Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as I have recognized the excellent staff members who were working with me in this term, may I also recognize and thank the young people, college students, and recent college graduates who have labored in the inglorious role of intern doing day-to-day grunt work necessary but often boring.

They have given months of their young lives on my behalf, and I am grateful. They are: Isabel Tenney, Anna Barlis, Piper Genkin, Mariana Ortega, Sebastian Rojas, Miles Genkin, Krisna Rivera, Tim Manson, and Tommy Cole.

Mr. Speaker, I trust this experience was a good one and that in the years to come, they will achieve great professional and personal success.

Mr. Speaker, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy established July 15 as Statehood Day for Ukraine, but we spend another year on this day wondering when the Ukrainian people will be able to celebrate without threats from Russia.

The length of the war in Ukraine has recently surpassed World War I, and it is an outrage that Ukraine has been forced to incur staggering casualties and defend its territory against a relentless dictator. Families are being torn apart, and fear is a part of everyday life for Ukrainians.

We have a duty to support nations that are aiming to support life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for their citizens. That is why I firmly reassert the need to continue funding Ukraine's defense.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, I extend my regards to our Ukrainian friends and allies. May they soon honor their statehood during a time of peace.

Addressing Affordable Housing Crisis

Mr. Speaker, in New York and across the country, we are in an affordable housing crisis.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, a household in the New York City region making the median income would need to spend 65 percent of their income to afford the average home.

No family should have to spend over one-half of their income on housing. That is why, this week, I introduced the Home Mortgage Interest Credit Act and the Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act. These bills will create new tax credits on mortgage interest and home modifications to help families better afford homeownership and allow seniors to age in place.

As a county executive, I worked to construct affordable housing units and deliver options for families looking to move to my home county of Westchester, but more action is needed. We must work toward a sustained, all-of-government approach through funding, tax policy, and regulatory reform to fully tackle this affordability problem.

The bills I introduced today will deliver relief to young families taking on a mortgage to purchase their first home and to seniors who need to update the bathroom or install a ramp to allow them to age in place.

While the President claims that no one cares about housing, I look forward to moving these commonsense proposals forward with my colleagues to make affordable housing available again.

Recognizing New York Blood Center

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize New York Blood Center and all community blood centers across the United States that ensure a stable blood supply for patients in our hospitals.

Blood can only come from generous donors, and patients in need are relying on volunteers to roll up their sleeves and give them the gift of life. But right now, the New York Blood Center is in its second blood emergency of the summer, signaling critically low levels of blood supply that exists for the State.

In the United States, someone needs blood every 2 seconds, and while more than 60 percent are eligible to donate blood, only about 3 percent of Americans do. If just 1 percent more volunteers donated blood, we could alleviate the blood shortages that endanger the blood supply each season.

I thank the millions of Americans who already regularly donate blood and encourage others to join them. Moreover, I commend the work being done at the New York Blood Center, which has been serving the tristate area for more than 60 years and today serves more than 200 hospitals and EMS partners with more than half a million lifesaving blood products.

Together, we can work to ensure that no matter when a person needs it, there will be blood available to them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Latavia Sturdivant, a disability advocate, Yonkers resident, New York City Schools educator, author, Lehman College professor, and now Ms. Wheelchair America 2026.

Ms. Wheelchair America was established on the principle of giving a platform to women who use wheelchairs, showing that they are more than their disability. The pageant crowns their winner based on advocacy, leadership, and achievements.

This title could not reflect Ms. Sturdivant more. Her passion and accomplishments are noted and rooted in resilience, service, and passion for breaking barriers for wheelchair users. Her motto: ``Don't pay attention to what we roll in, pay attention to how we roll'' speaks to her will to be a voice in the community.

Mr. Speaker, she is an inspiration to all of us, and from the floor of the House of Representatives, I extend my congratulations to Latavia on this remarkable accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the sweeping proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would fundamentally overhaul how Federal agencies award and administer grant funds.

Under this proposal, Federal grant funding would be tied to the President's ideological agenda and subject to intense scrutiny by political appointees of the President instead of nonpartisan scientific peer review.

