Since elected to Congress, I’ve been fighting NYRI’s plan to cut a scar through our backyards and our communities. I’ve been working hard in Washington to prevent NYRI from using federal eminent domain to construct a power line, and I’m committed to continue opposing this ill-conceived proposal.

While state and local officials have rightly blocked NYRI, I’ve been hard at work to ensure that federal eminent domain power isn’t used to give NYRI their route.  At the federal level, I’ve introduced two bills in the House, along with Reps. John Hall and Maurice Hinchey, that would prevent NYRI from using federal eminent domain to implement the proposed route. 

In addition to our legislative efforts, I also successfully amended the Rail & Public Transportation Security Act passed by the House to require the Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation to produce a report evaluating the safety and security of running high-voltage direct-current electric transmission power lines along active railroad rights-of-way.

When the DOE announced a draft National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) covering a vast majority of our state in April, I joined Reps. Hinchey and Hall to demand that the DOE hold hearings to hear from residents in Upstate New York, rather than only New York City.  When the DOE then decided to hold a public meeting in Rochester, I spoke and took the feedback of hundreds of my constituents, who had attended my Town Hall Meetings on the topic in Norwich and Utica.   

Since then, I’ve continue to fight NYRI’s proposal, offering amendments to alter the federal eminent domain law.  While my amendment hasn’t yet passed the House, I am raising national awareness about NYRI and our opposition.  I plan to continue objecting to their proposal and giving my constituents a chance to speak out as well.