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Counties in the 19th District
 
Orange County
From stunning views of the Hudson River from the United States Military Academy at West Point, to quickly growing small towns, to the rural landscape of the famous “Black Dirt” farming region, Orange County is a beautiful and quickly changing county. One of the fastest growing counties in New York State, Orange County is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family and it’s my job as an Orange County representative to help keep it that way.
 
Some of my Orange County Priorities
  • Improving Stewart Airport:  The growing Hudson Valley needs a viable regional airport with low-cost passenger flights to more destinations, transit access, and easier road access. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee, I will work with the airport,  elected officials, and local residents to support Stewart’s sustainable growth.
  • New Clinic for Veterans: Congressman Maurice Hinchey and I wrote in January to the Veterans’ Administration, urging it to locate a new veterans clinic in Orange County.  The agency agreed, and is evaluating sites for the facility.  We will keep pushing to open clinic as soon as possible and ensure that it meets the needs Orange County veterans.
  • Obtaining Water and Sewer Funding: While Orange County continues to grow quickly, our small town water mains and sewers were built as long as fifty or a hundred years ago and are no longer adequate. Homeowners and small businesses are being squeezed with higher water and sewer costs as well as rising local property taxes, not just in the Hudson Valley but across the country. And without new infrastructure, local communities cannot put “smart growth” principles into practice.  I hope to use my seat on the Transportation/Infrastructure Committee to bring more Federal funding to local infrastructure needs.
  • Stopping NYRI and Eminent Domain:  I oppose the proposed New York Regional Interconnect project, which would damage both the environment and many small communities along its route. Foreign corporations should not be allowed to take private property through eminent domain for private profit, and I will do everything I can to stop the misguided NYRI from being built across Orange County and southern New York.
  • Supporting Local Farmers: Orange County farmers produce the kinds of crops, such as onions, green vegetables and tree fruit, that tend to get overlooked in federal farm legislation. In the debate in this Congress on a new Farm Bill, I will fight for greater support for our specialty crops and for conservation programs that help keep land available for farming and for open space.
Westchester County

The northern portion of  Westchester that is part of the 19th Congressional District is home to the thriving city of Peekskill on the Hudson River, the Montrose veterans’ facility, historic small towns and environmental treasures.

Northern Westchester Priorities

  • Indian Point Safety:  The safety of the Indian Point nuclear power plants is one of my top priorities in Congress, because a serious accident there would threaten millions of people who live within a 50-mile radius of the plants. That’s why I’ve introduced – with the other Members of Congress from the Hudson Valley as cosponsors - a bill that would require a rigorous Independent Safety Assessment be performed. Without it, the plants could not be relicensed.  In Congress, I am fighting for greater investment in safe renewable energy sources that will make nuclear power plants such as Indian Point unnecessary.
  • Transportation Funding:  Good transportation is vital to the quality of life in Westchester, and I will work with other Members on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide much-needed support for roads, rail lines, ferry service and other modes of travel.
  • Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Administration health care facility at Montrose serves many veterans from Westchester and the mid-Hudson Valley and has a reputation for its PTSD and other mental health programs, as well as the transition housing it provides to veterans.  As Chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, I am deeply committed to providing veterans the best in health care, disability pensions and other rights they have earned, without having to wait for months or years for their claims to be processed.
Dutchess County

Dutchess County is a dynamic, growing part of the Hudson Valley that is home to the world’s largest chip fab manufacturing plant, owned by IBM, and a diverse mix of historic villages, farms, new housing developments and the City of Beacon on the Hudson River, site of the Dia Art Museum.  Like residents throughout my district, Dutchess families place a high priority on education, health care and economic growth that respects the environment and the history of the region. 

Southern Dutchess Priorities

  • Protecting Against Contamination:  The safety of groundwater is paramount and contamination such as that found at the Hopewell Precision Superfund site is a serious threat. The recent fuel oil spill in the Town of Dover, where I live, highlighted once again the impact   I am working with government agencies to help residents affected by environmental problems and to try to prevent future degradation of our water supplies.
  • Funding for Castle Point Veterans Hospital: To provide excellent health care for veterans, especially the more than 600,000 returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the Federal government will have to increase funding for veterans’ health care and to construct, renovate and maintain VA hospitals and clinics.
  • Ferries, Roads and Bridges:  Good local roads, highways and public transportation are essential to residents and visitors alike.  Amtrak, Metro-North and New Jersey transit serve the 19th Congressional District, and there is increasing demand for ferries crossing the Hudson, such as the commuter ferry between Beacon and Newburgh and the one between Ossining and Haverstraw.  As a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am working to upgrade the Hudson Valley’s transportation network as the region grows.
Putnam County

From rolling hills to lush woods and pristine lakes and reservoirs, Putnam County is renowned for its natural beauty, quality of life and easy access to New York City.  Protecting Putnam County’s air and water resources, keeping taxes down, and maintaining excellent schools, health care and other services are an important part of my work in Congress. My east-of-Hudson district office is located in Putnam’s county seat, Carmel.

Putnam Priorities

  • Services for seniors: I obtained $400,000 in funding from the Dyson Foundation for the new senior center in Kent, which the previous Congress failed to pass.
  • Protecting the reservoirs and groundwater:  Strong environmental protection is critical to maintaining the safety of drinking water supplies, air quality and the natural resources of Putnam County.
  • Tax Relief:  The Alternative Minimum Tax is burdening more and more families in high-cost areas such as the lower Hudson Valley.  I am working in Washington to ease this burden on middle class New York families, so that adequate money will be available for local needs including schools and municipal services.
Rockland County

Two Towns in Rockland County, Stony Point and Haverstraw, are part of the 19th Congressional District.  The northernmost part of the county, these towns enjoy both the unspoiled natural beauty of the Bear Mountain and Harriman Parks and the vitality of their villages and waterfront. Stony Point has the distinction of being the site of the key Revolutionary War battle on July 16, 1779, where the Continental Army defeated the British for control of this part of the Hudson River. Haverstraw Bay, meanwhile, is known in history as the place where Henry Hudson in 1609 anchored his ship, the Half Moon, on his return from searching for a Northwest passage.

Northern Rockland Priorities

  • Homeland Security:  Rockland County is a leader in supporting the needs of first responders and homeland security programs. I will work with local officials to ensure federal support for the county’s homeland security efforts.
  • Property Tax Relief for Education:  Local property taxes for some residents have skyrocketed recently as a result of a court decision that lowered assessments on a local utility.  While the Federal government cannot change that decision, I will do whatever I can to provide Federal funding for education and for other services important to the communities.
  • Transportation and Tappan Zee Bridge:  Expanding transportation options and upgrading existing roads and bridges are important to the future of Rockland County.  I will work with other Members of the New York Congressional delegation to secure funding to replace the existing Tappan Zee Bridge with a viable alternative to serve Rockland and Westchester Counties for the 21st century.