Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the charitable work and the great generosity of those in the Pelham community that are the leaders and volunteers for The Danny Fund.

The Danny Fund was formed over 30 years ago initially to raise needed funds to help a young boy, Danny Potocki, suffering from a rare form of leukemia that was at the time considered fatal. Danny's family could not manage the mounting medical bills, the need for donated blood, and so much more to protect the young life of their son.

Pelham came together on an ad hoc basis to help Danny with fundraisers and emotional support. Years later, that young boy survived and grew up as a man to have a family of his own.

The spirit that saved Danny was channeled into a nonprofit organization that raises funds for many other such children who face similar issues today.

On this day, The Danny Fund kids come from all walks of life as young as day-old infants who are diagnosed with severe conditions that require assistance, as did Danny all those years ago.

In early February, on February 7, The Danny Fund will celebrate at their annual gala at the Surf Club On The Sound in New Rochelle, raising funds to continue to help those in severe need.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, we salute The Danny Fund and the people who work with it and express our appreciation and gratitude for their charitable work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Blood Donor Month, which takes place each January, and to thank our fellow Americans who voluntarily donate blood.

As a proud blood donor myself, I commend the New York Blood Center and all the community blood centers across the United States that provide a lifeline to people and patients in our hospitals.

This week the center declared a blood emergency.

A single blood donation can save up to three lives, making the work of our community blood centers and the generosity of the employees and the volunteer blood donors who contribute their work extremely important.

NYBC has been serving New Yorkers with lifesaving blood products since 1964. Today, as part of the New York Blood Center Enterprises, that mission extends far beyond New York. Together, they serve 75 million people and provide 1 million blood products annually to over 400 hospitals.

From newborns and their mothers to cancer patients and trauma victims, community blood centers provide patients with the blood that keeps them alive. This month and always, I thank them.

Saluting the Work of Port Chester Historical Society

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the work of those who are leaders and members of the Port Chester Historical Society. Their volunteer efforts have kept alive the memories and stories of the years past that represent the foundation of the village of Port Chester today.

Led by president Jordan Allen, the society has maintained the historic Bush-Lyon Homestead and has been able to follow through with a host of different items for this building that was built in 1760, involving the community and activities at that site: celebration of historic dates, fairs and festivals, and important seminars.

This month, in concert with the Village of Port Chester and Westchester's Revolution 250, the society cosponsors An Evening With Benjamin Franklin. The society cosponsors that evening, and he will visit us in the 21st century to tell us a little bit about the 18th century.

Also this month, the historical society holds a workshop on research and genealogy for interested adults who want to do their own family research. The energy and resources activated by those in the society, Kikki Short, Toni Sacco, Carolee Brakewood, Mike DeVittorio, Lou Russo, Joanne Bellantoni, and others, is one more example of everyday Americans doing their part to advance the story of America.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, I salute the Port Chester Historical Society.

Protecting Drivers From Dangerous Electric Vehicle Battery Fires

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because this week I am proud to introduce new legislation to protect drivers from dangerous electric vehicle battery fires with my colleague Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

This bill called the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Battery Safety Act of 2026, H.R. 6948, comes in response to several fatal EV accidents which occurred in my district. The accidents involved extremely hot and difficult-to-fight chemical battery blazes and have led to loss of multiple lives.

I became aware of the lack of standards governing EV battery design and heightened risks to passengers in EV accidents, including electrical door releases becoming disabled and lack of information on EV firefighting techniques and exposure to chemical toxins from those fires.

This bipartisan bill addresses all of those issues, requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation standards for battery safety, mandates for mechanical door releases, disseminating best practices for firefighters to tackle these runaway blazes, and requiring a study by HHS on the health risks to firefighters.

These new standards will help assure Americans that they are not taking unnecessary risks every time they get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle and ensure our firefighters have the most current knowledge and protection to handle the latest in automotive technology.

Madam Speaker, this year the Westchester Jewish Council is celebrating their 50-year anniversary, advancing a vision to serve the Jewish community of Westchester County: 130,000 people and 126 member organizations. Led by president Michael Mittelman, the board of directors, and the talented professional staff headed by CEO Elliot Forchheimer, the WJC has sponsored and organized public programs from Holocaust remembrance to Passover celebrations and gatherings. They have ensured greater synagogue security, programs to combat hatred and anti-Semitism, and the connection to Israel.