The proposed rule would also make it easier for agencies to suspend or cancel grants if administration priorities change. This rule would prevent grantees from having the opportunity to contest political decisions from the administration without incurring expensive litigation costs.

If implemented, this rule would force already burdened local governments, nonprofits, and community health centers to operate in an ever-shifting environment, making it more difficult to provide vital services, including housing, food, and disaster assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I urge OMB to withdraw this rulemaking in full.

Protect TPS for Haitians and Syrians

Mr. Speaker, I rise today 1 week after the Supreme Court decision to end temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti and Syria.

When the TPS program was created in 1990 by Congress, its purpose was to ensure an immediate solution for immigrants fleeing emergent crises, whether that may be ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions.

Today, 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians face potential deportation to parts of the world where crises remain, and their security is threatened.

Engineers, students, doctors, and caregivers who came to this country to give, not take, are being thrown to the wayside.

While I joined a majority of my colleagues in the House to pass a bill protecting TPS for Haitians, until it becomes law, over 350,000 lives remain in limbo.

Mr. Speaker, on the 250th anniversary of the United States, this decision turns its back on a founding promise to give refuge to the persecuted. It is time we get back to honoring that promise.

Supporting Housing Affordability

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the American Dream, most imagine settling down with a good-paying job and a constant roof over their head.

Sadly, that goal continues to grow out of reach for many with rising inflation and the lack of affordable housing.

I saw the pressures of that crisis as Westchester County executive, where I worked to create more than 2,500 affordable housing units.

In Congress, I have continued to support legislation to expand housing opportunities and improve affordability. That is why I was proud to support the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would build more homes, make it easier to buy or rent a home, and provide better data to improve resources in underserved communities.

Although President Trump refused to sign this crucial piece of legislation into law, this will not stop Congress from delivering for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to show my constituents and people across the country that despite the disarray handed down from the President, on this particular issue, Democrats and Republicans worked together to address the affordability crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the youth mental health crisis.

Organizations like the Andrus institution in my district are doing meaningful work to address the challenges that our youth face today.

The Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial, in Yonkers, New York, operates as a trauma-responsive system of care, bringing education, clinical services, and community-based programs together to support children and families.

Founded in 1928 by John Emory Andrus, former mayor of Yonkers and New York Congressman, in the area that I now serve, the Andrus institution helps children, families, and communities succeed through its community programs, health clinics, K-9 school, and residential treatment services on its campus.

Led by award-winning president and CEO Dr. Corine Lurry-Mabin and her outstanding team, Andrus provides comprehensive therapeutic services to children with severe emotional disabilities and autism, 90 percent of whom live below the poverty line.

Andrus is the largest school-based mental health provider in Westchester County, serving more than 2,500 children every year.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, I commend Andrus for its tireless work to provide life-changing support to help children heal, grow, and thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as students around the country celebrate well-earned graduations from high school and college and prepare to enter the workforce.

I remember when I graduated from Fordham University, a long time ago, you almost were guaranteed a job--the jobs were plentiful--that would allow you to make ends meet.

Now, the percentage of graduates with entry-levels jobs in their field was only 30 percent last year and represents an unsustainable decline.

This difficult job market has only been further strained by the Trump administration's dismantling of the Department of Education, the removal of

necessary Department staff, a cap on student graduate loans, cuts to research, and other destructive policies that have left Americans worse off at every step of the way.

As graduates cross the stage and celebrate 4 years of hard work, they should be given opportunities to thrive rather than barriers to overcome.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate the Cupcake Cutie Boutique, a Mount Vernon establishment built on family, faith, and Black excellence.

The founders are a mother-daughter duo who opened their small business over 10 years ago. The pair faced challenges familiar to many small business owners, including the pandemic, in which they never stopped serving the community.

We salute Montika Jones and her daughter, Miesha Stokely, the baker, for this wonderful business.

Due to the current administration's policies, small businesses everywhere are struggling amidst rising tariffs, energy costs, and economic fallout. As a member of the Small Business Committee, it is important to me that small businesses get the proper support and respect that they deserve.

