Operation Epic Fury

My statement regarding Operation Epic Fury and the joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes targeting the Iranian regime:


“As the Department of War brilliantly executes Operation Epic Fury against the despotic Islamist Iranian regime, I pray for the safety of all our U.S. service members and allies in the region. I hope the brave Iranian people will take back their country from the brutal mullahs, and the people of Iran can have a future of peace and prosperity, instead of tyranny and terrorism.”

 House Passage of DHS Funding Bill

Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and restore normal operations across the agency during a time of rising global threats. DHS is responsible for protecting our borders, securing our airports, defending critical infrastructure, and responding to emergencies across the country through agencies such as Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA, and the Secret Service. In recent weeks, several DHS components have been limited to essential functions only, raising concerns about our nation’s preparedness. The House has done its job by passing this bill to ensure these critical missions continue without disruption. Now, Senate Democrats must act immediately to pass this legislation and fully reopen the government so the agencies responsible for protecting the American people have the resources they need to carry out their mission.

Assisting Constituents Returning from the Middle East, Resources for Americans Abroad

Our office has also been working to assist constituents who were located overseas in the Middle East during recent regional conflict. We successfully helped dozens of individuals in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait connect with the State Department, receive timely guidance, and secure safe travel arrangements back home. Assisting constituents during urgent situations abroad is an important part of the services our office provides, and I am grateful to the State Department and our regional partners for their help ensuring Americans were able to return home safely. Americans currently overseas who may need assistance or guidance from the U.S. government can contact our office and are encouraged to utilize the following resources:

• State Department Crisis Intake Form – Used to notify the U.S. State Department and request assistance or information during emergencies abroad: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) – Allows U.S. citizens abroad to register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and receive important security alerts and updates: https://step.state.gov
• Travel.State.gov – Americans traveling or living abroad should regularly monitor Travel.State.gov and communications from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for country-specific updates and safety guidance.

As your representative in Congress, my top priority is championing legislative initiatives that benefit you and your families. Each week, I review numerous bills and letters, engaging in thorough discussions with members of our community to determine which actions to support and address your needs. Below are a few bills I recently cosponsored.

H.R. 3105, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025: This bill would expand federal programs that promote Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and other employee-owned business models. Specifically, it would enhance technical assistance and outreach efforts to help business owners transition to employee ownership and improve access to financing for these transitions to ESOPs. This legislation helps encourage broader adoption of employee ownership structures that support job creation, business continuity, and long-term economic growth.

H.R. 2581, the Iranian Terror Prevention Act: This bill would prohibit federal funds from being provided to entities that conduct business with or support the Government of Iran’s terrorist activities. The current Iranian regime is the largest global state sponsor of terrorism and continues to support extremist groups across the Middle East. This legislation helps the efforts of President Trump while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to indirectly support entities connected to Iran’s terrorist activities. 

H.R. 2561, the One Vote One Choice Act: This bill would require states to ensure that voters cast only one ballot in federal elections by prohibiting the counting of multiple ballots submitted by the same individual. Maintaining the integrity of federal elections requires clear safeguards that ensure each eligible voter can vote once and that their vote is counted. This legislation helps strengthen election security and public trust in the electoral process.

Transparency in Congress and a well-informed electorate are vital to preserving our self-governing Constitutional Republic. My constituents deserve to know how their members of Congress vote, which is why I have explained every vote I have cast in Congress since I was first elected. 

To read more about my votes and see the full list with explanations of all the legislation considered this week by the House, please click here.

Wednesday, March 4

I voted “Yes” on S. 723, the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025. This bill codifies the current Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regulatory deadlines for processing and reviewing certain mortgage packages involving property located on tribal land held in trust. Additionally, this bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report to Congress on how digitizing mortgage packages could streamline these approval processes. This legislation cuts red tape and streamlines the mortgage approval process, expanding access to capital and helping alleviate housing shortages. This bill passed by a vote of 384-40. 

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 6472, the Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act. This bill amends the Higher Education Act (HEA) to require public institutions of higher education (IHEs), as a condition of participating in HEA federal financial aid programs, to charge in-state tuition to students who are U.S. nationals from U.S. territories. H.R. 6472 strengthens the workforce by enabling students from the territories to pursue higher education opportunities in the mainland U.S. by reducing overburdensome regulations and bringing parity to higher education financial aid policies. This bill passed by a vote of 351-72. 

I voted “Yes” on the Motion to Refer H.Res. 1100, Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee’s review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives. This resolution would have ordered the Ethics Committee to publicly release all documents related to sexual harassment and sexual assault by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. I agree with the premise of this resolution and encourage the Ethics Committee to swiftly consider it. However, this resolution needs several changes before it is ready for the floor. First, this resolution would reduce witness cooperation with the Ethics Committee, inhibiting future investigations. Many witnesses and victims come forward to the Ethics Committee given that their comments remain confidential, which helps facilitate greater transparency with the Committee. Second, this resolution does not sufficiently protect the privacy of victims and does not include investigations related to staffers. Third, this resolution did not go through regular order, which would allow this resolution to be debated and be amended to remedy the issues. Thus, I voted for the Motion to Refer to allow the Ethics Committee to debate and amend this resolution. The Motion to Refer passed the House by a vote of 357-69, with 1 member voting present. 