At the upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala, two outstanding individuals will be honored: board member Stu Seltzer and Pam Goldstein.

Pam is the chief operating officer of WJC. Stu, a Mamaroneck resident, is a professional in brand licensing and partnership marketing, president of a firm dominant in that field. Along with serving as a NYU adjunct professor, he is active in his local community and of the Westchester Jewish Center.

Pam has a long record of activism and volunteerism as a member of Temple Israel Center, active PTO leader and parent at what is now the Leffell School, and important nonprofits such as the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Friends and colleagues of Stu and Pam will join in the celebration of their accomplishments and the 50-year accomplishments of the WJC.

From the floor of the House of Representatives, we salute the Westchester Jewish Council.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and salute the dynamic faith community of Bethesda Baptist Church in New Rochelle as they welcome their new pastor, Reverend Horace Sanders, Jr., and his wife, Lady Katrina Sanders, to the pulpit. Bethesda Baptist will be celebrating this month over installation weekend, highlighted by a congregational celebration gala on Friday night, January 16.

The faithful of Bethesda have given God the glory for over 138 years, since 1888, with weekly Sunday services, Friday morning prayer line, Wednesday Bible study, programs for seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a food pantry for the needy and hungry, and programs targeted to the youth of the community.

Pastor-elect Sanders served for over a decade at Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church in Schenectady and previously in Peekskill. His energetic leadership was on display last week when Bethesda hosted Watch Night services, joined by two other New Rochelle congregations. Reverend Sanders' sermon ``Leave the Baggage Behind'' was a perfect theme to start the new year and his new responsibilities at Bethesda.

Mr. Speaker, I welcome him and Lady Katrina to New Rochelle from the floor of the House of Representatives, and I look forward to his many contributions in the days to come.

Honoring the Birthday of C. Nathan Edwers

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Archbishop C. Nathan Edwers, spiritual leader and senior pastor at Friendship Worship Center in Mount Vernon as he celebrates his 65th birthday this month. His congregates, friends, and admirers will gather that weekend for a festive event in his honor, and we join in that recognition for a man of God who has been a leader in the community inside and outside of his church.

Bishop Edwers holds a number of academic degrees, including a doctorate from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He began his ministry in 1983 and came from Brooklyn to Mount Vernon in 1989 to lead the Friendship Worship community. He has grown the church dynamically with outreach to embrace a large presence in the Mount Veteran community with the religious vision for worship, prayer, Bible study, and a community vision for services to the youth, seniors, and those in need with food delivery, after-school and summer programs, a warming center for the homeless, foster family services, and more.

Bishop Edwers has held numerous positions in the church organization, also in the Masons, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, and as a founder and leader of the United Black Clergy of Westchester County. He has done all of this with his wife, Aro Denise Edwers, as his life partner, and all of this was done in a mere 65 years.

Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy birthday to Bishop Edwers from the floor of the House of Representatives.

Recognizing Shoreline Publishing

Mr. Speaker, in a world where local newspapers and radio stations are disappearing, it is valuable to recognize and salute those organizations that are continuing to provide information about our local communities' life and times.

In Westchester County we owe a public debt of gratitude to Shoreline Publishing, which serves the people of southern Westchester with five community newspapers; a countywide Jewish monthly newspaper; and a full-color quarterly magazine, Westchester Women.

Under the leadership of president and publisher Edward Shapiro, Shoreline provides an information lifeline across our towns with the Pelham Post, the Bronxville Bulletin, the Harrison Herald, the Larchmont Ledger--as you can see, alliteration still has its appeal-- and the New Rochelle Review.

Editors Cynthia Pena and Joyce Farrell ensure timely local news reaches the readers in each community, as well as the readers of Westchester Jewish Life, which is always available in the local synagogues and temples. Other key Shoreline executives round out the local team, including Lauren Levine and Mary DeYoung.

I thank Shoreline Publishing from the floor of the House of Representatives for continuing to keep local news at the forefront of our hometowns.

Mr. Speaker, in a world where local news services-- newspapers and radio stations--are disappearing on a frightening level, it is important to recognize and salute those organizations that are continuing to provide information about our localities, the lives and times of the individuals of our communities.

In the Bronx--specifically, in Co-op City--we have a public debt of gratitude that we owe to the Co-op City Times, which is serving the 40,000-plus people who reside there.

Owned and operated by the Riverbay Corporation, the Co-op City Times, led by Rozaan Boone, editor-in-chief, and her team of reporters, covers the work of the Co-op Board of Directors and the many organizations of Co-op City, from the NAACP branch to The American Legion post and every other group in between.

The Co-op City Times provides weekly news, free of charge, that covers the events and information of the individual building organizations, local arts and performances, and the churches and houses of worship and all of their events, and they spotlight the persons and the personalities that move Co-op City every day.

I thank Co-op City Times from the floor of the House of Representatives for showing that local news can still be vocal news.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the insurrection that took place here in this Capitol Building, in this very room, at this very podium, on January 6, 2021.

Five years ago today, I watched with the American people the events that took place as an attempt to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election took place, all incited by the President.

I was not in Congress that day, but today, as I stand on the House floor, everything has a different feel. It has a personal connection to that day.

I think of the violence visited upon the Capitol Police, the same ones that I greet every morning as I walk into the building. I think of staff and Members crouching under these very chairs in this Chamber.

Everyone who works here for the people of this country does so because they believe in our democracy, and they believe in upholding our democracy.

On this day, 5 years ago, this institution was tested. Lives were lost in the days and months that followed. I am disgusted by the attempts to whitewash what happened that day, to deny and lie about what is true. The truth will be told yet.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to hold Republican leadership accountable for their unwillingness to extend the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits.

I am a proud cosponsor of the Healthcare Affordability Act and Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act. Both permanently extend these credits. My colleagues in the Democratic Caucus have fought tirelessly to extend these subsidies.

What has Republican leadership done? They put out a 111-page healthcare bill that doesn't contain a single word about ACA credits. What the bill does do is cause 100,000 more people to become uninsured. Without extending these credits, a 60-year-old couple in my district will see their premiums increase by $13,000 and an average family of 4 by $17,000.

My Republican colleagues can pull all the stunts they want to make it look like they are working on healthcare costs, but Americans are not buying it.

Mr. Speaker, as we barrel towards the December 31 expiration date, the people of Westchester and the Bronx need to know that I, along with my colleagues, will fight for their access to affordable healthcare. That is something every American deserves.

Madam Speaker, any day now, the Supreme Court will issue a ruling on whether the President can impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

President Trump's tariff policies have hurt America's small businesses, who often cannot absorb the cost of higher duties. Now, the economy is showing warning signs. Unemployment has risen to 4.6 percent, and small businesses shed 120,000 jobs in November alone.

That is why I recently joined 20 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Noem urging both Departments to dedicate resources to planning for the Supreme Court's decision. Proper planning is needed around an information campaign for small businesses on how to navigate the tariff protest process, ensuring that eligible tariff refunds are provided on an expedited basis. Without a plan, the complexity and time needed to pursue a refund will further burden small businesses.

I urge the Trump administration to work quickly to guarantee that small businesses, the lifeline of our economy, are not left behind because of this erratic policy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to a remarkable man, a pillar of the community, and a devoted family man. Richard Joseph Barber, Jr., Esq., affectionately known as Dick, passed away on December 11. Dick's journey was one marked by dedication, service, and an unwavering commitment to the betterment of those around him.

A graduate of Archbishop Stepinac High School, Dick went on to further his education at St. Michael's College in Vermont, followed by St. John's Law School, which launched his career in the law.

Beyond the courtroom, Dick was a successful businessman, owning establishments such as the Coachman and Harbor Marine, which served as testaments to his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.

Dick's contributions went beyond law and business. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, exhibiting a profound sense of duty. His dedication to duty and service was further exemplified through his attainment of numerous degrees and certifications in the New York State firefighting and hazmat world, ensuring that his community remained a safer place for all for over 60 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Marilyn; his son, Richard III, and wife, Elaine, and their son, Richard IV; as well as his daughter, Deborah Rees, and her children, Nicole and Kimberly. Dick also leaves behind his siblings, Patricia Spacavento, Marylou Harvey, and Joan Syp. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Barber. He was the son of the late Richard Barber, Sr., and the late Frances Magnus Barber. His legacy will be felt not only by his family but by the countless lives he touched.

