November 22, 2025

Dear Friends,

Last year, Donald Trump and congressional Republicans swept into office on a wave of promises to lower costs for working families. “Starting on day one,” Trump proclaimed, “we will end inflation and make America affordable again.” Many Americans trusted this pledge and others like it, including Trump’s promise to “get your energy prices down by 50%.” But since Trump and his GOP allies took office in January, our nation’s affordability crisis has only gotten worse — and Republicans don’t seem interested in doing anything about it.

According to the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, families in every state are paying hundreds of dollars more for basic necessities than they did last year. In New York State, the average family spent an extra $856 on essential goods and services between February and September — causing severe financial hardship for working people. But instead of working to address this inflationary crisis, Republicans are focused on enriching themselves and protecting Donald Trump and his friends. The GOP’s recent actions — from upholding Trump’s destructive tariff policies and covering up his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, to welcoming human rights abusers to Washington and pushing legislation to funnel “cash bonuses” directly into the pockets of a few Republican senators — reveal nothing but contempt for the people they claim to represent.

Against this backdrop of Republican cruelty and corruption, my Democratic colleagues and I remain committed to making life more affordable for American families through initiatives like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP has long served as a lifeline for vulnerable Americans, providing vital financial assistance to households struggling to pay their skyrocketing energy bills. But unfortunately, the Trump administration has shown a blatant disregard for the importance of LIHEAP — first proposing to completely eliminate the program in this year’s budget and now delaying the release of critical LIHEAP funds following the end of the Republican government shutdown.

This is nothing less than a life-or-death issue for the nearly seven million Americans who depend on this program. That’s why last week, I joined more than 100 of my fellow House Democrats in a letter calling on the Trump administration to release as much LIHEAP funding as possible, as quickly as possible. This week, after receiving no reply from the administration, I joined Governor Kathy Hochul and local LIHEAP recipients to demand the Trump administration distribute full funding for this critical program immediately. We also highlighted New York’s own Energy Affordability Program (EAP), which helps hundreds of thousands of eligible New Yorkers receive significant monthly discounts on their energy bills. You can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply to EAP here.

With the winter months rapidly approaching and families across our nation facing the impossible choice between heating their homes, affording their medications, and putting food on the table, I’ll continue working tirelessly to deliver support for those who need it most.

With the rising cost of home energy causing pain for families across the nation, I’m also working to advance commonsense legislation to help ease the burden on working Americans. This week, I was proud to see my Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act secure subcommittee approval. This bipartisan bill would strengthen the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which has helped more than 7 million low-income households make their homes safer, healthier, and more energy efficient — while saving an average of $372 each year on their energy bills. By reauthorizing WAP through 2030 and increasing the amount of assistance each household can receive, this legislation will help families save money, stay healthy, and support energy efficiency.

In a survey earlier this month, 77% of Americans reported feeling anxious about their financial situation, and 56% of respondents said they were having trouble keeping up with the rising cost of living. But Donald Trump and his GOP allies don’t believe them — or they don’t care. While Trump calls these legitimate concerns “a con job by the Democrats,” congressional Republicans are focusing on anything but the growing affordability crisis. The American people deserve better than this cruel indifference, and I’ll keep working tirelessly to build a nation Americans can afford.

As always, thank you for reading.

Your friend,

DID YOU KNOW?

My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:

• This Thanksgiving, the Albany County Veterans Service Bureau is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for Veterans at Lynn’s Uptown Tavern, located at 15 Colvin Avenue in Albany.
• This event will take place from 3 PM to 6 PM on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27^th.
• No veteran should spend Thanksgiving alone, and this free, welcoming event is built for the veterans who need it most.
• If you or someone you know is a veteran in Albany County who doesn’t have family nearby, or who could use a warm meal and some friendly company, you can sign up HERE to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and connection with fellow veterans.
• Space is limited, so please register only if you are certain you can attend. Proof of veteran status will be required upon arrival.
• You can register for the event HERE, or click HERE to learn more about other events and services offered by the Veterans Service Bureau.