Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Norwich firefighter Zachary Miner, who recently retired from the Norwich Fire Department after 20 years of dedicated service. Throughout his career, Zach has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service by ensuring the safety of his community.

Zach joined the Norwich Fire Department in December of 2002 and received his EMT certification two years later. Since his certification, he has treated thousands of patients and become a role model and teacher for others in his department.

In 2014, Zach was honored with the Firefighter of the Year Award and American Red Cross ``Real Hero's Award'' after heroically rescuing an adult trapped in a garage fire. His contributions and service to the Norwich community will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the career of Norwich Firefighter Zachary Miner, a hardworking and dedicated public servant with an unwavering commitment to keeping Upstate New Yorkers safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's 2023 budget proposal.

Each year, Congress directs billions of Medicaid dollars to the State and local government to administer programs to help our most vulnerable neighbors.

Governor Hochul's budget puts these programs at risk and the people served in danger. Her budget steals $1 billion in Federal Medicaid dollars from the most vulnerable to subsidize a bloated and broken State bureaucracy.

It puts programs that are meant to serve hungry children, impoverished seniors, and working mothers on the chopping block.

That is what is at risk: Things like food assistance and senior nursing care and addiction treatment services.

Governor Hochul is stealing from programs that help children, seniors, and those living in poverty and putting Albany bureaucracy in control of another billion dollars in taxpayer money.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this budget and seek that we protect the most vulnerable of our neighbors all across New York.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding time.

There is a reason that nearly every other level of government in America has ceased to exercise executive authority. The emergency is over.

Mr. Speaker, 1,100 days ago, the President declared a public health emergency. We know this. Since then, that order has been extended a dozen times, including twice after President Biden declared the pandemic over during a ``60 Minutes'' interview on national television.

Mr. Speaker, 1,100 days ago, the public health emergency was warranted. I know this. I lived it as a county executive where I took immediate emergency action to protect our most vulnerable and help to save lives. I saw

firsthand the flexibilities granted under such an emergency, expanding access to care and services during a time of essential need.

I also simultaneously saw how the absolute power granted within such an order corrupted New York State government and enabled Governors and the President to choose who was and was not essential.

It is important that we find bipartisan solutions and agreements to extend those efficiencies and flexibilities we like, but it is past time to end the executive and Presidential overreach.

Emergency executive authority should be limited and only for extraordinary circumstances. This is no longer an extraordinary circumstance.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the vote because I was meeting with constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 37.