Welcome to Kirsten’s New York Minute!
December 27, 2025
Holiday greetings and happy new year!
From my family to yours, happy holidays.
As 2025 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect. This has been a challenging year for many New Yorkers. Costs are up, essential services have been undermined, and a Republican government shutdown left workers struggling and families facing higher health care costs in the new year.
And yet, even in the hardest moments, I remain hopeful. Across New York, neighbors showed up for each other. Local organizations stepped up to help families stay afloat. Advocates fought for a better tomorrow.
This year reminded us of our shared responsibility to care for one another and work toward a future rooted in dignity, fairness, and opportunity. It is that mentality that I am bringing into 2026.
As we look toward the new year, I remain committed to fighting for New Yorkers.
Wishing you all a peaceful New Year filled with blessings, joy, and love.
Best,
Kirsten
December 20, 2025
1. Fighting to lower costs this holiday season
Some of the most popular holiday gifts are 26% more expensive this year due to President Trump’s tariffs, causing New York families to pinch pennies during the season of giving.
These tariffs are a lose-lose for New York families and small businesses, and Kirsten is fighting hard to get them repealed. This week, she called on President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to end their reckless tariffs immediately in order to provide meaningful relief to American families and lower the cost of goods this holiday season.
2. Working to stop Social Security cuts
This week, Kirsten pressed the Trump administration on reports that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a new plan to slash nearly 15 million in-person office visits in 2026.
This drastic plan will likely force beneficiaries to use SSA’s bug-prone website or push them into never-ending customer service phone tree “doom loops”–almost certainly causing some Americans to suffer from delays in benefits or miss them all together. Seniors in New York and across the country deserve better, and Kirsten will continue leading the fight against these cuts to make sure Social Security offices remain available to the public.
Read more.
3. Protecting the environment and public health
Forever chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a dangerous threat to the environment and public health.
Kirsten introduced two bills to stop these chemicals from entering New York waterways and deliver justice to victims of PFAS contamination. These commonsense bills are a win for New Yorkers and the environment, and Kirsten is fighting to get them passed.
Read more.
4. Securing a pay raise for American troops
This week, Congress passed the annual defense spending bill for Fiscal Year 2026.
This year’s bill is a win for service members and New Yorkers. It includes many key provisions that Kirsten fought hard to pass, including a significant pay raise for troops and over $240 million in authorizations for military installations and activities in New York.
Read more.
5. Supporting New York small businesses
Small businesses are a major economic driver in New York, employing almost half the state’s workforce. However, President Trump’s tariffs are hitting these businesses hard by raising costs and shrinking markets.
Kirsten visited a locally owned brewery in Syracuse to discuss the impact that price increases from tariffs are having on them and other small businesses. She is demanding that the Trump administration repeal its reckless tariffs to help New York small businesses during the holiday season.
Read more.
6. Protecting consumers
As prices continue to skyrocket, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options can be a helpful tool for families, especially during the holiday season. But as these loans have become more popular, predatory companies have exploited a lack of regulation by charging hidden fees and trapping families into paying more than they budgeted for.
This week, Kirsten introduced legislation to extend key consumer protections that exist for traditional credit cards to BNPL loans. This will help protect consumers, establish clear rules of the road, and shine a light on the true cost of products purchased using BNPL options.
Read more.
7. Helping trafficking survivors
Human trafficking is a heinous crime. Kirsten has been fighting for almost a decade to help human trafficking victims and crack down on criminals. On Thursday, Congress passed Kirsten’s Trafficking Survivors Relief Act to protect these victims. The bill now heads to the president’s desk, and Kirsten is encouraging President Trump to swiftly sign it into law.
8. Honoring Holocaust refugees
The Holocaust Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario was a place of safety and hope during one of the darkest moments in history.
This week, Kirsten led the bipartisan effort to get this site recognized in the National Park System. Her bill to establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park passed unanimously in the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.
