Congressional Action, Big NY-1 Impact

Statement

It is always an honor to join Long Islanders from all across our great district to hear directly from them regarding issues they're concerned about and how we can make Long Island an even better place to live. Just this month, I've had some incredible opportunities to join Long Islanders to witness our accomplishments come to fruition.

After working with the Army Corps of Engineers, local fishermen, boaters and small business owners in the Moriches area to secure approval and funding for an emergency dredge of Moriches Inlet, I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes on the CR McCaskill, which is the dredge currently completing the mission. I observed operations and thanked the crew for their hard work. This is great news for our coastal economy, commercial and recreational fishermen and all whose livelihoods rely on the vitality of our communities' waterways.

Additionally, I joined first responders at the Long Island Fire District Legislative Breakfast to thank them for their selfless service to our communities and discuss how we can better assist their life-saving services. From Smithtown to Montauk, I've helped secure important federal funding that upgrades equipment and bolsters fire safety in our communities. After helping to permanently reauthorize the Zadroga Act to ensure that 9/11 first responders receive the care they have earned and need for years to come, our next mission is to secure a long term extension of the Victims Compensation Fund.

It was a privilege to join local veterans and veteran families for the unveiling of the Women Serve Memorial in Calverton National Cemetery. This memorial is dedicated to past, present, and future servicewomen as a reminder of the great sacrifice these incredible women have made and continue to make to keep our exceptional nation safe and secure every day. This year, my legislation to aid severely disabled veterans who need extra assistance in their everyday lives became law. This law expands access to Adult Day Health Care, helping ensure disabled veterans receive the best and most efficient outpatient services, and it was great to hear on-the-ground from local veterans the impact this initiative has had on their fellow vets and how we can continue to do more for our nation's heroes.

I joined the New York Cancer Specialists for the groundbreaking ceremony of their new state-of-the art cancer treatment facility in Port Jefferson Station. This building is the first of its kind on Long Island, and will help save a countless amount of lives on Long Island. I helped usher into law the 21st Century Cures Act that will add $4.8 billion in new funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and recently supported an additional $2 billion in NIH funding. This will be used to conduct research and development in facilities within the First Congressional District of New York, such as Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University Hospital, as well as other research laboratories on Long Island and across the nation searching for treatments and cures to devastating diseases both well known and rare.

Just this past week, I had the opportunity to tour Brendan House in Riverhead, a New Beginnings Community Center aimed at facilitating rehabilitation services for Long Islanders with cognitive and physical disabilities. This past June, after I continuously called on the Department of Health and Human Services to act, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new policy for complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs and related accessories. This policy change helps ensure that disabled individuals have access to quality and affordable medical devices which they rely upon for day to day living. With enactment of the new CMS rule, individuals who utilize power wheelchairs and related accessories will now be guaranteed fixed prices for the equipment they rely upon.

These are just a few of the great activities and victories I have been privileged to be part of as your Congressman. There is still much more work to be done on Long Island and in Washington which is why I will never stop fighting for my constituents in Congress.

Source