It’s National Farmers Day! I’m proud to be working in Congress to protect Hudson Valley farmers and ensure they’ve got the tools they need to succeed. I’m on the House Agriculture Committee – and I push every day for support, opportunity, and the expansion of key programs like crop insurance for our farmers. They make the food we eat. Helping them should be a no-brainer.

Today is the 20th anniversary of #MatthewShepard’s death – a kid who lost his life after being savagely beaten just because he was gay. I went to Matthew’s funeral and I remember clearly the kids in angel costumes barricading themselves against the protesters, who were there to lob more attacks on Matthew and his family. There’s a lot of hate going on in our country right now, but I want to be clear to the LGBTQ community, and especially LGBTQ youth: you are not alone. And it does get better.