At this hour, there is a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye, New York. Interment will follow at Greenwood Union in Rye.

May Dick rest in peace.

Remembering Karen V. Hill

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life and times of Karen V. Hill, who passed away in November.

Her accomplishments and achievements in her 72 years cannot be properly summarized in a minute or two. She lived a life of leadership and service for 30-plus years, serving the underserved in equity, housing, and much more. She was appointed by the Federal court to implement the desegregation of housing and was president and CEO of the Harriet Tubman Home to preserve that historical legacy. She was appointed by Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission. She served as program director for the National Urban League, chief executive of the American Homeowner Education and Counseling Institute, and chair of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

Through her sorority memberships, her faith in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Order of the Eastern Star, and the love of her large family and extended friendships, Karen Hill left her mark. Her visitation this past weekend at Greater Centennial AME Zion Church in Mount Vernon was a time for celebration of her life and acknowledgment that she now rests with the Lord.

Remembering Sydney, Australia

Mr. Speaker, in the season where Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, our Hispanic friends await the Three Kings Day celebration, our friends in the Jewish community commemorate Hanukkah and the historic celebration of light, the oil that lasted for eight nights, providing the menorah with light and warmth and survival.

With the horror of Sydney fresh at hand, a father and son using their weapons to systematically kill Jews celebrating Hanukkah at a beach event, it is a bittersweet month. Once again, we mourn unnecessary death motivated by intense hatred, fueled by the availability of weapons of death.

Over thousands of years of world history, Jews have been targeted in every land for death and for genocide, and this is just the latest such outrage.

As a Christian myself, I must let love rule, not hatred. We must end the manifestation of that hatred and violence. We must embrace our Jewish brothers and sisters, alongside those of every religion, that peace and tolerance are the only way to go, and it is a two-way street. All must commit themselves to tolerance and coexistence, and Almighty God will sort out the rest.

We mourn with the loss of the families in Sydney and all who suffer violence from anti-Semitism and hatred of any sort.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the Trump administration's decision to eliminate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its list of free entrance days for our national parks.

This is a continuation of this administration's efforts to undermine and erase Black history. Already this year, the administration has ordered several National Park Service sites to remove materials related to slavery.

We must make our national parks more accessible, and there is no better way to do that than increasing free admission days in celebration of national holidays that include and recognize the legacy of Dr. King and to commemorate the story of emancipation.

If eliminating these days was not enough, the President took the unprecedented step to add his own birthday to the list of free admission days to our national parks.

His disrespect for some of the most important stories in American history has no bounds and speaks volumes to the content of his character.

Our country's national parks are commonly referred to as America's best idea, and this is a very bad idea.

Mr. Speaker, the Jewish Business Network, JBM, will be recognizing a group of outstanding business leaders at their breakfast in Tarrytown tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16.

The individuals saluted have made a positive impact on the business community in the region of Westchester County and surrounding counties.

Those to be honored include:

The Gabelli Leadership Awards will be given to Paul Adler, chief strategy officer of Rand Commercial; Adam Hammerman, vice president and CEO of New York Medical College; and Brad Schwartz, a partner at Zarin & Steinmetz law firm.

The Friedland Young Leadership Awards will be given to Samuel Adler of Rand Commercial and Lee Lefkowitz, partner for Zarin & Steinmetz.

Mr. Speaker, I salute these talented and committed professionals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Lois Washington as she celebrates her 100th birthday. It is my pleasure to join her family and friends in honoring the remarkable life she has led.

Born on December 12, 1925, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Ms. Washington moved with her family to New York City at the age of five and she never looked back. Since then, she has proudly called our great city home. She grew up here, married here, started her family here, and has lived an extraordinary life in the greatest city in the world. Lois also worked for the New York Telephone company and retired after 25 years of hard work and service.

