Representing New York's 19th Congressional District.
Mitt Romney captures my concern that the President's rhetoric and erratic governing style undermines positive aspects of his policies. There is no doubt in my mind that this the major reason why the GOP is now in the House minority.
The people of this country will respond if called to a higher action.
As the Congressional session winds down, I sat down with Alan Chartock for Congressional Corner on WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
Listen to part 2 of 3 in our conversation: https://www.wamc.org/post/congressional-corner-john-faso-27.
December has been marked by some financial turmoil. In today’s Congressional Corner, outgoing New York Representative John Faso continues his conversation
I sat down with Alan Chartock for Congressional Corner on WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
Listen to the first part of our conversation: https://www.wamc.org/post/congressional-corner-john-faso-26
New York Congressman John Faso is leaving office after one term. In today’s Congressional Corner, the outgoing 19 th district Republican speaks with WAMC’s
Mary Fran and I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
The true state of our national debt and deficit is described here by a Manhattan Institute scholar. This is the biggest issue we face as a nation which gets little coverage or attention.
What is Really Driving the Unsustainable National Debt Main Takeaways from Brian Riedl’s Testimony I will describe the policies that are driving a historic long-term surge in budget deficits. The budget deficit is on pace to surpass $1 trillion as soon as next year – on its way to $2...
President Trump’s withdrawal of the 2000 US troops from Syria is the wrong move, at the wrong time. US leadership is critical to thwarting Iranian and Russian ambitions in that region.
U.S. withdrawal risks the security of our allies Israel, Jordan, and the Kurds. It also threatens to worsen the humanitarian disaster among refugees in that region. We are kidding ourselves if we believe that ISIS and other aligned terrorists are defeated.
Population loss figures don’t lie. New Yorkers continue to vote with their feet. State “economic development” spending, like that announced yesterday, does little to fix this trend.
New Yorkers Keep Heading For Exits by E.J. McMahon | December 19, 2018 | Reports Download as PDF New York continues to lead the nation in net outflow of residents to other states. During the 12 months ending last July 1, 180,306 more residents moved out of New York State than moved in from the re...
I'm happy that a much-needed overhaul of the Congressional harassment and discrimination complaint and investigative processes passed the Senate. In February, the House passed its overhaul.
It is appalling that through the years, members of Congress were able to utilize taxpayer money to settle claims of sexual harassment. These reforms will help ensure unacceptable behavior won’t be covered over with taxpayer dollars.
Harassment, abuse, and discrimination in the workplace are unacceptable, and Americans expect far better from those elected to serve.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday to reform how sexual harassment is handled on Capitol Hill -- including holding lawmakers liable for paying for settlements out of their own pockets.
Today marks Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day -- the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. We will never forget the men and women who were in Hawaii that day, and those who responded during the course of World War II.
HONOLULU (AP) — Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Don Long was alone on an anchored military seaplane in the middle of a bay across the island from Pearl Harbor when Japanese warplanes started striking Hawaii on December 7, 1941, watching from afar as the bombs and bullets killed and wounded thousands. The ...
Honored with my congressional colleagues to attend service for President George H. W. Bush today. His life was one of service to his family, his nation and to Almighty God. May he Rest In Peace.
One of my memorable experiences with President Bush was an event Mary Frances and I were invited to when we happened to be in Kennebunkport in the summer of 1987.
Then Vice President Bush was having an event at his home and we attended with our son, who was then 3 years old. The VP and his wife were the most gracious hosts, showing us their home and posing for pictures with us. Here the VP appears to be asking Nick for his support which our son appears to be considering!
New York's onerous Scaffold Law drives up the cost of construction on critical projects such as affordable housing and the Gateway project. NY is the only state in the nation with this absolute liability statute and it does not improve safety for workers. Each dollar that is spent on insurance policies is a dollar that isn't going to building schools, roads, bridges, and affordable housing.
Read more on the costs of the Scaffold Law and why it needs to be reformed: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-metro-scaffold-law-113018-story.html
Critics of a controversial state construction law – which they claim would add up to $300 million to the cost of the Gateway project – are now renewing efforts to overhaul it.
My statement on the passing of President George H.W. Bush:
"President George H.W. Bush was a man of integrity and honor. A hero in WWII and a remarkable public servant whose decency and kindness set an example for all. He was committed to our nation and to his family, especially his wonderful wife Barbara. Now, they are forever united with their Creator. May God bless his memory.”
The 'only in New York' Scaffold Law has done nothing to improve worker safety & simply makes construction projects in New York more expensive. This is a real problem for our crumbling infrastructure and for charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
I have been working to preempt this unproductive requirement for federally funded projects so each taxpayer dollar goes further in rebuilding America's infrastructure.
Read more: https://www.habitatmag.com/Publication-Content/Legal-Financial/2018/2018-November/Scaffold-Law-Foe
Aggressive lobbying campaigns have repeatedly failed to do it. Now a lame-duck New York Congressman is pleading with the Trump administration to help rid New York State of its’ so-called Scaffold Law, the only one in the nation that holds building owners, including co-op and condo boards, liable f...
EJ McMahon of the Empire Center wrote a piece for the New York Post highlighting the astronomical cost of bringing Amazon to NY. These costs will be paid by the taxpayers, including the very brick and mortar businesses that Amazon is in direction competition with.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have crafted a massive taxpayer subsidy to entice Amazon into creating 25,000 to 40,000 high-paying jobs in New York. The purported cost-benefit ratio, de…
Today we honor those that have served our nation to protect our freedoms and our way of life in this great country. Thank you to all the men and women of our military.
On this #VeteransDay, we thank the men and women who serve this great country. Thank you for your sacrifices. #VeteransDay #KnowYourMil
Happy birthday Marines!
Marines kicking ass ✔️
Marines’ Hymn ✔️
243 years of Motivation ✔️
#MarineCorpsBirthday
On Sunday, I had the privilege of presenting Mr. Fred Yelle the Bronze Star for his service in the Korean War. At the pinning ceremony we were joined by Mr. Yelle's family and friends along with Ulster County Legislator Kevin Roberts, Town of Plattekill Supervisor Jim Croce and the other Town of Plattekill Board Members.
We must not go back to the once "new normal" when we were supposed to accept less than 2% economic growth. The economy is strong, there are jobs available and wages have made the largest gain since 2009. We must continue this trend by keeping taxes low, regulations in check and ensure workers have the training they need for the jobs available today.
U.S. job growth rebounded sharply in October and wages recorded their largest an...
I was humbled and honored to attend the annual Greene County Honor a Vet Memorial Ceremony this morning. Greene County proudly recognized World War II veteran, Seaman First Class Alfred Van Schaack Jr. Mr. Van Schaak enlisted in the US Navy on January 4, 1944. He was assigned to the USS LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 541 as a gunner and served until the end of the war. We are truly grateful as a nation for the commitment and sacrifice made by Mr. Van Schaack's generation fighting for our nation and freedom. Thank you to all that have served for us.
Bliss Towers in Hudson has long been in need of renovations to provide its residents with a safe and healthy living environment. I have been working closely with Hudson Housing Authority’s Executive Director Tim Mattice and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator Lynne Patton to ensure critical upgrades are made to its facilities.
I was pleased we were able to tour Bliss Towers yesterday and witness the many improvements that have been made over the last few months. I will always continue my work to ensure our fellow citizens in public housing have decent living conditions.
https://www.hudsonvalley360.com/article/hud-appointee-faso-visit-bliss-towers-applaud-improvements
HUDSON — The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator stopped by Bliss Towers on Thursday to give the improvements there a thumbs-up.
Individuals and families should never fear for their safety at a place of worship. The Senate should follow the House and pass our bipartisan bill in order to help provide religious institutions access to funding that they can use to enhance their preparedness and security to protect against terrorists whose goal is to strike fear in the community and divide our nation.
Lawmakers from both parties are calling for more funding for grants to help synagogues, churches, and other non-profits at high risk for terrorism to bolster their security in the wake of Saturday’s fatal shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue. House Republicans and Democrats are championing legislat...
Don’t forget, the Medicare open enrollment period goes from October 15 - December 7. This is when individuals on Medicare can change their health plans or prescription drug coverage to better suit their needs.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing difficulties with their Medicare coverage or changing their enrollment, call my Kinderhook District Office at (518) 610-8133 and they may be able to assist you.
https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Reach-Out/Find-tools-to-help-you-help-others/Medicare-Open-Enrollment.html
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This morning's attack at the Tree of Life synagogue is an abhorrent display of anti-Semitism and hate. All places of worship are supposed to be havens to reflect and pray. This sick individual is a terrorist whose goal is to strike fear in a community. His actions and goals will not prevail, and we can't allow for his hate to fester. I pray for the victims, their families and friends, and everyone in the Jewish and local community in Pittsburgh.
One of the largest, most deadly drivers of the ongoing opioid epidemic are synthetic opioids. Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and carfentanil, can be as much as 100 times more potent than heroin or other opioids – only requiring a small amount to be a lethal dosage.
These illicit drugs are often shipped through the U.S. Postal Service from countries including China. This week, we made real progress in curbing shipments of these drugs by signing the STOP Act into law. I have been a leading voice for the STOP Act in Congress, which requires the U.S. Postal service to provide advance tracking data on international shipments to better screen and detect illicit parcels.