Read more.
9. Helping New Yorkers get their green cards
A Westchester County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office when he needed help with final adjudication of his employment-based green card application after over four years of compliant processing.
Kirsten’s office contacted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on his behalf, and within one week, USCIS confirmed that the constituent’s green card had been mailed to him.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
December 13, 2025
1. Fighting to keep health care costs down
Health care saves lives. But this week, Senate Republicans voted to increase health care premiums during a cost-of-living crisis that is already hurting American families.
Because of this vote, enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits that help millions of Americans afford care will expire, and as many as 1.7 million New Yorkers will see their premiums skyrocket in the new year.
Prior to the vote, Kirsten spent the week imploring her Republican colleagues to do the right thing and support working Americans. Despite their failure to do so, she will keep working to do everything she can to support working-class New Yorkers and bring down health care costs.
Read Kirsten’s opinion piece about health care costs in the New York Daily News.
Read more.
2. Sounding the alarm about tariffs in Williamsville
President Trump’s tariffs are a lose-lose for New York families and small business owners.
This week, Kirsten visited a toy store in Williamsville to discuss the impact that price increases from tariffs are having on small businesses and American families. She also called on President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to end these tariffs in order to provide meaningful relief to small businesses, protect consumers, and ensure that American families are not met with higher prices or product shortages during the holiday season.
Read more.
3. Workplace rights
Domestic workers—including home health aides, nannies, housekeepers, and live-in caretakers—have too often been overlooked in the fight for workers’ rights. This leaves many working long hours, earning low wages, and struggling to make ends meet without the protections afforded to most Americans in the labor force.
This week, Kirsten introduced the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act to provide these workers with the safety and stability that they deserve. This vital legislation would close loopholes in federal labor and civil rights laws, ensuring domestic workers receive overtime pay, sick leave, breaks, and other key workplace protections.
Read more.
4. Supporting NY family farms
With energy, equipment, and labor costs soaring, New York farmers are under extraordinary strain.
Family farms are the backbone of our Upstate and Long Island economies, and we have to do more to ensure they have the resources they need to thrive. This week, Kirsten introduced bipartisan legislation to help family farms by ensuring USDA loans, grants, broadband, and educational programs are better tailored to support New York’s growing agritourism industry.
Read more.
5. Fighting to ease federal restrictions on marijuana
It is absurd that marijuana is currently classified at the same level as drugs like heroin. Kirsten has been fighting for years to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana that have hurt low-income communities, stifled medical research, and curbed economic opportunity.
This week, she urged President Trump to follow through on the Biden administration’s move to reclassify marijuana, which would reduce obstacles to its prescription and encourage investment and research into additional medical uses. Kirsten will continue to advocate for the full descheduling and legalization of marijuana, as well as legislation to expunge the records of Americans with marijuana possession convictions and arrests.
Read more.
6. Working to ban surveillance pricing
No one should be charged more for the goods they want to order online just because a company is digging into their background and exploiting their data.
Kirsten introduced legislation that would prevent companies from being able to use customers’ personal data to set individualized, exploitative prices. She is committed to getting this commonsense legislation across the finish line.
Read more.
A retired postal worker from Ontario County contacted Kirsten’s office for help with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The constituent had requested several months ago for OPM to suspend his postal service health benefits, yet they continued to deduct insurance premiums from his pension check every month.
After Kirsten’s team contacted OPM on the constituent’s behalf, his enrollment was suspended back to the date of his original request, and he received a refund of over $6,000 in monthly premiums.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
December 6, 2025
1. Fighting scams
Last year alone, Americans lost over $16 billion to scams. That’s a staggering amount of money that’s been stolen from our families, our neighbors, and, disproportionately, our seniors.
This week, Kirsten introduced bipartisan legislation that would help make sure New Yorkers don’t get scrooged this holiday season. Her National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop a coordinated national strategy to combat scams, empowering federal agencies to better protect seniors and all Americans.