As a resident of Co-op City, she is an active member of her community and a longtime member of the Co-op City Methodist Church. Although she is retired, that has not slowed her down, she watches the news, keeps up with current events, calls family and friends each day, and sometimes doesn't go to sleep until midnight, almost reverting back to her teenage self. She loves her shows and loves her family and the Bronx more. After many incredible years, Lois's contagious positivity and kindness is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in wishing Lois Washington another year of good health and happiness as she celebrates the milestone of her 100th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because American utility prices are going up and those currently in charge of this country are doing nothing about it. My constituents are looking at monthly bills that have increased by 19 percent, and that is not affordability-plus- plus-plus.

Rather than looking for bipartisan solutions to make energy more affordable, this majority and the Trump administration continue to fixate on putting young people back in coal mines and opening Alaska to oil and gas drilling. There is no set correlation between more drilling and lower consumer prices.

We must act now to fix our outdated electric grid to bring more renewable energy sources online. This will make us less reliant on natural gas prices that fluctuate.

This week, the majority brought bills before this House, claiming to save Americans money on utility bills. These bills did nothing to update our electric grid, interconnect clean energy projects, or combat the Trump administration's attacks on clean energy permitting.

Mr. Speaker, while we waste our time on this legislation, I continue to hear from constituents worried about being able to afford their next utility bill. This is not how Congress should function in the face of an affordability crisis, and this crisis is real.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency is quietly denying us protection from forever chemicals.

While Secretary Kennedy claims he will make America healthy again, the EPA announced it would overturn historical reporting requirements on toxic substances known as PFAS. Exposure to small amounts has been linked to cancer, fertility issues, and immune system failure.

This year alone, the EPA has delayed enforcement on drinking water limits for PFAS, fired EPA scientists researching new forever chemicals, terminated grants for PFAS studies, and approved pesticides known to have PFAS.

Across the political spectrum, legislators have come together to protect our children from dangerous PFAS chemicals. Now this administration is allowing them to be used on cereal grains, peas, beans, tomatoes, oranges, almonds, and more.

Not only is this administration making our groceries more expensive, but they are making our groceries less healthy. We must stand together against these actions. Our children's health depends on it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss my new bill to tackle the issue of bridge strikes.

Throughout the country, highways and local roads with low-clearance bridges are vulnerable to strikes by large trucks. In my home State of New York, there were 350 bridge strikes in 2024 alone, including many in Westchester and the Bronx. However, these strikes are preventable, and I am committed to reducing incidents.

As Westchester County Executive, I worked with State and local leaders to find creative solutions to this problem, but Federal action is necessary.

My bill, the Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025, would direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Bridge Strike Working Group whose work will provide recommendations to prevent future strikes. It will also create a national clearinghouse to serve as a central location for data collection and circulation of best practices to prevent strikes.

I thank Congressman Bresnahan for his partnership in developing this commonsense, bipartisan solution. We have both Republican and Democratic cosponsors to this bill. I look forward to moving this proposal forward with my colleagues.

Honoring Jill Axelrod

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the public service contributions of Jill Axelrod, who has completed two terms and 8 years as the Town of Rye's councilwoman. A resident of Rye Brook with her husband Brett and two daughters, she is a lawyer by profession and has been a member of the executive team of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

Elected in 2017 to the town council and reelected in 2021, Jill led the town board's important legislation and law committees, playing an integral role in all facets of local laws from development to passage. Her intergovernmental roles in county and town government have helped provide wise counsel to the Town of Rye as part of an effective team.

Her public service continues. We recognize her current and past achievements and await the next chapter of her service.

Exchange Club of Yonkers Honorees

Mr. Speaker, I salute the honorees recognized at the recent Awards Gala of the Exchange Club of Yonkers.

These individuals have given exemplary service to the people of Yonkers as recognized by one of the most outstanding organizations in the city:

Dr. Jim Bostic, senior pastor and author recognized with the Literary Achievement Award;

Dr. Rosalba Corrado DelVecchio and Carol McEwen Daly, designated Women of Distinction Awards;

Alan R. Gray, Jr., Esquire, Exchangeite of the Year;

Yosef Unger from the San Souci Rehabilitation and Nursing Center received the Distinguished Service Award;

Ann Muro, the longtime president of the Exchange Club of Yonkers, Outstanding Leadership and Community Service Award.

All of these individuals deserve our respect and our congratulations. We wish them all the very best as they are honorees this year.