We should support women-owned businesses and African-American-owned businesses. A mother-daughter team, like Cupcake Cutie Boutique, must continue to thrive alongside all the wonderful small businesses in our community. That is how we achieve economic growth for all.

Marking Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Alzheimer's Awareness Month to call my colleagues to action in confronting this devastating disease.

I have met with representatives from the Alzheimer's Association to discuss their legislative priorities and how advocates can draw attention to this disease. In these meetings, we spoke about the importance of early detection and proper screenings.

The ASAP Act, bipartisan legislation, does just this by providing Medicare coverage for blood-based dementia screening tests.

Our need for action comes when the current Presidential administration denies basic science and proposes cuts to and constraints on key research institutions, such as the NIH.

One in nine Americans over the age of 65 are diagnosed with Alzheimer's. They deserve more. They cannot afford cuts to research that can lead to curing this horrible disease.

Rising Costs of Family Trips

Mr. Speaker, it is that time of year when summer break starts and families across the country embark on family trips.

The rising costs of fuel, food, and basic necessities are making it difficult to take on any expenses beyond their basic needs. The average national gas prices remained at and above $4 since the start of the war with Iran. Families are already absorbing the rising costs of utility bills and increased healthcare premiums. Many families cannot handle an extra expense for a vacation.

Airlines are reducing their flight schedules; travel demand is decreasing; and international tourism into the United States is dropping rapidly.

Sadly, this administration demonstrates that it does not care about the cost of living when I hear President Trump say: ``I love the inflation.''

My hope is for my fellow Americans to have the opportunity to make new memories with their families without having to make concessions due to rising costs around every corner. This is a priority that we must address.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, 4 years after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to bring to light the devastating impact that the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision has had on our country.

Since Dobbs, government interference in what should be a decision between doctor and patient has led physicians to hesitate, delaying patients from receiving the care they require.

Centers that provide preventative and lifesaving reproductive services have been shuttered. In the wake of Dobbs, laws have caused women to experience unnecessary complications sometimes leading to their death.

I cannot fathom being forced to make a life-or-death decision because of what politicians and courts have decided rather than the advice of medical experts.

On this anniversary, I urge my colleagues to join me in demanding better for my constituents by acting to protect access to reproductive care.

Every moment we wait is a moment too long.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and celebrate with the New York Knicks on their historic NBA finals win.

After 53 years of hoping each season would be the one, the Knicks are officially the 2025-2026 NBA champions.

From watching their 1973 championship when I was a teenager to sharing this moment with my family, like many New Yorkers and fans across the world, we have waited a long time for this moment.

I am proud that my home area has a special connection to this team. New York CD-16 is home to the Knicks' practice facility in Tarrytown, their Westchester Knicks G-League team, and many players, coaches, and families who live in my district, including the great Jalen Brunson. The heart of Knicks fans, coupled with the team's determination, charisma, and hard work on the court, represents the best of our district and the best of New York.

Mr. Speaker, from the floor of the House of Representatives, I say: Go New York, Go New York, Go. Go Knicks. I congratulate them on a historic championship win.

Mr. Speaker, let me continue to recognize the voluntary service of those residents of Co-op City in the Bronx who are serving as building association presidents. We cannot recognize all of them in any one setting, but let me add to the list of names already mentioned for the work that they do to help make Co-op City the outstanding complex that it is:

Leah Graham, Building 23;

KaTrina Dinham, Building 12;

Yvette Livingston, Building 1;

Bernard Cylich, Building 7;

Jewel Crawford-Duncan, Building 10;

Deborah Henry, Building 11;

Bruce Silberman, Building 24;

Barbara Johnson, Buidling 17;

Ezekiel Springer, Building 32;

Helen Atkins, Building 18; and

Sonia Feliciano, Building 19.

There are more buildings and townhouses to recognize, and we will do so in the days to come. This is the Nation's largest cooperative complex. It is run in an exemplary fashion because the residents and their shareholders care deeply about their community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the men and women who lead the essential grassroots organizations of Co-op City in the Bronx, the many building association presidents who are elected by and represent the many shareholders in each of the 35 buildings that comprise the complex, which is the largest housing cooperative in the United States. Each building rises as high as 33 stories with up to 500 units in those complexes.

