Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 1/14/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026, a bipartisan appropriations package that funds core government operations, the Treasury Department, and U.S. foreign policy programs.

“Families and small businesses in New York deserve a federal government that is focused, accountable, and serious about security. This bill moves us in that direction by prioritizing taxpayers, investors, and public safety. Additionally, at a time of growing global threats, this legislation keeps our commitments to key allies, counters our adversaries, and maintains strong funding for law enforcement and embassy security, while still reducing overall spending,” said Congressman Lawler. 

Key provisions of this package benefiting the Hudson Valley include:

• Modernizing the Internal Revenue Service to better serve taxpayers while cracking down on fraudsters and tax cheats.
• Ensuring the Securities and Exchange Commission has the resources it needs to expand access to capital and protect everyday investors.
• Identifying underutilized federal office space to reduce costs and cut waste across the federal government.
• Maintaining funding to counter fentanyl trafficking, including $1.4 billion for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement programs.
• Prioritizing core diplomatic functions, such as reducing passport backlogs and protecting U.S. embassies and personnel overseas.
• Sustaining strong support for critical partners like Israel, Jordan, and Taiwan while countering adversaries including the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, and drug cartels.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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