ICYMI: Lawler Hosts Treasury Secretary Bessent to Tour Local Businesses, Talk Tax Relief With NY-17 Families

Yorktown, N.Y. - 4/11/26… This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) hosted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the Hudson Valley to highlight how pro-growth economic policies are lowering costs, supporting small businesses, and expanding opportunities for families in the Hudson Valley during Financial Literacy Month.

Hosting a roundtable at a local, family-owned diner, the conversation centered on the real-world impact of recent tax relief policies and the challenges facing mom-and-pop businesses and working families across New York's 17th Congressional District.

The roundtable discussion detailed key policies putting more money back into people's pockets and helping local businesses thrive, including:

• Eliminating taxes on tips and overtime
• Expanding the Child Tax Credit
• Establishing Trump Accounts, which provide a $1,000 federal seed investment for children and allow families to grow those funds over time
• Raising the SALT deduction cap to $40,000, delivering long-overdue relief for New York homeowners
• Providing incentives that help small businesses invest, hire, and grow
• Preserving the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) to keep small-business owners from facing a sudden federal tax increase

"Whether it's a family-owned diner, a contractor, or a small retailer, these are the businesses that define our communities. When we lower their tax burden and make it easier to invest, they can hire more workers, raise wages, and continue serving families across the Hudson Valley. Financial Literacy Month is about giving families the tools to succeed, not just today, but for the long term," said Congressman Lawler.

The visit also included a tour of Regeneron Pharmaceutical's Tarrytown facility. At Regeneron, Lawler and Secretary Bessent met with company leadership and toured cutting-edge research and manufacturing operations, underscoring the Hudson Valley's role as a leader in innovation and job creation.

"The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is very elegant because on one side, for businesses, it provides 100% expensing on factories and equipment, so you want to build your factory in the U.S., where we want to make it the best place to have guaranteed energy, the best workforce, and the best tax policy. On the other side of the bill, there is plenty for working Americans. I call that parallel prosperity, where Wall Street and Main Street can do very well together," said Secretary Bessent.

"This district is a microcosm of America and spans industries. When I come through places like this, this is small-town America. Businesses and communities like this, I love coming out here. It's the backbone of our economy."

PHOTOS: Pictures from today's event can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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