Washington, DC - February 13, 2017 - Fresh off his appointment to the House Committee on Armed Services, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) spent the past week meeting with military officials and colleagues to tackle pressing issues facing residents of New York’s 3rd congressional district. On Tuesday, Rep. Suozzi met with representatives from the Department of the Navy who are overseeing the cleanup of the Bethpage Plume.
“People have been dealing with this problem for way too long, which is why this meeting was so important,” said Rep. Suozzi. He added, “It’s unacceptable that for decades this toxic plume has been spreading throughout our neighborhoods and contaminating our water supply. Folks have had enough. It’s time for both the Navy and Grumman to work together to fix this now. I will continue to work with local stakeholders to make sure this gets done.”
Rep. Suozzi also met with Democrats on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The focus of the meeting was about working to improve the facilities and conditions at the Northport VA Medical Center.
“I’ve visited the Northport VA and spoken to our brave veterans who rely on those facilities, and they deserve the best care for everything they’ve sacrificed on behalf of our country,” said Rep. Suozzi. He continued, “I’m here to get things done and make sure that patients at our local VA are always taken care of. In order for that to happen, we must ensure that our VA facilities have the right budget and the necessary tools to get the job done right.”
Rep. Suozzi also attended a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the threats imposed by North Korea and U.S. strategy moving forward. Additionally, he was briefed by experts about ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
“These are dangerous times, and the United States must remain vigilant against the threats faced by a nuclear North Korea. Their most recent missile test is proof of that. I’m committed to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to ensure our nation’s safety,” said Rep. Suozzi. He continued, “We also know that India and Pakistan have had a contentious relationship going back decades, so paying close attention to their interactions will be critical to keeping that part of the world stable as well.”
The past two Sundays, Rep. Suozzi has spoken in front of large crowds about the need to further secure the close ties between Israel and the United States. He gave the keynote speech at the Queens Jewish Community Council. Rep. Suozzi also spoke at the Jewish Community Relations Council.
“We need to do a better job as Democrats to protect our relationship with Israel,” remarked Rep. Suozzi. He added, “That means making sure Israel has the ability to defend themselves while also working toward a two-state solution so that everyone in the region can finally live in peace.”
Rep. Suozzi is a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, where he serves on the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. He is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Suozzi was recently named Vice-Chair of the Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus.