For far too many in our community, 2025 has tested us in ways we never expected. Every day, I hear from families who are fighting to stay afloat in an economy where the rising cost of living makes even the basics out of reach. We have seen neighbors struggle to pay for food, for housing, and for the health care they depend on. Federal actions taken this year only made those challenges more difficult, leaving too many unsure of how they would meet their most basic needs.

And yet, in the face of these hardships, I am regularly reminded that there is still so much to be grateful for and that joy is truly all around us. I am grateful for the strength and resilience of our community. I am grateful for the neighbors, faith and community organizations who show up for our neighbors, sometimes in quiet ways, sometimes in life-changing ones. And I am grateful for the privilege of being able to serve you — not only through legislation that makes gas, health care and housing more affordable, or the $100 million in investments to our community, but through the hands-on work our office does every day to help........

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