Thursday, March 5

I voted “Yes” on H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. This bill provides $92.008 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The legislation provides full funding for the Department of Homeland Security and restores operational capacity across its agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA, and the Secret Service. DHS plays a central role in protecting the United States from terrorism, cyber threats, illegal border crossings, and other national security challenges. In recent weeks, operational disruptions have limited several DHS components to essential functions only, raising concerns about preparedness during a time of heightened global threats. The House passed the bill to ensure these critical agencies have the resources they need to protect the American people and maintain national security readiness. With threats around the world escalating and national security on the line, the United States cannot afford to allow the continued shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. DHS protects our borders, secures our airports, defends our critical infrastructure, and responds to emergencies across the country. The House has done its job and passed legislation to fund these essential missions. Now Senate Democrats must stop playing political games, pass this bill immediately, and fully reopen the government. Weakening homeland security at a time of rising threats is simply unacceptable, and the American people deserve better. This bill passed the House by a vote of 221-209. 

I voted “Yes” on H.Res. 1099, Reaffirming Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism. For decades, Iran has been the largest global state sponsor of terrorism. This includes funding, training, arming, and providing intelligence to partners and proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, as well as curating its own terrorist organization in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Through these efforts, Iran has targeted and killed hundreds of Americans and plotted assassinations of U.S. government officials, including President Trump. The fact that 53 of my Democratic colleagues want to deny fundamental realities and basic facts is beyond absurd. It is a shame that these members are so consumed by Trump Derangement Syndrome that they wish to deny basic facts that are universally recognized. This resolution passed by a vote of 372-53, with 2 members voting present. 

I voted "No" on H.Con.Res. 38, Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This resolution would have compelled the President to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities involving Iran under the War Powers Resolution. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the world's foremost state sponsor of terrorism, with a decades-long record of targeting and killing Americans in pursuit of its openly declared goal of defeating the "Big Satan." I commend President Trump and the Department of War for their decisive action to hold the Iranian regime accountable, protect American lives, and advance the cause of freedom for the Iranian people. Thanks to their courageous actions, Ayatollah Khamenei is dead, and the world is safer without him. Good riddance. His reign brought decades of terrorism, brutal tyranny, and deliberate regional destabilization — inflicting immeasurable suffering on millions while posing a persistent threat to the United States and our allies. As the Department of War continues to execute Operation Epic Fury against the Iranian regime, I stand firmly behind their mission. These operations have the potential to fundamentally reshape the Middle East, dismantling longstanding threats to the American people and opening the door to lasting peace and prosperity in the region. I pray for the safety of all our U.S. service members and allies in the region and thank them for their courageous action. This resolution failed by a vote of 212-219.

Livingston County Legislative Roundtable

Our team recently attended a legislative roundtable hosted by the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce, where local leaders gathered to discuss key issues impacting the county and the surrounding region. County Administrator Shannon Hillier delivered the State of the County address, providing an update on priorities and developments across the county. During the event, our team also had the opportunity to highlight the work we’ve been doing in Congress to support communities across the district, discuss recent legislation and votes that impact our region, and share updates on the resources and services my office provides to constituents. Engaging directly with local leaders and community members is essential to ensuring the voices of our counties and towns are represented in Washington.

Phelps Highway Superintendent Retirement

Our office attended the retirement ceremony for the Town of Phelps Highway Superintendent, Terry Featherly, to recognize his many years of dedicated service to the community. Terry served as Highway Superintendent from 2002 to 2025, working daily to keep local roads safe and well-maintained for residents. Public servants like Terry are vital in keeping our towns running and supporting the quality of life we enjoy across our region. At the ceremony, we had the privilege of presenting him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and a certificate recognizing his decades of service to the Town of Phelps.

Dansville Ambulance Company Annual Awards Event

Recently, our team joined the Dansville Ambulance Company’s Annual Awards Event, where we celebrated the dedicated first responders who serve their community every day. We had the opportunity to thank these men and women for being the backbone of our communities and for the lifesaving work they perform across the region. My office also presented certificates recognizing several award recipients. It was a great opportunity for our office to spend time speaking with members of the organization and thanking them personally for the critical role they play in keeping our communities safe.

Congressional Art Competition is Now Open

This year’s Congressional Art Competition is now open to high school students across NY-24. This nationwide contest celebrates the incredible creativity of young artists, and the winning artwork from our district will be displayed for one year in the United States Capitol alongside pieces from across the country. Students may submit original paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media, computer-generated art, and more, provided the work follows the official guidelines. All entries must be original and meet size requirements. Submissions must be received by my district offices no later than Friday, April 17, 2026, and include the required release form. I encourage our talented students to participate and showcase the artistic excellence of our community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Need Help with a Federal Agency? Call us today.

If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, we are just a phone call away and are ready to help you! Please contact my Canandaigua Office at 585-869-2060, my Oswego Office at 315-236-7088, or my Lockport Office at 716-514-5130. I am honored to have the opportunity to represent you.

Have News or Updates to Share? Email Me!

If you have updates regarding events in the community or other news to share from across New York's 24th District, please visit the "Contact Me" page on my website to share it with me. My team will try to include as many of your updates from around #NY24 as we can each week.