Dear Friends,

It is my greatest honor to represent you in Congress. As always, my mission is to advocate for Upstate New York and the North Country’s priorities at the highest levels of government. Here is a look at my last week working for you in Congress.
Over the past year, I have worked to secure many critical wins for Upstate New York and the North Country through the appropriations process, resulting in returning millions of taxpayer dollars to our district in resources to maintain and improve Fort Drum’s military readiness, provisions for the child care needs of our district, programs to promote our economic development and protect our region’s environmental priorities, and funding for broadband expansion and other critical infrastructure projects. I delivered funding for NY-21 community projects and secured several additional wins that I advocated for, including:

  • $27 million for the Fort Drum Wellfield to provide a safe and secure water supply for Fort Drum, soldiers, and their families
  • $10 million increase for Air Force quantum network testbed at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome
  • $1 million for Clinton County Business Ready Capital Project to provide interior improvements to a 58,823 square foot multipurpose facility originally constructed by the United States Air Force in 1956 to outfit the building for a prospective industrial tenant
  • $1 million for North Country Community College to update and upgrade North Country Community College’s three nursing labs to strengthen the skill set and pipeline of well-prepared nurses for hospitals and community providers in Essex County and Franklin County, two of the most rural counties in New York
  • $205,000 for Warren County Employment and Training to recruit and train local residents to become licensed home-based child care providers, which will expand quality child care options in the community and provide more opportunities for parents to join the workforce
  • $997,000 for Essex County’s Agriculture and Youth Center to upgrade the facility to house agricultural youth programs, workforce development trainings, local fairground offices, and other community-supported agricultural products to develop entrepreneurs and retain local youth to participate in the agricultural economy
  • $500,000 for Herkimer Country Broadband Expansion to expand the broadband network to the Towns of Webb, Ohio, Manheim, Russia, and Salisbury
  • $50,000 for US Army Corps of Engineers to remove accumulated sediment from the Salmon River to mitigate recurring ice jam flooding and losses in the Town and Village of Malone
  • $20 million for Lake Champlain Basin Program
  • Increased funding for acid rain monitoring and mitigation in the Northeast, including in the Adirondacks
  • $3 million for the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority to keep the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge in sustainable working order by addressing deteriorating conditions of the bridge’s steel girder spans and help avert a potentially significant lead-based threat to the environment
  • $950,000 for Warren and Washington County Industrial Development Agency to develop the former General Electric De-Watering Facility in Fort Edward into the Canalside Energy Park to complete design and engineering for the wastewater system, provide upgrades to and extension of the drinking water system, and fund the replacement of the entryway bridge
  • $35 million for Northern Border Regional Commission
This week, I questioned Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Christopher Wray on the FBI’s involvement in the Schoharie limousine crash. New Yorkers cannot forget the tragic limousine crash in Schoharie County that took 20 lives on October 6, 2018. I believe this tragedy could have been avoided if the FBI had not turned a blind eye to the long history of negligence of the limousine company and its owner, Shahed Hussein, who was a longtime FBI informant. 
 
Hussein had multiple run-ins with the law and various state and federal agencies that miraculously were brushed away. He lied on tax returns and immigration papers, misled FBI handlers, committed bankruptcy fraud, and racked up hotel code violations and tens of thousands in unpaid property taxes with no consequences. This deadly limo tragedy could have been avoided had the illegal acts of this FBI informant been addressed. The FBI owes families answers.
 
During my questioning, I requested all FBI documents related to Shahad Hussain, his companies, and any documents and correspondence related to the investigation and trial of the 2018 accident involving the limousine company. If these records are not turned over, I will not hesitate to use subpoena power in a Republican Majority.
This week, I introduced the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, bipartisan legislation to help veteran families overcome the bureaucratic hurdles of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and secure accrued pension benefits for an ailing or recently passed veteran.
 
This legislation was inspired by working with the Peltz family, constituents of New York’s 21st District, to mitigate the red tape of the VA and help Charles Peltz secure the benefits his father, World War II veteran Mr. Ernest Peltz, earned. Ernest Peltz was approved for his accrued pension benefit, but, due to a VA error, the VA didn’t deposit the funds in Mr. Peltz’s bank account until seven days after his passing. Due to that error, the VA pulled these funds, leaving the Peltz family to deal with all expenses related to his care.
 
Our nation should take great pride in awarding our veterans the benefits due to them for their service. Sadly, the Peltz family’s encounter with the VA’s bureaucratic red tape is too often the case for many of our veteran families in Upstate New York, the North Country, and across America. I’m proud to take action on behalf of the Peltz family and all our veteran families to work to cut down on bureaucracy, especially while families are mourning the loss of a loved one and hero.
 
I am proud to introduce this legislation to honor the legacy of World War II veteran Mr. Ernest Peltz and take one step forward in improving the effectiveness of an agency infamous for regulatory red tape.
Dairy producers in Upstate New York and the North Country have faced significant challenges over the past few years, and I have been committed to fighting for their concerns. However, they have still not received the expanded market access they were promised under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
 
Following my advocacy, it was determined that Canada had failed to comply with the dairy tariff-rate quota provisions in the USMCA, unfairly harming American dairy farmers. But Canada’s updated proposal still does not provide our dairy farmers with the access to markets they were promised under the USMCA, which is why I called on United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai to reject Canada’s proposed changes.

