Energy and Environment Plan

While President Trump has begun enacting policies to unleash American energy dominance, New York families are still grappling with sky-high energy prices that were driven by radical, misguided policies led by Governor Hochul and Albany Democrats, as well as the previous Administration. While we are still working to overcome the residual effects from four years of former President Biden’s failed policies that pursued unattainable Green New Deal goals, President Trump has reversed Biden-era restrictions and continues to advance commonsense energy policy that will promote domestic production and reduce prices for families and businesses.

In Congress, I have been a strong advocate for revitalizing America’s energy sector and helped advance transformative energy policies included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that restores U.S. energy independence and reverses harmful Biden-era restrictions. This landmark legislation secures lower royalty rates for oil, gas, and coal production, and supports regular offshore and onshore lease sales, streamlined permitting, and the elimination of burdensome fees that stifled investment. OBBBA will ensure that Upstate New York and the entire nation can benefit from more affordable, reliable domestic energy while creating jobs, strengthening infrastructure, and bolstering America’s competitive edge in global energy markets.

While President Trump and Congressional Republicans have sought to advance commonsense, sustainable energy policies that save dollars for families and workers, Democrats in Albany have long pursued the opposite. As New Yorkers know all too well, a 2014 decision by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, codified by the state Legislature in 2021, banned safe and clean hydraulic fracturing in New York, which has been proven to lower emissions compared with other forms of oil and gas extraction. Governor Cuomo also halted the construction of numerous interstate gas pipelines and tragically closed the Indian Point nuclear plant, increasing New York City’s reliance on natural gas by 25%. Every one of these decisions, both by this administration and our state government officials, has been made while failing to provide any realistic energy alternatives. The result of these backward, disastrous policies has been a consistent increase in energy prices across the state compared to the rest of the country. Worse, New York continues to consume vast amounts of natural gas, but now we must import it, often at higher cost.

The fact is, we do not have to choose between clean, affordable energy and protecting our environment. We can and must do both. In Congress, I have supported a robust package of legislative initiatives to do just that – expand safe, clean, reliable American energy while continuing to be a good steward of our environment. Over the past decade, our nation’s embrace of natural gas has allowed us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a greater margin than any other country. Additionally, nuclear energy continues to be the most efficient, carbon-free form of energy in existence, and I am fighting to ensure it remains viable now and into the future. Technological innovations share the potential to build on this environmental success while making our energy more dependable and affordable. 

Upstate New York is home to some of our nation's most beautiful landscapes. Through commonsense conservation and pro-energy policies, we can do our part to preserve these treasures for future generations while unleashing prosperity. I encourage you to read more about the initiatives I support in Congress to deliver affordable energy and a healthy environment below. 

Unleashing American Energy Production

• Introduced H.R. 3790, the Freedom to Frack Act: This bill would withhold certain federal grants from states that impose a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Large portions of Central New York, Western New York, and the Southern Tier lie above the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations, which hold enough natural gas to power the state for decades and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Despite this potential, New York has had a statewide fracking ban since 2014, which has contributed to higher energy costs and lost economic opportunity. This legislation pushes back against politically motivated bans, incentivizes states to lift restrictions on responsible natural gas development, and seeks to restore access to valuable domestic energy resources that can drive job creation, economic growth, and lower energy prices.
• Cosponsored H.R. 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act: This bill would streamline licensing requirements for nuclear fuel recycling facilities by creating a single-step licensing process for advanced fuel recycling, encouraging investment in nuclear energy and strengthening America’s clean energy supply chain. Nuclear fuel recycling technology produces mixed fuel that can power advanced fast reactors while reducing the amount of nuclear waste. By providing regulatory certainty, this legislation will help expand advanced nuclear energy production that upstate New York relies on, enhance supply chain resilience, and advance U.S. energy security.
• Cosponsored H.R. 3699, the Energy Choice Act: This bill would prohibit state and local governments from banning energy sources like natural gas, propane, and other traditional fuels, safeguarding consumer choice. Banning certain fuels increases costs, threatens grid reliability, and limits energy diversity, particularly in regions with harsh climates or rural infrastructure needs. Establishing federal preemption over state or local bans will ensure a robust and resilient energy grid and secure access to diverse and dependable energy options for families, small businesses, and communities in New York.
• Cosponsored H.R. 2806, Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act: The legislation would prohibit direct or indirect sales of oil from our nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Former President Biden misused the SPR for political purposes to cover up the high costs caused by his radical, failed energy agenda. However, it is vital Congress ensures this misuse of federal resources never again enriches our adversaries.  

Investing in Clean, Affordable Energy

• Introduced H.R. 1752, the Technology for Energy Security Act: This bill would extend the investment tax credit (ITC) for fuel cells and linear generators, set to expire in 2025, by eight years. This bipartisan legislation will ensure continued growth of private investment in emerging energy technologies that will create resiliency in America’s energy infrastructure.
• Cosponsored H.R. 2160, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act: This bill creates a 30% federal tax incentive for dam safety upgrades, environmental improvements, and fish passage infrastructure, while establishing a federal cost-share for removing obsolete river obstructions to expand clean hydropower and restore ecosystems.
• Cosponsored H.R. 3137, the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act: This bill extends federal tax incentives for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and second-generation biofuels to lower emissions, support domestic energy production, and strengthen rural economies.
• Cosponsored H.R. 2813, the Small Modular Reactor Commercialization Act of 2025: This bill establishes a DOE working group and modernizes SMR definitions to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in advanced nuclear manufacturing and enable deployment of higher-output small modular reactors. 

Protecting our Natural Environment

• Introduced H.R. 2697, the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act: National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are established by Congress to “recognize a region’s natural, cultural, or historic significance.” Unlike national parks, NHAs are large, populated living areas that collaborate with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs. The Finger Lakes Region is a landmark of NY-24, known for its rich, robust history and natural beauty. The counties included in the legislation are Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates. Establishing this area as an NHA will preserve the region’s history and stories for generations to come.
• Co-Led H.R. 2940, the Advancing Water Reuse Act: This bill would provide a 30% federal tax credit for investments in water reuse projects, helping communities, industries, and utilities meet growing freshwater demands while reducing strain on aging water infrastructure. Eligible projects include installing or upgrading onsite water recycling systems at industrial, manufacturing, data center, or food processing facilities; replacing freshwater use with recycled water from a municipal provider; or building or expanding municipal water recycling systems under agreements that allow private taxpayers to claim the credit. By incentivizing water reuse, the legislation aims to ensure safe drinking water, support economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen long-term water security.
• Cosponsored H.R. 2145, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act: This bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot program to improve recycling accessibility in communities where there is not more than one recycling materials recovery facility within a 75-mile radius of that community.
• Cosponsored H.R. 284, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025: This bill reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through Fiscal Year (FY) 2031. The GLRI is a congressionally authorized program that targets the biggest threats to the Great Lakes, such as toxic substances and invasive species. The Great Lakes are one of the world’s most important water sources for drinking, transportation, recreation, and power generation. As a Member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am committed to continuing to protect them for future generations to come.
• Appointed to the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force: This bipartisan working group cooperates to enhance the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes. Members of the Great Lakes Task Forces work together to build support for key regional programs to support ecological and economic development throughout the Great Lakes basin. As a member of this task force, I have supported federal funding for programs such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
• Support Federal Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund: The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) uses no taxpayer money and invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to support conservation projects for lands and waterways to provide recreational opportunities. The LWCF provides grants to state and local governments and to the federal government to acquire land and assist with recreation management.

Your views are always important to me. Please write to me on my website or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.