Hi Folks!
This week, I was all over Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, visiting with residents, meeting with businesses, and attending a Common Council meeting in Syracuse to celebrate the contributions of a local advocate.
Here are the items we'll cover in today's newsletter: - Almus Olver Towers lunch
- Syracuse Rescue Mission meeting
- Common Council resolution honoring Tai Shaw
- USS Georgia surfaces in the Mediterranean Sea
- Committee Leaders urge answers regarding LNG export ban
|
A Message from Rep. Brandon Williams:
Our 22nd Congressional District encompasses all of Oneida, Madison, and Onondaga counties, and a sliver of Oswego County. As always, I am working to support families in CNY and the Mohawk Valley, improve our local infrastructure, grow manufacturing, and rein-in energy costs through common sense engineering and business practices. As a Navy Veteran, I stand with and for our veterans. I am protecting Social Security and Medicare for our elderly, and I always speak up for our law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders.
|
Over the last few weeks, the Syracuse Housing Authority has helped to organize lunch meetings at apartment buildings across Syracuse. This week, my team and I stopped by Almus Olver Towers to speak with residents over lunch.
Last week, I was able to visit with folks at Vinette Towers as well. Meetings like these are a great opportunity to hear directly about the issues they're facing, and about what they want to see from Washington.
My office has had a fruitful relationship with the Syracuse Housing Authority since swearing-in. Most recently, I advocated in favor of a $50 million grant application they submitted for the East Adams Neighborhood, and secured $3.7 million in Community Project Funding from Congress. I look forward to continuing our partnership!
Read more here.
|
Before joining Congress, I helped provide jobs training at the Syracuse Rescue Mission. In 2014, I worked with the Jobs for Life program, which helped people experiencing homelessness to reenter the workforce and rebuild their lives.
At the Rescue Mission, I saw firsthand the impact of factors like addiction and isolation on people's lives, but I also saw the power of education, compassion, and mentorship to help those in our community who most need it. Rescue Mission is addressing the notoriously complex challenge of homelessness head-on by providing quality, affordable care to help get more at-risk men and women off the streets.
This week, I was able to return to the Rescue Mission and meet with CEO Dan Sieburg. We served lunch and discussed how we can best collaborate to support and continue the transformative work that the Rescue Mission does every day.
Read more here.
|
On Monday, the Syracuse Common Council met and commended Tai Shaw for his service to the New American community, and to Syracuse as a whole.
The resolution, led by Councilor Nave but supported unanimously, highlighted his efforts to address food insecurity by feeding numerous households each week, employ refugees seeking to forge a new life in America, and bring people together by offering programs for senior citizens and youth groups.
His commitment is clear through his extensive nonprofit work, uplifting and providing opportunities for refugees and New Americans. I've had the pleasure of meeting with Tai a number of times now, and his passion is undeniable. It was great to attend Monday's meeting and echo the praise of the Common Council.
Read more here.
|
Last weekend, news broke that the USS Georgia had moved into Middle Eastern waters as tensions between Israel, Iran, and Iranian proxies escalated. This announcement is unusual, as submarine movements are normally concealed, but it underscores the seriousness of the situation in the Middle East right now.
Projecting strength, however, enhances deterrence and reduces tensions. Not much says "strength" like America's fleet of nuclear submarines.
Read more here.
|
On Monday, I joined House Science Committee leaders like Rep. Frank Lucas (Ohio), Rep. Jay Obernolte (California), and Rep. Max Miller (Ohio) in a letter to the Department of Energy requesting an explanation for its abrupt prohibition on liquified natural gas (LNG) exports.
This is the third letter we have sent to the DOE raising concerns about the lack of scientific support for the export pause. The Department has yet to fully answer the Science Committee's inquiries and disclose key details of the environmental and economic analysis informing its decision.
Read more here.
|
If you are experiencing difficulty with a federal agency, my office can help.
Trained caseworkers can assist with agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. While we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem.
NY-22 residents can contact our Syracuse (315-233-4333) or Utica (315-732-0713) offices for assistance. You can also submit a request on my website, here.
Thank you for reading this week's wrap-up!
|
|
|
|
Brandon Williams Member of Congress
|
|
|
|