These drugs continue to ravage our communities and leave nothing but devastation in their wake. This law will have a real, tangible impact across our district in Upstate.
https://www.hudsonvalley360.com/article/trump-signs-legislation-stop-synthetic-opiates-traveling-through-mail
Trump signs legislation to stop synthetic opiates from traveling through the mail Print President Trump signs legislation to combat the opioid crisis in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Wednesday. Richard Moody Columbia-Greene Media October 25, 2018 10:04 pm WASHINGTON — President...
A 2016 study shows that over 6 million Americans misused prescription drugs, a majority of which were accessed from a home medicine cabinet. With the rising tide of drug abuse and addiction, we need to do all we can to secure our homes and families.
This Saturday, October 27th, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Find the location closest to you to safely dispose of your expired or unused prescriptions: https://bit.ly/2CGZLop
The opioid epidemic claims over 100 lives every day.
Congress came together yesterday to reverse this dangerous trend when the President signed into law a bipartisan opioid package – the largest effort Congress has ever taken to tackle this crisis. This law provides the resources our communities need to increase our safety, prevent addiction and encourage recovery.
Two measures I championed were included in the package—the STOP Act, which gives law enforcement the tools they need to identify and intercept shipments of deadly synthetic opioids through the U.S. Postal Service, in addition to the Medicare Opioid Safety Education Act, which bolsters opioid education for Seniors on Medicare. I was grateful to take part in this historic moment yesterday.
https://www.timesunion.com/7day-state/article/Faso-at-White-House-for-opioid-bill-signing-13334030.php
WASHINGTON - Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, was New York's only lawmaker to witness President Trump's signing of anti-opioid legislation aimed at fighting an epidemic that took more than 70,000 lives nationwide last week. Trump thanked Faso along with the other 16 Senators and House members in attend...
Pleased to be working with local conservation groups advocating against this proposed IRS regulation that could hamper land conservation in New York which is important to our local economy because it supports industries such as farming, forestry and tourism.
IRS regulation is not an intelligent policy Print October 25, 2018 12:40 am Property donations, especially donations of farmland, are important for keeping family legacies alive, guaranteeing the survival of local agriculture and protecting the area’s sensitive environment.The Internal Revenue Ser...
The scourge of opioid addiction continues to devastate families all across our district. I was invited to attend the signing ceremony this afternoon for H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act - bipartisan legislation aimed at comprehensively fighting the opioid epidemic.
The enactment of this landmark bill builds upon our commitment to tackling the opioid epidemic head-on. This package is the result of months-long work in both the House and Senate to provide our communities the resources they need to address this deadly crisis and better support patients who are struggling with addiction. This law takes important steps to secure our communities, and includes priorities I have been advocating for, such as the STOP Act, which will stem the flow of illicit synthetic drugs through our borders and into our communities.
I had the privilege of meeting Dee Dee at the ceremony, a Dutchess County resident who is recovering from addiction. She’s a local artist working at Unshattered in Hopewell Junction, a non-profit whose mission is to provide women battling addiction a pathway to employment, independence, and a better chance at maintaining their sobriety.
1616 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C., DC
20515
faso.house.gov
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As I travel around our district, citizens relate friends or family members who are addicted to or have overdosed on heroin or synthetic opioids. It is a crisis that is crippling our communities, wrecking families and destroying hope for many. This week, the House has continued its fight against the opioid crisis by debating and passing over two dozen bills, none more important than the STOP Act. The STOP Act cracks down on synthetic opioids entering the country through international mail by requiring advanced tracking data that provides clues to illicit packages. This data will help customs agents target and confiscate packages containing deadly synthetic drugs, like fentanyl. I was proud to work on this bill and am encouraged that the House and Senate came to an agreement that can not only be signed into law, but also will be effective in cracking down on synthetic drugs. The bill passed the House floor by an overwhelming vote of 353—52. Watch my floor speech from earlier today.
The House continued its fight against the opioid crisis by beginning a two week long push to pass dozens of bills targeting the crisis. One of those proposals was my legislation to improve educational materials in the ‘Medicare & You’ handbook so seniors are aware of alternative treatments to traditional opioid medications. One of the best ways to combat the opioid crisis is to better educate the public on risks, and to educate them on alternatives. I am glad this common-sense legislation has passed the House and will be included in a large package of opioid bills being sent to the Senate.
Late-Rep. Maurice Hinchey was known as an unflinching advocate for the causes he believed in, including care for U.S. military veterans and protecting the environment through his support of the Clean Air Act and the Hudson River Heritage Area. Naming the post office at 111 Market St. in his hometown of Saugerties, New York is a fitting honor to Maurice’s legacy. Late-Rep. Louise Slaughter was instrumental in building support for this legislation and I know she would be pleased the bill passed through the House last night.
