Representatives Suozzi and Gillen address packed audience at Hofstra University budget briefing

Hempstead, New York – On February 28, 2025, Representatives Tom Suozzi (NY-03) and Laura Gillen (NY-04) convened a comprehensive budget briefing at Hofstra University, attracting an audience exceeding 700 attendees. The primary focus of the assembly was to dissect the ramifications of the recently passed partisan budget reconciliation bill by the House of Representatives on February 25, 2025. The event featured a panel of distinguished speakers, including Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, the largest employer in New York State.

Representative Suozzi initiated the session with an in-depth PowerPoint presentation, elucidating that Congress had yet to finalize legislation to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025, relying instead on temporary “Continuing Resolutions,” the latest of which is set to expire on March 14, 2025. He emphasized that the recently approved reconciliation bill proposes significant tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans while instituting substantial cuts to essential programs, potentially leading to massive deficits. Suozzi remarked, “I support cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, but this bill will slash essential funding for hospitals, nursing homes, environmental projects, clean air and water initiatives, school lunches, and more.” He advocated for a more measured approach, stating, “Let’s use a scalpel and not a chainsaw, pass a bipartisan budget and do it the right way.”

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Both Suozzi and Gillen, aligning with all Democratic Members of Congress, opposed the bill. Notably, Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky also voted against it. Gillen expressed her concerns, stating, “This budget would rip thousands of people from their health care, gut programs that my constituents count on, and raise costs for working families. I’ll always reach across the aisle when it means delivering results for Long Island, but I won’t support a bill that’s bad for Nassau County.”

The briefing also featured insights from Michael Dowling, who underscored the human impact of budget decisions. Drawing from his extensive experience in budget negotiations, Dowling emphasized the importance of maintaining decency and respect in fiscal matters, highlighting that budgets are fundamentally about people’s lives. He cautioned against combining poor fiscal decisions with a lack of humanity, suggesting it exacerbates negative outcomes.

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, addressed environmental concerns, warning that the proposed budget threatens the progress made in cleaning air and water and developing affordable clean energy. She called for bipartisan support to prevent a regression to times when environmental standards were significantly lower.

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Randi Shubin Dresner, CEO of Island Harvest, highlighted the potential adverse effects on food security programs. She noted that current funding freezes jeopardize numerous programs essential to neighbors in need across management sectors. Shubin Dresner emphasized that food is a basic right, not a benefit, and that solving budget crises should not come at the expense of the most vulnerable populations.

Stanfort Perry, CEO of AHRC Nassau, discussed the critical reliance on Medicaid for supporting individuals with disabilities. He argued that proposed cuts would strain agencies like AHRC Nassau, leading to inadequate care and increased burdens on hospitals, nursing homes, and families. Perry advocated for fiscal responsibility and transparency, questioning how cutting services to people with disabilities equates to responsibility.

The substantial turnout at the briefing underscored the community’s engagement and concern regarding federal budget decisions. Suozzi expressed pride in his community’s involvement and reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for programs and services vital to Long Island. He stated, “These issues matter to our community, and people are paying attention.” The event served as a platform for constituents to gain a deeper understanding of the potential local impacts of federal budgetary policies and to express their perspectives on safeguarding essential services.