CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DELIVERS FIRST ANNUAL STATE OF THE HUDSON VALLEY ADDRESS, PLEDGES TO PROTECT AND EXPAND FREEDOM FOR EVERY HUDSON VALLEY FAMILY

February 22, 2024

Congressman Pat Ryan Delivers First Annual State of the Hudson Valley Address, Pledges to Protect and Expand Freedom for Every Hudson Valley Family

Ryan focuses on his work to lower costs for working families, the fight to protect our water and air from corporate polluters, and his efforts to bolster public safety

Ryan announces his office has helped more than 2,700 constituents, returning $23.5M owed by the federal government to NY-18 families; Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S Van has completed more than 100 community visits, traveling over 3,000 miles to help constituents in need

Earlier this week, Ryan met with local elected officials, community and faith leaders, union members and non-profit leaders across all three counties in NY-18 to hear feedback on his work to support the Hudson Valley in Congress and discuss ways to better serve our communities.

KINGSTON, NY – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan delivered his first annual “State of the Hudson Valley'' address, promising to protect and expand freedom for every Hudson Valley family. In the speech, Ryan focused on three core American freedoms he’s fighting for every day. Freedom from want, with a bold vision to lower the cost of living, stop corporate monopolies from gouging American families, and deliver economic relief; freedom from fear, with comprehensive proposals to invest in local law enforcement, combat the opioid epidemic, and end the scourge of gun violence; and freedom to clean air and water, with a systematic plan to right the environmental wrongs of our past and make landmark investments in a sustainable future. The entirety of Ryan’s address can be viewed here.

“Every single day I hear from people across our community who need help. They’re frustrated – for good reason – because they feel like Washington just isn’t working. But I’m serving in this job because I know that we can, we will and we must come together to meet the moment,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “I’m fighting to lower the cost of living, to make our communities safer, and to finally deliver clean drinking water for every Hudson Valley family. That’s the type of bold action required to make the Hudson Valley a place your kids and mine can call home for generations to come.”

Building An Economy That Works For All

A few months ago, I met JT Crawford, a local teenager and Type I diabetes advocate who inspired me to introduce the “Stopping Pharma’s Ripoffs and Drug Savings for All Act” to dramatically lower the costs of prescription drugs for millions of Americans, including JT’s family, and finally start to check the power of Big Pharma corporations.
Together we’ve held Central Hudson accountable for its egregious billing practices and I’ve hosted a workshop series to connect customers directly with company representatives for assistance. I will not stop until every customer is made whole.
I helped pass the “Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024,” landmark legislation that both expands the child tax credit, putting money back in the pockets of more than 40,000 working families with kids in the Hudson Valley and will build 200,000 affordable housing units across the country.
I demanded a government investigation into the monopolistic policies and antitrust exemptions that allow sports blackouts – the exclusive sports media deals that block fans from watching their favorite games.
When the MTA announced its plan to toll the Hudson Valley’s dedicated workers $15 per day to commute into the city while continuing to fail in providing reliable public transportation, I condemned the plan as “unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable.” Our office then held its own public hearing when the MTA refused to hear from the Hudson Valley working class families who would be impacted by the congestion pricing plan.

“I’ve had Type 1 diabetes since I was 12 years old. I’ve had to rely on insulin and medical necessities on a daily basis to keep me healthy. I loathe the fact that kids like me, that already have so much on their plate, also have stress about affording insulin” said JT Crawford, a 15 year-old NY-18 resident and Type 1 Diabetes Advocate. “Thank you to Congressman Ryan for listening to my story and fighting alongside kids like me across the Hudson Valley.”

