This Week With Claudia

Standing with our Brave Northern Border Agents

There’s been an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase across the North Country alone. Under President Biden’s failed leadership, our borders are less secure, and our communities are at risk. The Northern Border Security Caucus, which launched this week, is needed now more than ever for members of Congress to come together with one voice to advocate for our brave Border Patrol agents at our Northern Border.

Yesterday, I met with Border Patrol agents across the Buffalo Sector at the Buffalo and Rochester stations to discuss the growing challenges they face. The worsening crisis at our Northern Border is real, and the Biden administration must take steps to address it immediately. Our CBP agents face unprecedented challenges because of Joe Biden’s failure to address his disastrous open border policies. During the meetings, I reiterated my commitment to our law enforcement officers at the border – I will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure they have the resources and support they need to do their jobs effectively and continue to keep our nation safe.

Thank you to Chief Thomas Martin and Chief Luis Tafoya for welcoming us to the Buffalo and Rochester stations, respectively, and to all the CBP officers who took the time to share their perspectives with me. Thank you also to New York Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Angelo Morinello who joined me for the tour of the Buffalo Station.

NORTHERN BORDER FAST FACTS:

As co-chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, I introduced a resolution calling for an amendment to the Constitution to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in federal, state, and local elections. Recently, multiple jurisdictions around the nation, including New York City, San Francisco, Vermont, and the District of Columbia, have attempted to water down our sacred right of citizenship by extending the right to vote to non-citizens.

The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights we have as citizens. A citizen of another nation should not be allowed to vote in elections that will influence government officials and U.S. laws at any level.

It is time to restore confidence in our elections and rebuild faith in our self-governing Constitutional Republic by making it explicit that only American citizens are permitted to vote in local, state, and federal elections.

This week I introduced the Ending COVID Vaccine Mandates for Colleges and Universities Act. This legislation would prevent colleges and universities like SUNY from continuing to impose unconstitutional and overreaching COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Specifically, it restricts access to federal higher education funds for institutions that continue to impose vaccine mandates on students.

The decision to receive the COVID vaccine is between a student and their doctor, not their university or the government. President Biden has said it himself: the pandemic is over. Now it is time for colleges and universities to lift the mandates, as other institutions have done. Whether a young adult receives the vaccine should not impact their ability to access educational opportunities. It is time to end all unscientific and unconstitutional vaccine mandates, including those that remain in effect on our college and university students.

Election Integrity Roundtable with Chief Election Officers from Around the Nation

This week, the House Election Integrity Caucus hosted a roundtable discussion with election officers from around the country to discuss the 2022 midterm elections. As co-chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, I led this meeting.

The panelists shared with our congressional members what went right in 2022 and where we can improve as a nation moving forward. I appreciated their unique perspectives and the debates that took place. I look forward to continuing to work with them and other election officials to maintain faith in the democratic process. Together, we must always work to improve election administration and deliver secure, transparent, free, and fair elections.

With more than 60 members of Congress, the Election Integrity Caucus is the only caucus in Congress devoted solely to restoring faith in the democratic process by improving election administration. The caucus has hosted several roundtables on key election issues, including the merits of voter ID as well as discussions with state legislators across the nation on measures to strengthen election transparency, oversight, and accountability.

Welcoming Constituents from NY24 to Washington

One of the first things this new Republican House Majority did was open the People’s House back up to you, the people. Since then, it has been my honor to welcome so many groups from our community into the Nation’s Capitol.

This week in Washington, I hosted several informative meetings with local stakeholders to discuss their legislative priorities for 2023. This includes meetings with the Civil Air Patrol, the Sons of the American Legion, the New York State Broadcasters Association, and so many more.

I am honored to represent you in Congress – our office works for you, and if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to contact us! If you are planning a trip to Washington, be sure to call my office at 202-225-3665 to see how we can help.

Congress delivers federal funds directly to states to cover a share of their Medicaid programs and other healthcare initiatives. Congress intended these funds, referred to as eFMAP funds, to be shared with the New York counties and local governments that sustain the Medicaid program.

However, under Governor Hochul’s 2024 budget plan, the funds would bypass counties altogether, with up to $1 billion in eFMAP funds going directly into state coffers. This will force counties across the state to further raise property taxes on local taxpayers to cover the difference. This week I joined with members of the New York delegation to introduce a resolution clarifying that it was Congress’ intent for eFMAP funds to be shared directly with the county and local governments that are actually covering the associated costs.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s state budget proposal amounts to an egregious theft of taxpayer dollars. She proposes that Albany Democrats steal federal funds that Congress intended to go directly to our counties. If Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats think they are entitled to these federal funds, they should shift the burden of funding Medicaid from our counties back to our state’s capital, as every other state in the country does. New York is the only state that demands local governments cover half of the Medicaid share. It is unfair, and it must end.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Upcoming Mobile Office Hours Announced for Month of March

Mark your calendars! Our office is announcing our next round of in-person one-on-one Mobile Office Hours, bringing the many services of our office right to you. To schedule your appointment, call 315-236-7088.

Livingston County – Geneseo

Date: March 8th

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Place: Livingston County

Address: 6 Court Street, Room 303A, Geneseo, NY 14454

Cayuga County – Auburn

Date: March 15th

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Place: Cayuga County Legislative Building

Address: 160 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021

Yates County – Penn Yan

Date: March 22nd

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Place: Town of Benton Town Hall

Address: 1000 NY-14A, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Wayne County – Newark

Date: March 29th

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Place: Village of Newark

Address: 100 E. Miller St., Newark, NY 14513

Need Help with a Federal Agency? Call us today.

If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, please contact my Victor Office at 585-869-2060, my Oswego Office at 315-236-7088 or my Lockport office at 716-514-5130! Thank you for the opportunity to serve.