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Monday, November 9, 2020

Calendar > Politics

‘I'm here to work'

Delgado seeks second term representing NY-19

By Joseph Abraham - co-editor

: U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado (NY-19) is seeking re-election this November. He's pictured here talking with constituents in Narrowsburg at Riverfest in July 2018.

Incumbent U.S. Congressman (NY-19) Antonio Delgado is seeking reelection this November, and is running on the Democratic, Working Families and Serve America Movement party lines.
One of the things the congressman is most proud of is the engagement he has had with constituents.
“We were able to do 33 town halls in 2019, three in all 11 counties [in NY-19] and then once COVID hit, we were able to do 12 virtual town halls as well,” Delgado said, adding that these town halls, as well as his district offices and his locally-based advisory groups with veterans, small businesses, health care, agriculture, etc. has helped him legislate.

In less than two years, Delgado has introduced more than 40 bills, which he said over half of which were bipartisan. Eighteen of them passed the House of Representatives, and three were signed by the President.
The three bills
signed into law
The Family Farmer Relief Act: According to Delgado, this law basically lifted the cap of eligibility for family farmers seeking to utilize Chapter 12 bankruptcy laws to reorganize their debt and remain viable. So not go out of business, but being able to reorganize their financial wherewithal.
“The cap used to be $3 million, which was very low in debt and given the land consolidation and the cost of land now, we wanted to make sure that we increase that cap to $10 million,” he said. “And we did that so now more and more of our farmers can utilize this mechanism to reorganize themselves financially.”
The Small Business Repayment Relief Act: This was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to Delgado, it helps small businesses by allowing a waiver of up to six months of all major U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) loans, for principal, interest and fees.
“That's a good thing for our small businesses that are already dealing with tough times right now,” Delgado said. “And nothing, by the way, needs to be done by the small business owner, it could just happen automatically.”
The other bill introduced by Delgado that has become a law, renamed the Pine Plains Post Office in honor of Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) Shannon M. Kent. SCPO Kent, a Dutchess County native, who was killed in Syria by a suicide bombing during her fifth combat tour in the Middle East in January 2019.
Focus areas
if re-elected
If re-elected, Delgado said a big focus will be on figuring out how to grow and support the local economy.
“That doesn't just mean making sure we can continue to provide stimulus relief for our communities with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and with state and local funding,” he said, “but long term, I think broadband is critically important. I know, Sullivan County, has been doing its own work in that area through the legislature, trying to figure out how to provide broadband to the community. I think at the federal level, we've got to do a better job of making sure it's a basic utility.”
Delgado added that COVID-19 has made it clear how necessary it is to have internet access, whether it's a senior who needs it for telemedicine, a student, small business owner or farmer.
“It is absolutely imperative and no community in the 21st century should be going without it,” he said. “And so, today, the work that I've been able to do on broadband, I've had some success around mapping with regards to appropriations, and funding for that purpose, making sure it's not just Census block mapping. But we need even more things to get done. I've got two bills that I've introduced that hopefully, we can keep building on in the next cycle, if I'm re-elected, that will help with speed. It will ensure that our providers are giving the customers what they are actually obligated to provide, and not just what they advertise. So these are the things that I focused on. I think obviously, we want to make sure people can connect to the marketplace, and are operating on a fair playing field.”
QUALIFICATIONS
When asked why he was the best person for the job, Delgado said he tries to put his best foot forward everywhere he goes.
“That basically means I'm here to work,” he said. “I'm here to listen to everybody. I'm here to be solutions oriented. I think I've spent the last year and a half making that clear, it's not just talk, it's action.”
Examples given by Delgado include the bills that he's introduced, that he was ranked more bipartisan than 90 percent of his colleagues, that he's been endorsed by the US Chamber of Commerce and received their inaugural Jefferson Hamilton Award for bipartisanship, which only went to 20 House members. He also points out that he was a recipient of their Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of small businesses. And then on the farming front, he was recognized by the American Farm Bureau, receiving a Friend of Farm Bureau award.
“The recognition, I think, supports what I'm trying to stress, which is, I put the work in, and I'm going to keep putting the work in not just for one party, whether you're a Democrat or you're Independent or Republican, it doesn't really matter,” said Delgado. “I'm gonna show up and do the work and base what I do on the needs of the community, through and through, and that's going to be my approach for as long as the community continues to want to put me in this seat.”

To listen to our full interview with Congressman Antonio Delgado, head to our channel on Soundcloud, Spotify, TuneIn, Apple Podcasts and Overcast.

Calendar > Politics

‘I'm here to work'

Delgado seeks second term representing NY-19

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