Read more.
2. Federal dollars –> New York
Federal dollars are powering real growth across Upstate New York — strengthening local economies, creating jobs, and delivering the services that New Yorkers rely on.
This week, Kirsten was proud to deliver over $11 million in federal funding to support communities from the North Country to the Finger Lakes. These federal dollars will support investments in health care, strengthen early education facilities, and fund upgrades to critical infrastructure.
Read more.
3. Supporting seniors
After serving in our wars, educating our children, and laying the groundwork for the generations that come after them, American seniors deserve to age with dignity and financial security.
This week, Kirsten reintroduced landmark legislation that would create a nationwide grant program to support states’ efforts to create Master Plans for Aging. These plans can provide resources to help older Americans navigate everything from housing and food insecurity to skyrocketing health care costs, insufficient retirement savings, and elder abuse.
This legislation is critical to make sure that no older American is left behind, and Kirsten is committed to getting it passed.
Read more.
4. Supporting New York universities
Our children’s education is worth fighting for.
This week, Kirsten joined leaders of the State University of New York (SUNY) system at their yearly advocacy day. She will always support New York’s colleges and universities, and she’s working hard to make sure these vital institutions have the resources they need to help students thrive.
Watch an excerpt of her speech here.
5. Helping New Yorkers get their Social Security benefits
A Seneca County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office for help when his Social Security Disability Insurance benefits were delayed.
Kirsten’s team contacted the Social Security Administration (SSA) to express the constituent’s dire need for his benefits. As a result, SSA issued a one-time payment of nearly $20,000 in underpayments owed to the constituent, and his ongoing, monthly SSDI payments are set to begin this month. Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
November 29, 2025
From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
This season reminds us of our shared commitment to building a better future for New Yorkers and Americans across the country. I am honored to be a voice for all of you in Congress and grateful for the trust you place in me every day.
Wishing you a safe and peaceful holiday filled with lots of love, joy, and good food.
With gratitude,
Kirsten
November 22, 2025
1. Demanding home heating assistance for New Yorkers
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps 1.5 million New Yorkers pay their energy bills and make cost-effective repairs to their heating systems. Despite having a legal obligation to release LIHEAP funds for this winter, the Trump administration is dragging its feet, causing delays in people’s ability to get assistance.
Kirsten is demanding that the administration immediately release LIHEAP funding so that New Yorkers can afford to heat their homes as the weather gets colder. Read more.
2. Working to ban stock trading by members of Congress
Elected officials should be focused on serving the American people, not growing their own stock portfolios.
This week, Kirsten reiterated her call to pass her legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress and other senior government officials. She introduced the No Stock Act earlier this year and is fighting to get the legislation across the finish line.
Read more.
3. Protecting military families
Service members and their families make profound sacrifices for our country, and they shouldn’t have to jeopardize their health by living at sites contaminated by toxic chemicals.
This week, Kirsten led 27 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that the Trump administration reverse its decision to delay the cleanup of toxic PFAS chemicals at military installations across the country. This dangerous contamination must be addressed to protect military families and nearby communities. Read more.
4. Working to combat hunger
In the richest country in the world, it is unacceptable that so many individuals cannot afford to put food on the table.
This week, Kirsten joined Hunger Free America to demand that the Trump administration take further action to combat hunger, including by reversing its cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Read more.
5. $$$ → New York State
This week, Kirsten secured hundreds of millions of dollars for transportation and infrastructure projects across New York. This includes:
- Over $100 million in federal funding for low- and no-emission transit upgrades, which will help communities across New York build cleaner, more reliable transportation systems. Read more.
- $104 million for critical local projects across New York, including upgrades to rural hospitals, military facilities, and cultural centers. Read more.
6. Protecting LGBTQ+ kids
Every child deserves a safe, loving home. It is unacceptable that so many children are denied this access because of antiquated laws and deliberate discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.