The building association boards organize annual activities and advocate on behalf of the residents. They organize around holidays and special events, such as back to school, Halloween, and Christmas. They conduct fundraisers to provide money to enhance common areas. They form a group to lobby for overall improvements in the complex, as well as their buildings.

The civic life of Co-op City begins with these volunteers. Let me mention just a few of the most active individuals who head their respective buildings:

Building 13, Leslie Peterson;

Building 6, Lauren Lassiter;

Building 28, Idalia Reyes;

Building 27, Aaron Carnegie;

Building 26, Tanya Cruz-Cooke;

Building 2, Al Quattlebaum;

Building 8, Tremaine O'Garro;

Building 9, Linda Collins;

Building 35, Carol Arthur; and

Building 33, Tobias Garcia.

There are many more to celebrate.

From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute all the Co-op City building association presidents for their commitment of time and effort on behalf of their neighbors.

honoring ruth hinerfeld

Mr. Speaker, our home area lost an impressive woman last month, Ruth Hinerfeld of Mamaroneck, at age 95.

Ruth, a Massachusetts native, made her life and legacy in Westchester with her husband, Norman. A Vassar graduate with three children and two grandchildren, Ruth was a pillar of the local League of Women Voters and rose to national prominence as the national League of Women Voters president in 1978.

Ruth had direct involvement with the national Presidential debates in 1980 with Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. She was appointed to various national boards, such as the U.S. Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and the Overseas Development Council. She maintained voluntary involvement with Common Cause, UNICEF, the Municipal League, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ruth was always gracious and warm to the people she dealt with, both locally and nationally. Ruth Hinerfeld had a life well-lived.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, we salute the life and times of Ruth Hinerfeld.

recognizing village of irvington

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding programs provided by the village of Irvington that benefit the senior citizens of that community.

Under the able leadership of senior coordinator Joan Armstrong, in the senior center on Bridge Street, the Irvington seniors serve hundreds of seniors annually with a daily nutrition program at lunchtime weekdays each week, and activities and programs to engage seniors of all ages.

There are fitness classes, from tai chi to chair yoga; mental fitness programs; and a variety of board games, mah-jongg, bridge, along with the classic senior staple, bingo.

Joan and her talented crew host annual events for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Halloween, and a host of celebrations. There are day trips planned

to shopping locales and tourist sites, as well.

The programs are supported by the village board under the leadership of Mayor Arlene Burgos and Village Administrator Charles Hessler.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, we salute the work of the Irvington seniors, the active and energetic members who show that age is more a state of mind.

Madam Speaker, UFOs; the Gulf of America; water pressure in your shower; shrimp farms; pardoning insurrectionist rioters and providing a way for them to be paid for their behavior; the blue water color of the reflecting pool on The Mall; and building an MMA stadium on the lawn of the White House and a big, beautiful ballroom, too, that America doesn't need--these aren't topics of bizarre nightmares. They are some of the things that the White House and the congressional majority have prioritized in the last 18 months.

What should we be doing? We should be ending a war of choice that triggered skyrocketing gas prices and eliminating unnecessary tariffs that increased the costs of groceries and consumer products.

This morning, the news told us that inflation rose to 4.2 percent, the highest level in 3 years, way more important than the name on The Kennedy Center or building a triumphal arch.

This Congress is the least productive Congress ever, having passed an anemic number of laws--mostly messaging bills to rally the majority's MAGA base.

For those who are feeling the unbearable pressure on their paychecks because of rising costs on everyday necessities, help is on the way in 146 days, just less than 21 weeks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kosovo Liberation Day.

On this day 27 years ago, the Military Technical Agreement was signed and mandated the Yugoslavian and Serbian forces to retreat from Kosovo.

Under Serbian oppression for over a year, approximately 13,000 ethnic Albanians were killed. One million Kosovars were displaced, and around 1,600 people are still missing due to the violent conflict.

