. \u201cHis app is proof that New York State and the Southern Tier are\nleading in STEM education. We received impressive entries from students across\nour district, and it is an honor to have Luke represent NY-22 on the national\nstage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi called Redmore on Wednesday to notify him of his\naccomplishment and congratulate him on his achievement. Redmore\u2019s app is\ndesigned to serve as a one-stop shop for Broome Catholic Schools students and\nparents. The app provides important information for students and families like\nschool lunch menus, grades, schedules, and more. Redmore designed the app to\nupdate automatically, making it hassle-free for students and faculty. The\nBroome County Catholic Schools system recognized Redmore\u2019s app as their official\napp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Congressional App Challenge judges praised Redmore\u2019s\nwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLuke\u2019s idea to scrape data from school websites is an\ninteresting approach, and he demonstrated an in-demand skillset by using a\nmultipurpose programming language,\u201d said Brian Hudson, Adjunct instructor at\nSUNY Poly. \u201cBonus points to Luke for Seton Catholic Central\u2019s adoption of his\napp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to thank Congressman Brindisi for starting the\nCongressional App Challenge,\u201d said Kerri Green, President & CEO of Commerce\nChenango. \u201cThis challenge created a unique way to focus on STEM initiatives\nwhile encouraging entrepreneurism and out-of-the-box thinking. It was such an\nhonor to participate as one of the judges for this inaugural program. While\nboth finalists presented a wonderful app with many positive uses, I am pleased\nthat the winner is Catholic Schools of Broome County. I was impressed with\ntheir app, practical uses for it, and what it could mean for the Catholic\nSchools system. I found it inspiring and could see ways other organizations\ncould use an app such as this. Congratulations to the developer, Luke Redmore,\nand I hope the Congressional App Challenge continues to inspire other creators\nto work on making their ideas a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat a great way to help your school,\u201d said Kyle Davis,\nGreater Binghamton Chamber Government Relations. \u201cLuke\u2019s app will make a\ndifference for students, parents, and teachers across Broome County.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLuke should be proud of the app that he created and for\nwinning the Congressional App Challenge in NY-22 hosted by Congressman Brindisi\nand his staff,\u201d said Kyle Davis, Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. \u201cThe\napp was well designed and should be able to have a lasting impact at his\nschool.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCongressman Brindisi\u2019s App Challenge is a great way for\nstudents to be engaged in STEM Education,\u201d Jen Gregory, Executive Director of\nSouthern Tier 8 said. \u201cCongratulations to Luke Redmore for winning this year\u2019s\ncompetition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi launched the Congressional App Challenge in June\nand invited middle school and high school students across NY-22 to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brindisi statement on\npassage of USMCA trade deal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following House\npassage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, Congressman Anthony\nBrindisi issued the following statement:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This trade deal will help\nour family farmers, small businesses, and workers. I worked hard, with\nDemocrats, Republicans, and key members of the Administration to get this deal\ndone. USMCA will make sure our dairy farmers have access to markets, hold\nMexico and Canada accountable, and help keep good-paying jobs in our country.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brindisi Announces $250,000 USDA grant to promote local food in Oneida County Congressman Anthony Brindisi announced a $250,000 United States Department of Agriculture grant was awarded to Cornell Cooperative Extension. The grant funds, authorized by the Farm Bill, will be used to continue the Oneida County Public Market Local Food Outreach Education and Marketing Enhancement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":110259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","category-top-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p43meu-sGm","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/unnamed-1-2.jpg?fit=894%2C906&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=110258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/110259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=110258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=110258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=110258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}