Representative Brandon Williams

The Williams Weekly Wrap-Up

Rep. Williams Delivers Powerful Floor Speech, Votes to Uphold Parental Rights and Declassify Covid-19 Origins, Joins Syracuse University for a Science Coalition Talk, and Hosts City of Syracuse Fire Chief.

This week in Washington, my House colleagues and I voted to bring transparency to the origins of Covid-19. Our unanimous vote would require all information related to the origins of Covid-19, including any intelligence linking it to a Chinese lab, to be declassified. In a further show of bipartisanship on common sense issues, the House passed legislation denouncing regulations that bureaucrats have for years used to subject farmers, homebuilders, and landowners with federal overreach.

Furthermore, my office had the opportunity to address a variety of local issues including environmental cleanup, emergency planning, and healthcare with Senator Gillibrand, Syracuse Fire Chief Mike Monds, and several stakeholders from our community including dentists, obstetricians, and neurologists. Scroll down to read more on this week's work.

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PSA: For those seeking federal funding, please be aware of this upcoming deadline:

Each year, Members of the House are allowed to submit a limited number of discretionary program requests to the House Appropriations Committee for projects needing federal funding in their district.

Individuals and organizations in the 22nd Congressional District seeking to request federal funding through the congressional appropriations process should complete one of the two following forms by clicking here.

Please be aware that submissions are due by the close of business next Friday, March 17th, 2023.

Who is eligible for Community Project Funding?

State or local governmental entities
Non-profits – must provide evidence of their non-profit organization status, e.g., 501(c)3, 501(c)6, etc.
*All for-profit recipients are strictly ineligible

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On Thursday, I met with Senator Gillibrand at her office for a productive conversation on our local and state priorities. We had the opportunity to discuss issues impacting us here at home including the cleanup of Syracuse's inner harbor. Continuing these bicameral conversation are necessary to effectively serve the needs of Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. I look forward to jointly addressing more local priorities and issues.

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Earlier this week, I welcomed City of Syracuse Fire Chief Mike Monds and President Rocco Morganti of Syracuse Fire Fighters Local 280 to our capital at the International Association of Fire Fighters Breakfast.

Chief Monds and President Morganti later met with my office to discuss the development of the I-81 Community Grid project through Syracuse and the effects it would have on emergency action plans. Additionally, plans to address the ambulance shortage at the Syracuse Fire Department were also discussed.

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One of this week's highlights was speaking to The Science Coalition (TSC), led by TSC President Laura Kolton from Syracuse University.

I had the opportunity to update a crowd of our nation's leading research universities on our work in the House Science, Space, and Technology committee. But more importantly, we discussed effective ways for public and private research universities to advocate for increased federal investments in scientific research.

Our research universities and scientific institutions, such as our Department of Energy laboratories, provide the United States with a key competitive advantage compared to all other nations. It is imperative that we sustain support for these institutions and empower them to tackle not just our scientific curiosities, but also our national security and economic needs.

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Declassifying information on covid-19 origin

The House Unanimously Voted to Require the Director of National Intelligence to Declassify Information Relating to the Origin of Covid-19 – PASSED 419 - 0

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that a Department of Energy (DOE) investigation had concluded that the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19) likely originated from a laboratory located in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

As the Subcommittee Chair on Energy, which has jurisdiction over DOE laboratories, I joined the rest of my colleagues in voting to make public the scientific findings that resulted in this position.

The American people deserve transparency related to the origins of the pandemic and I was glad to see this unanimous, non-partisan vote depoliticize the quest for answers.

Click here to read the bill text.

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Rep. Williams Delivers Powerful Floor Speech In Opposition to the EPA's Comically Ambiguous Bureaucratic Rules Targeting Farmers

With Bipartisan Support, the House Voted to Disapprove of the Biden Administration's Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'. – PASSED 227 - 198

A testament true throughout history is that farmers, ranchers, and local communities are the best stewards and regulators of their own land, not the executive branch.

The poorly written expansion of the EPA's definition of Waters of the United States would subject not just ditches and puddles to federal regulations, but almost all isolated bodies of water with this ambiguous ruling. This comically re-written definition of a body of water invites Washington bureaucrats into Central New York and the Mohawk Valley to bully our landowners, homebuilders, and farmers with federal overreach.

As always, I support the preservation of a clean environment, but it should be left up to Congress to set these regulations and policies affecting our constituents - not the executive branch.

Click here to read the resolution or click the image above to view my floor speech.

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House Education and the Workforce Committee Passes Two Bills Related to Parental Rights and Protecting Women and Girls in Sports

Late Wednesday night the House Committee on Education and the Workforce finished its markup of the Parental Bill of Rights Act and the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

As a father, I voted to ensure parents have not just a voice, but a right to know what their children are being taught in schools. No other voice is more important than your own in determining your child's education. My wife Stephanie and I made the personal decision to homeschool our children, and I believe that every parent should be given a choice on how their child receives an education.

This bill ensures our schools meet five commonsense principles:

Parents have the right to know what's being taught;
Parents have the right to be heard;
Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending;
Parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy; and
Parents have the right to be updated on any violent activity at school.

I also voted to affirm the integrity of women's sports so that girls have an equal opportunity to compete against one another in sports they have dedicated so much time and effort into.

This important piece of legislation upholds the decades of progress our nation has made providing women and girls equal opportunity since the enactment of Title IX.

As a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I will continue to support policies that ensure children have access to high-quality education, women and girls have equal opportunity, and that parents have a voice in their children's curriculum.

Click here to read the Parents Bill of Rights Act and click here to read the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

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On Friday morning, I joined Syracuse Morning News with Dave Allen to comment on the release of President Biden's proposed budget.

This budget comes weeks late, is overly optimistic on its economic outlook, and fails to address the record amount of spending the federal government has spent and continues to expend.

Click above to listen to our conversation.

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This week, after time and time again calling on George Santos to resign, my House colleagues and I took action by introducing legislation blocking Santos from profiting off any media he has now found himself in because of his lies and crimes.

I invite you to watch and listen to my comments at the No Fraud For Fortune press conference that was held this week to introduce this legislation.

To watch, click here.

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Friday evening, I joined AC130 to share my concerns about George Santos' access to a security clearance.

As a former nuclear submarine officer in the Navy, I know what it means to be entrusted with our nation's highest secrets.

George Santos should be facing the consequences of his crimes.

Not be in the halls of Congress nor in any room receiving security briefings.

Click on the image above to watch.

Finally, I want to congratulate Coach Boeheim on his 47 years leading Syracuse University's men's basketball team. There are very few people who have done more to promote Syracuse not just here at home but also abroad during his years as assistant coach to the United States Olympic team.

I am confident that the team is in good hands with Coach Autry and I wish you both the best of luck!

Thank you for reading this week's wrap-up,

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.

Residents of the 22nd Congressional District 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.

Brandon Williams
Member of Congress

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