The month of May marks Lyme Disease Awareness month. It’s estimated by the CDC that there are 300,000 new cases of Lyme Disease each year. The disease is found in about half of all U.S. counties and about 80 countries around the world. Transmitted by tick bites, Lyme Disease has no known cure, is often difficult to diagnose, and can attack the nervous system if left untreated. Better public education and more federal research can lead to significant advancements. Medical experts advise the public to check for ticks often and to ensure that children especially are monitored following outside activities. I will continue to work with members of the Upstate New York community and Lyme Disease advocates across America to fight this devastating disease.
Last week, I asked a representative of Amtrak about the difficulty of implementing new technological safety measures. Amtrak and rail travel in our district is a highly utilized form of transportation used by many residents on a daily basis, and we must do a better job in ensuring that new technology, such as PTC, is being used to improve rail safety.
The Surface Transportation Board’s digital infrastructure was deemed insufficient in a recent audit. Critical information stored on that digital network, including employees’ personal information and other proprietary information, was vulnerable. I highlighted why it’s important to fix this problem along with ensuring our broader digital infrastructure networks are safe and secure.
I appeared on MSNBC with Hallie Jackson to talk tax reform and why I am voting against the bill, today due to my primary concern with the state and local tax deduction (SALT). This version of the bill makes progress in respect to the medical expense deduction, education affordability benefits, and private activity bonds which help economic development in our local communities, and are crucial for economic development in Upstate New York. However, the changes to SALT simply are not enough to protect New York families and be a positive development for our state.
People all across the 19th district have asked me how tax reform will affect them, their families, or their small businesses. While it is not an official government tool, different publications and organizations have produced tax calculators that can give you an idea of how the tax reform bill may affect you: Here is one example - http://taxplancalculator.com/. While I hoped tax reform would be beneficial to all Upstate New York families, the changes to the state and local income tax deduction fail to meet the threshold needed to for me to support this legislation. I will vote no.
I know many people are concerned about net neutrality and I support a free and open internet. Here are more of my thoughts when asked about the issue last night during a live meeting.
The Brownfields program has been an important environmental and economic driver for Upstate New York. Shortly after the program was authorized, the EPA selected the City of Oneonta as a recipient of a brownfield assessment grant to prepare reuse plans for a 100-acre heavy industrial area. This modest assessment grant helped accelerate ongoing efforts to support site enhancement by providing essential financial support to the city. Remediating Brownfields like the one in Oneonta, supports economic growth while protecting the safety and well being of nearby families.
Earlier this evening, I spoke on the House floor to honor the life of Maurice Hinchey. He was a dedicated public servant and advocate for the causes he believed in.
I joined Neil Cavuto on Fox Business to talk tax reform and how we can protect New York families. The complete removal of the deduction for state income taxes and the limitation on deductions for local property taxes, both currently in the House version, will impact New York families more severely than taxpayers in other states. These provisions are central to why I voted against the House version that came up for a vote two weeks ago.
I recently spoke with Arthel Neville from America's News Headquarters on Fox News to discuss the American Health Care Act and the importance of advanceable tax credits to help hardworking families have the freedom to choose the healthcare plan that works best for them. https://youtu.be/wg5QdefdfbY
Over the next 10 years, roughly 3.5 million new manufacturing jobs will be created in the United States. Unfortunately, we are seeing a growing skills gap in manufacturing which poses a threat to America’s future competitiveness. The Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) assistance programs are critical to ensuring that we can continue to compete in a global marketplace. The Capital Region’s local industry and economy can greatly benefit from these programs which is why I testified recently in support of funding for the EDA.
WATCH: At today’s House Agriculture Committee hearing I discussed a $3 billion-plus cost to taxpayers.
WATCH: During today’s House Agriculture Committee hearing on the Economic Outlook in Rural America I asked witnesses: What can we do to expand the domestic market for dairy products and help our farmers?
ICYMI: I spoke with Tim Sipos on NewsRadio 1450 WKIP earlier this week. Listen here!
I was privileged to introduce #ny19 to the members of the 115th Congress today. Thanks to Representative Doug Collins for hosting tonight’s speaking event.
The House Budget Committee GOP held its hearing on the Congressional Budget Office’s latest Budget and Economic Outlook. CBO Director Keith Hall was today’s witness and I had the opportunity to ask some questions about what certain tax reforms would mean for our economy and jobs.
This is my first time serving the people of #ny19 as presiding officer on the House floor. Honored and humbled.
ICYMI: I Spoke with Susan Arbetter from WCNY. You can listen to the interview below.
At the beginning of every new Congress, members are invited to the House floor to read the US Constitution. Today I had the opportunity to recite Article IV, Section 3 of the Founders' genius governing blueprint: “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.”
Allegany County Board of Elections
8 Willets Ave, BelmontVeterans Coalition of Orange County, NY
111 Craigville Rd, GoshenDallas Fire Station 18 A Shift
660 N Griffin St., DallasPawnee County Emergency Management
500 Harrison St #104, PawneeAccuScreen Mobile Drug Testing Services
625 West Valley Highway #2, Suite B, Torrington