During the Clinton Presidency, NATO stepped in militarily to aid Kosovo in repelling its aggressors and was soon able to claim victory after a year and a half of systematic ethnic cleansing, mass expulsions, and violence against the civilian population.

Although it has been decades since the conflict ended, Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo's autonomy. Furthermore, Serbia has never been held accountable for well-supported allegations of ethnic cleansing and sexual violence.

Meanwhile, Kosovo's sovereignty has been recognized by over 100 countries worldwide, including the U.S., since its formal declaration of independence in 2008.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this body, during the 250th year of American independence, we honor Kosovo's young democracy. On this important day, Kosovo's values of liberty and justice resonate with our own Declaration of Independence.

Recognizing Bishop Wilbert Preston

Mr. Speaker, let me recognize the exceptional contributions of Bishop Wilbert Preston to the Fairview, Greenburgh, and White Plains communities.

The bishop will be leaving his post as the spiritual leader for Christ Temple Church in Fairview later this year. More will be said about that at another time. This past weekend, we celebrated the completion of his tenure as chair of the Greenburgh Housing Authority with a celebratory luncheon.

Bishop Preston first joined the housing authority board 26 years ago. During that time, including exemplary service as chairman, he fought for the best interests of those in need of housing in this urban neighborhood.

Federal housing resources have never met the demand for housing for the needy, making it difficult for any local housing authority to satisfy the need that they see. Bishop Preston was an articulate spokesperson for those needs and understood the necessity to overcome structural racism and to address poverty and unemployment as elements of effective housing strategy.

As he leaves his housing authority post, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives, I salute his moral leadership and managerial skill and his service on the board of the Greenburgh Housing Authority.

Recognizing PTSD Awareness Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize PTSD Awareness Month.

Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone, and due to its invisibility, often resulting in getting overlooked, it isn't always properly treated.

It is well-documented that servicemembers disproportionately suffer from PTSD, alongside 9/11 survivors and many others.

The National Center for PTSD estimates that 23 percent of veterans reliant on the VA for care and treatment have had PTSD at some point in their lives.

Despite PTSD's known treatability and the VA's efforts to connect affected individuals to the proper resources, the Trump administration continues to stand in the way of veterans' well-being.

Since the inauguration of the President, employees have been forced from the VA in droves, including, of course, hundreds of dedicated mental health staff on the frontlines of tackling the mental health crisis facing our country's servicemen and -women.

During this awareness month, I encourage this administration to cease neglecting the needs of our most vulnerable servicemen and veterans, to whom this country owes far more than empty gratitude, and that we recognize all who deal with PTSD in their everyday lives, and we show support for them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mason Lee, a young violinist from Tarrytown, New York, who was recently selected for one of Carnegie Hall's national youth ensembles.

Since the start of this program in 2013, the national youth ensemble has encouraged artistic development and cultural exchange for musicians ages 14 to 19.

Alongside his fellow members of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, Mason will spend 2 weeks in New York before traveling to Europe to perform at some of the world's greatest musical venues.

As there were only six violinists chosen for the National Youth Orchestra, this opportunity is reserved for the most accomplished young musicians.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, I congratulate Mason for this exemplary achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the exceptional energy and effort of the Edgemont Community Council, an organization of over 225 families in the Edgemont section of the town of Greenburgh. It brings together that community in ways that strengthen involvement and a host of different activities of interaction.

The council covers the area of 8,500 residents and is comprised of a 23-member board led by its president, Dylan Pyne, and ably assisted by other local leaders, including Paul Wooten, Eliana Weissman, Sharon Bench, Sharyn Lewis, and Anshu Kalhan, among many others.

The council has an extensive annual schedule of events with parades, things that people join together from Lunar New Year celebration, Halloween, holiday tree lighting and Menorah lighting, often activities around Crane's Pond in Edgemont.

The group makes use of the Greenburgh Nature Center, Edgemont High School, and other schools as sites for their ongoing programs.

Substantively, the council advocates for resident issues in the town and county government and has a close working relationship with elected officials and decisionmakers.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, I salute the Edgemont Community Council and the Edgemont neighborhood for their good work.