Stony Brook University’s Advocacy Corps recently met with Dominick Porcella, Rep. Andrew Garbarino’s education staffer, to urge Congressman Garbarino to continue to work with his congressional colleagues on the completion of FY23 federal appropriations.
“Both the House and the Senate worked hard to provide robust funding for higher education and science research in the FY23 appropriations,” said Julia Brandenstein, a Stony Brook graduate student studying public policy analysis. “Now Congress must complete the job and pass a final package by the end of the year so that New York and our nation can see the dividends of their efforts.”
During the meeting, the Corps also asked Congressman Garbarino for future support of SBU’s proposal for a Climate Solutions Center on Governors Island if SBU should win the proposal. “We appreciate Congressman Garbarino’s hard work as the co-chair of the Congressional Climate Solutions Caucus,” said Shorooq Omran ’23, who is double majoring in biology and political science. “Given Congressman Garbarino’s dedication to climate research and concerns both locally on Long Island and nationally, we would like to ask for his continued support for Stony Brook’s climate research, including our proposal for the Governors Island Center for Climate Solutions”
On November 17, the Corps hosted another virtual meeting with Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand’s Long Island Regional Director Michael Scheid and Sen. Gillibrand’s Long Island Regional Assistant Aman Patel. During the meeting, the Corps urged the Senator to continue her fight to double the Pell Grant maximum award in FY24. “At Stony Brook University, over one third of our students receive Pell,” said Jordyn Christophides ’23, who is double majoring in political science and linguistics. “Significant funding increases for Pell is desperately needed so that students can live on or near campus and not worry about basic needs while they study to be a part of the STEM and health workforce of tomorrow.
During the discussion with Sen. Gillibrand’s staff, the Corps also advocated for the completion of FY23 appropriations. “We continue to be concerned that if the FY23 appropriations bills are not passed by the end of this year, all of the crucial funding the Senator pushed for will never become a reality,” said Kim Stepien ’23, majoring in political science and government. “The Corps urges Senator Gillibrand to continue working hard with her congressional colleagues to pass FY23 appropriations immediately after the current CR expires on December 16.”
Stony Brook’s Office of Federal Relations continues to work with Advocacy Corps, SBU’s higher education partners and the New York congressional delegation on all of SBU’s federal priorities.
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