Clean Air, Water, and Soil for All

I have fought to remove lead pipes across the Hudson Valley, including in Poughkeepsie where I brought EPA leadership to help the city in applying for funding to replace lead pipes city-wide
I led a coalition of elected officials, environmental groups, and members of the community to temporarily stop dangerous barges carrying oil asphalt, and other toxins from lining the Hudson River, and introduced the Hudson River Protection Act to make the ban permanent.
To combat PFAS, the toxic “forever chemicals,” I introduced the PFAS Action Act to protect Hudson Valley families and have demanded a full clean-up of contamination at military bases, especially Stewart Air National Guard Base.
I’ve demanded that GE conduct a full clean-up of its PCB pollution in the Hudson River and that Holtec stop its plan to dump 45,000 gallons of radioactive waste.
When the Wall Street Journal reported that telecommunications companies are allowing decrepit lead cables to shed toxins into the environment, including at a playground in Wappingers Falls, I immediately sounded the alarm and am working to hold the corporations responsible for the clean-up.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, cities like Poughkeepsie will be able to replace thousands of lead pipes that currently make up the majority of our drinking water infrastructure. Congressman Pat Ryan has played an important role in supporting the City of Poughkeepsie in efforts to obtain federal funding to do this work within a ten year timeframe,” said Councilwoman Megan Dichler, City of Poughkeepsie Common Council, Ward 8. “Knowing the health dangers of lead exposure, in particular to children, means that getting the lead pipes out should be every community's top priority.”

Ensuring Safety for All

Our local law enforcement officers undertake huge risks to keep communities safe. I’m working to ensure that they have the resources they need – including $400,000 for Ulster County’s crisis intervention ORACLE team, $375,000 for a Community Policing Unit in the Town of Poughkeepsie, and $300,000 for the Middletown Police Department to make sure they have the newest technology
I proposed my “Fighting for Our Firefighters” plan to to assist the families of fallen firefighters, screen for occupation-related cancers, and protect firefighter’s Social Security and pensions. I’m pushing for significant funding for the Tivoli and Rifton Fire Departments, and secured $324,450 for the Poughkeepsie Fire Department to purchase critical safety equipment.
To combat illicit fentanyl trafficking on the southern border and in NY-18, I led the “Securing America’s Border Against Fentanyl Act,” and the “Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2023.” I’m continuing to push for increased funding for the Department of Homeland Security to stop the flow of fentanyl.
Military service members, their families, and veterans make sacrifices for our nation that can never be truly repaid.We must ensure that the government delivers for them. I’ve introduced the Never Forgotten Korean War POW Act, the Expanding Home Loans for Guard and Reservists Act, and the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2023 to deliver the benefits that our service members, military families, and veterans are owed.

“This funding is evidence of Congressman Ryan’s strong commitment to public safety, and will go a long way towards helping law enforcement deal with the many issues facing our communities today,” said Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati. “I would like to take this time to thank Congressman Ryan not only for this, but for all of his efforts in support of law enforcement and community safety.”

Defending Freedom for All

When an extremist Texas court ruled to limit women’s access to abortion medication, I introduced the “Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act” to protect women’s right to access life-saving healthcare. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’ve battled to ensure that women service members and veterans can access reproductive healthcare, including fighting to eliminate co-pays for contraception for military members and families in the National Defense Authorization Act.
To combat the attacks on our democracy and attempts to erode voting rights, I proudly cosponsor the “John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act” to restore and modernize the original Voting Rights Act of 1965, the “Freedom to Vote Act,” and the “Voters on the Move Act” that protect access to the ballot box.

“Medication abortion care with mifepristone has been a safe, effective, and FDA-approved option for decades, but with one extremist Trump-appointed judge’s ruling, it is now effectively banned—even in states where abortion access is explicitly protected,” said NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju. “Everyone needs to hear the truth, and it is so important for elected officials to set the record straight. We’re grateful to Reps. Ryan and Fletcher for standing with doctors, patients, and everyday Americans defending our freedom to make our own decisions about our bodies. Together with our allies, supporters, and Congressional champions, we will keep fighting until reproductive freedom for all is a reality.”

A Government That Works For All

My office is committed to bringing assistance directly to constituents’ doorsteps with the Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (CARES) Van. The CARES Van has traveled over 3,000 miles to assist over 1,200 constituents, helping with everything from Social Security to flood recovery.
My office is more accessible than ever, with offices in every county. My team of expert caseworkers secured over $23.5 million in federal dollars for constituents in the last year.
Landmark investments are coming to the Hudson Valley communities, including a $21.7 million RAISE grant to revitalize the Kingston waterfront, $2.5 million for early education programs in Poughkeepsie schools, and $2 million for Sun River Health in Beacon.

“The service provided by Pat Ryan and staff was extremely quick. My issue was solved within the first day,” said Duain from Beacon. “Pat Ryan and staff are people proven with integrity and care for those they serve. They are an outstanding example to those in the realm of politics.”

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