This week, Kirsten reintroduced legislation that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ couples looking to adopt and protect LGBTQ+ children in the foster care system. This critical legislation would solidify protections for some of our most vulnerable children, and Kirsten is committed to fighting for its passage.
Read more.
7. Helping New Yorkers get their working papers
A New York City couple contacted Kirsten’s office for assistance when delays processing their employment authorization documents were preventing them from working to support themselves, pay taxes, and provide stability for their child.
After Kirsten’s team contacted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on their behalf, their documents were approved, enabling them to return to work and financially support their family.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
November 15, 2025
1. Fighting hunger
No New Yorker should go hungry.
Kirsten was back in New York this week, and she was grateful to join the West Side Campaign Against Hunger to help distribute food to families in need. In the face of the Trump administration cutting food assistance and raising food costs, Kirsten is committed to doing everything she can to make sure that every New Yorker has the resources they need to put food on the table.
Learn more.
2. Celebrating development in Harlem
From connecting people with affordable housing and helping Americans find jobs to honoring the proud history of civil rights in Harlem and across the country, the work being done by the National Urban League (NUL) is remarkable.
This week, Kirsten was honored to celebrate the grand opening of NUL’s new Empowerment Center in Harlem. Funded partially through federal grants that Kirsten secured, this new center will serve as a hub for NUL’s transformative work, supporting economic growth and community in Harlem for years to come.
Read more.
3. Strengthening flood and infrastructure resilience
As the climate crisis worsens, making sure that communities have the resources they need to combat natural disasters is critical to ensure New Yorkers’ safety.
This week, Kirsten introduced bipartisan legislation that would help communities make long-term flood prevention improvements and strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ability to help communities recover and rebuild after disasters.
Read more.
4. Supporting New Yorkers after the government shutdown
The government shutdown is now over, but Kirsten will never stop fighting to lower New Yorkers’ health care costs.
As federal agencies reopen, individuals may experience processing delays and increased wait times. If you need assistance with a federal agency, contact Kirsten’s office here.
5. Helping New Yorkers navigate federal agencies
An Erie County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office for help after she discovered that someone had gained access to her TreasuryDirect login and transferred all funds out of her account.
After Kirsten’s team contacted the Treasury Department, the funds—totaling over $47,000—were returned to the constituent’s account.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
November 8, 2025
1. Protecting and strengthening Social Security
Seniors have spent a lifetime of hard work paying into Social Security, but the payouts simply aren’t keeping up with rising costs.
That’s why Kirsten introduced two bills that would help make sure that older Americans don’t have to choose between paying for medication and buying groceries, providing both short-term relief and long-term solutions. The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act would add $200 per month to Social Security checks until July 2026, and the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act would change the formula used to calculate yearly cost-of-living adjustments to more accurately account for seniors’ expenses.
Read more.
2. Fighting for health insurance affordability for small businesses
If enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, the 4.4 million workers employed by small businesses and self-employed Americans who rely on them to make ends meet will be forced to either pay sky-high health insurance premiums or lose their coverage. That’s a devastating ultimatum that New York’s small business workforce shouldn’t have to consider.
That’s why Kirsten is demanding that her Republican colleagues work with Democrats to extend enhanced ACA tax credits to lower costs for small business owners, employees, and self-employed New Yorkers and reopen the government.
Read more.
3. Fighting for the Older Americans Act
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is critical to support Americans living with aging-related diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
At this week’s Aging Committee hearing, Kirsten heard from witnesses about the importance of OAA-funded programs like nutrition assistance, home care, transportation assistance, and community engagement in helping millions of Americans live with dignity and independence.
She called for the reauthorization of the OAA to continue these vital support programs.
Watch the hearing here.
4. Protecting students with disabilities
The Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are harming students with disabilities in New York and across the country.
Kirsten joined 28 of her Senate colleagues in demanding that the administration immediately halt its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and ensure that the department can continue to guarantee education opportunities and protections for students with disabilities.
Read more.
5. Helping New Yorkers navigate the government shutdown
The federal government remains shut down. Kirsten’s office is open to assist New Yorkers throughout the shutdown.
Because of the shutdown, many federal agencies will be operating with significantly reduced staff, so delays in processing new applications and resolving any issues should be anticipated. Kirsten and her staff will do everything they can to assist you during and after the shutdown. For information about how the shutdown may impact you and your benefits, click here.
6. Supporting New York veterans
A New York City veteran contacted Kirsten’s office for help after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denied her community care referral for ongoing cancer treatment.
After Kirsten’s team contacted the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System on her behalf, emphasizing the urgency of restoring her access to community care, the VA approved her community care referral, allowing her to resume covered treatment at the location of her choice.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
November 1, 2025
1. Fighting to continue SNAP benefits
Earlier this month, the Trump administration directed states not to distribute federal dollars for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), blaming the ongoing government shutdown. However, the administration has access to billions of dollars to keep this critical food assistance flowing that it has refused to tap into. For families that are already stretched thin, this decision is more than political—it’s a matter of survival.
That’s why this week, Kirsten held a press conference to demand that President Trump use the funding at his disposal to keep providing American families with SNAP benefits as the government shutdown persists. She’s demanding a vote on the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025, which would continue these vital food programs for working families during the shutdown.
Read more.
2. Helping New Yorkers navigate the government shutdown
The federal government remains shut down. Kirsten’s office is open to assist New Yorkers throughout the shutdown.
Because of the shutdown, many federal agencies will be operating with significantly reduced staff, so delays in processing new applications and resolving any issues should be anticipated. Kirsten and her staff will do everything they can to assist you during and after the shutdown.
For information about how the shutdown may impact you and your benefits, click here.
3. Urging bipartisanship
Kirsten is urging her Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives to stand up to President Trump’s politically motivated attacks on New York State.
She warned that the Trump administration’s deliberate actions against the State of New York are endangering jobs, public safety, and access to health care for millions of New Yorkers and encouraged her Republican colleagues to work collaboratively to safeguard the well-being and livelihoods of their constituents.
Read more.
4. Supporting New York small businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and Kirsten is working hard in Washington to make sure that they are supported.
This week, she spoke with small business owners from New York at a roundtable hosted by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Voices. They discussed the pressing issues facing small businesses in New York— including tariffs and rising health care costs.
5. Supporting mental health resources
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) does lifesaving work, providing substance use and mental health treatment services with a focus on underserved areas and running programs like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
However, earlier this month, the Trump administration needlessly fired an additional 125 members of the SAMHSA workforce, leaving the agency with half of the staff it had in January. This week, Kirsten demanded that the Trump administration restore SAMHSA staffing to full levels to make sure that every New Yorker can continue to access the critical mental health and substance use disorder programs that they rely on.
Read more.
6. Helping New Yorkers get their work permits
An Onondaga County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office for help regarding her application for employment authorization, which she needed to get approved ahead of her application deadline for medical residency.
After Kirsten’s team contacted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on her behalf, the agency approved her case for expedited processing.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.
If ACA enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, at least 1.6 million New Yorkers could see a massive hike in their health care costs. This includes hundreds of thousands of older New Yorkers who have worked hard for decades to save for retirement and who will see their premiums skyrocket right before they hit retirement age. We owe it to older adults to extend the lifesaving tax credits that help keep them afloat.
That’s why Kirsten is demanding that Republicans work with Democrats to extend these tax credits and end the government shutdown.
Read more.
A Saratoga County veteran contacted Kirsten’s office for help with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after his children’s benefits were paused suddenly.
Kirsten’s team contacted the VA on his behalf, and, as a result, the children’s benefits were quickly reinstated at a rate of $4,000 per month going forward. The constituent was also issued over $40,000 in retroactive payments, allowing him to catch up on his child support obligations.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.