I will continue to fight for our dairy farmers on this issue, so dairy farmers in Upstate New York and the North Country will have the expanded market access they were promised under the USMCA.
 In Upstate New York and the North Country, our dairy farmers work hard to produce nutritious milk for our communities, and flavored milk is one of the best ways for kids to gain essential dairy nutrients. However, Mayor Eric Adams has proposed a on ban flavored milk in New York City Schools. In response, I joined a bipartisan letter calling on Mayor Adams to abandon his proposal. 
 
Mayor Adams’ priorities are out-of-touch. Instead of cracking down on the many crises plaguing New York City, including a violent crime crisis spurred on by Far-Left policies that demean the police, Mayor Adams is focused on banning chocolate milk. 
 
I am committed to supporting the dairy farmers, producers, and agriculture partners across New York, and I will continue to work to increase milk access for students across New York public schools.
I was proud to take a stand against Russia and sanction their energy exports for Vladimir Putin’s lawless and bloodthirsty invasion of Ukraine. However, this bill does not go far enough to make up for the devastating impact of Joe Biden’s anti-American energy agenda. 
 
This week, the Biden Administration announced that it will ban Russian oil. However, Joe Biden must do more than swap out one dictator for other dictators’ oil. This will only make America more reliant on its adversaries.
 
Since the beginning, I have been clear that we must fully sanction Russia, punish Vladimir Putin for his aggressive actions, and support the Ukrainian people with the tools they need, short only of direct U.S. intervention. And I will continue to fight for American energy independence on behalf of families struggling because of skyrocketing gas prices at the pump and our national security in the face of Joe Biden’s weak leadership.
This week, I led 24 of her colleagues in sending a letter to Joe Biden calling on him to immediately rescind the rule imposing mask mandates on toddlers and young children participating in the Head Start program. Even after the CDC revised its guidance to no longer recommend masking for most of the country, the Biden Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has refused to lift a rule requiring universal masking in Head Start programs for individuals aged two or older.
 
Young children should never have been forced to wear masks, as they are at the least risk of serious complications from COVID-19 and could suffer the greatest developmental harm from having their faces covered.
 
The Biden administration is failing to recognize the science and keeping forced mask mandates on young children in Head Start programs at the expense of their development. I’m calling on Joe Biden to reverse this wrong and harmful policy more rooted in politics than science. Joe Biden must put children above politics, and let parents decide what is best for their children.

Good News for Upstate New York and the North Country
A chip shortage is crippling economic growth in America, but New York is uniquely positioned to alleviate that problem with our dozens of semiconductor manufacturers and our vast networks of higher education, public, and private institutions that could supercharge the nation’s chip manufacturing industry. 
 
I joined the New York delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo calling for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP)—created under the CHIPS for America Act—to be established in New York State.
 
As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I helped pass a 2020 House version of CHIPS and have urged President Biden to prioritize emerging technologies. I was an early supporter of CHIPS for America, and I look forward to continuing to support chip manufacturing, particularly in the North Country and Upstate New York. 
The Northern Border Regional Commission (NRBC) grants and projects have made a significant impact in our communities. I have seen the success of many of these projects firsthand, and this bill is an important step in increasing access to the program for Upstate New York and the North Country. 
 
I joined my colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to extend the NRBC critical grant program for ten years, while making additional reforms to encourage business retention and growth to strengthen both federal and state efforts to spur job creation and economic development in Upstate New York and the North Country.

This legislation is essential after the forced closure of the Northern Border and delay in fully returning cross border travel to normal, and I am proud to work with my colleagues to extend this critical program.
I have visited and worked with MetalCraft Marine, Inc since my first term in Congress, and I am proud to announce that MetalCraft Marine’s hard work has been recognized and will receive a $43,856,283 contract award to support our U.S. Navy.
 
This grant will support them in making Force Protection Small & Large boats that will be stationed at U.S. Naval bases around the world to provide force protection. I am committed to supporting our North Country manufacturers.

Meetings and Events
I was honored to speak at the annual North Country Chamber dinner and be back together in person this year. I’m proud to work with the Chamber on behalf of NY-21 businesses and families to strengthen our workforce, support our small businesses, and restore Northern Border travel.
The Northern Border Regional Commission’s 2022 State Economic & Infrastructure Development grant application opportunity will open next week. Eligible organizations, which include nonprofit and governmental entities, will be able to access grant application details beginning March 14th. 
 
I have been proud to support the Northern Border Regional Commission and have witnessed firsthand the good work of its programs! 
Meeting with Jefferson and Lewis County School Board Associations
Today, I joined the Jefferson and Lewis County School Boards to provide a legislative update.

I will continue to advocate for NY-21 parents and students!
In The News
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I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your representative in Congress.

As part of my commitment to transparency, I post all of my votes to my Facebook page every Friday on weeks that the House of Representatives has votes, which you can find here.

Please know I am here to serve you. Never hesitate to reach out to my offices.  

Sincerely,
Elise