Josh Riley: “My kids are little. The other day they asked why daddy has to go back to D.C. I said that it is for work. They seemed…”

“My kids are little. The other day they asked why daddy has to go back to D.C. I said that it is for work. They seemed sad about that. My wife chimed in, and she said that it is really important work. It is work that is going to help make people's lives better. Now here we are, back at work. The first thing on the agenda in 2026 is not to lower the soaring utility bills. It is not to lower the insurance premiums. It is not to make housing more affordable. It is showerheads. We are out here talking about showerheads. Not a single person in upstate New York has ever told me they want Congress focused on showerheads. The owner of the tattoo shop in Ithaca told me she will go uninsured this year because she can't afford the premiums. There is a grandma in Endicott who is cutting back on the groceries because NYSEG is jacking up the rates and sending all her money to Spain. There is a couple in their twenties. They are both young nurses. They can't save up for a home because Wall Street is gobbling up all the inventory. Here we are, talking about showerheads. We wonder why people look at this place and see it as a self-serving, out of touch, dysfunctional mess. We don't need new ballrooms. We don't need new showerheads. We don't need a new name for the Kennedy Center. We need lower costs, better jobs, and a square deal. At the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee.”