Jan 22

Jan 22 NY-22 in 2025: Year in Review By Representative John Mannion

As we begin 2026, I remain optimistic about the promise and progress of our region — but I cannot ignore the conduct of the President of the United States. His actions raise serious and unprecedented concerns that strike at the stability of our democracy while his enablers in Congress provide no oversight or accountability. I reject the toxic politics of division that have fueled this moment. The people of Central New York and the Mohawk Valley know right from wrong. We believe in honesty, fairness, decency, and the simple idea that public service is a responsibility — not a battlefield. As we head into another election year, it is incumbent on all of us to defend our democratic institutions, reject rhetoric designed to inflame and divide, and stand up for what is just and true. As Americans, there will always be far more that unites us than divides us. That principle guides my work every day.

Here at home, our region is navigating a moment that is both promising and challenging. Families across Central New York and the Mohawk Valley are feeling the strain of rising prices and an affordability crisis that touches everything from groceries to heating bills. I remain committed to bipartisan solutions, because lowering costs shouldn’t be a partisan fight. My focus has been meeting these realities head-on: supporting the bipartisan measure to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, helping families manage rising costs, pushing back against policies that would make care even more expensive, and securing resources for the communities I represent.

Through the federal budget process, I secured $358,000 for Oneida Health for facility improvements that will strengthen patient care and support the Mohawk Valley health care workforce. I look forward to celebrating these funds this year with all our partners. And I will keep fighting to deliver the remaining Community Project Funding requests now moving through the 2026 budget — from water infrastructure and public-safety upgrades to workforce training and housing investments. These projects reflect local needs and delivering them remains one of my highest priorities.

This past year also brought significant economic progress. Congress increased the advanced manufacturing tax credit, a change I championed because of its direct impact on Micron’s historic investment in Clay and its role in keeping high-tech manufacturing jobs here in the United States. I also co-led bipartisan legislation to support rural entrepreneurs by modernizing USDA loan programs, helping small employers access capital, expand, and hire.

Education remains one of our region’s greatest strengths. I introduced legislation to protect students with disabilities, expand professional development opportunities for teachers through the Teachers Are Leaders Act, and stood firmly against efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Defending the department means defending students’ rights, college affordability programs, and the stability of our public schools — and I will oppose any attempt to weaken or eliminate it.

Supporting veterans and first responders remains central to my work. I introduced the Next Mission Act to strengthen the transition from military to civilian life and improve employment outcomes for veterans and military spouses. I also co-led the EMS Counts Act to ensure firefighters and EMS personnel are accurately counted in federal workforce data, improving emergency planning and resource allocation.

This work is only possible because we stay connected to the people we serve. So far this year, my team has closed 838 casework requests, responded to over 55,000 letters, returned $6,898,836 dollars to constituents, and held fifty town halls, coffees, and mobile office hours across the district. Whether it’s a passport, a VA claim, a tax issue, a problem with Social Security, we stand ready to help. Anyone who needs assistance can reach my Utica office at (315) 732-0713 or Mannion.house.gov.

My focus remains the same in 2026: an affordability agenda that lowers costs for working families, protecting Medicare and Social Security, securing federal investments, supporting our schools and higher education institutions, strengthening our workforce pipeline, and making sure every community — rural, suburban, and urban — shares in the opportunities ahead. I will hold Donald Trump and his administration accountable whenever they act unconstitutionally or to the detriment of the people and businesses of NY-22. I’ve lived here my whole life. I know our strengths, I know our challenges, and I know what this region is capable of. My commitment is simple: show up, tell the truth, and deliver real results for the people of Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

It’s an honor to serve this region, and I look forward to continuing our work together in 2026 as we move our communities forward and build a stronger future for the next generation.

Representative John Mannion represents NY-22 in Central New York, including Utica and Syracuse.

Special thanks to The Genesis Group for facilitating this article. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional Economic, Social and Cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York. For more information on this type of analytical and analysis and data collection technologies, please visit the Genesis Center for Analytical Analysis website at TheGenesisGroup.org