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“Growing up here, with loving parents and a brother and sister, gave me a life of incredible opportunity. After the Air Force Academy and serving around the world, I'm coming home to serve the community that gave me so much.”

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<h2>Rooted in Service, He Reached for the Skies</h2><h4>“Every opportunity I’ve had — the opportunity to attend the Air Force Academy, to serve my country, to live my dream, I’ve had because I grew up in this community. I’m running for Congress to make sure people here can continue to have those opportunities now, and for generations to come.”   -John Cappello</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/1d804e86-33b3-4e1f-a2d2-ebcfe99519d9/1d6399a8-9523-41d5-92f9-21fb5883cc1b/1d6399a8-9523-41d5-92f9-21fb5883cc1b.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=154%2C286%2C1001%2C1320&amp;w=1500" alt="John with his parents" caption="John with his parents visiting during his assignment in South Dakota" align="right" alignwidth="37" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">John with his parents visiting during his assignment in South Dakota<h3>John Cappello grew up in Suffern. His dad was a New York City Firefighter and his mom worked for the Town of Ramapo.</h3><h3>Steeped in public service, John graduated from Suffern High School and was offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. In his more than 25-year career as an Air Force officer, John was qualified as a B-1 Bomber pilot and later served key assignments in Ukraine and at the U.S. Embassies in Israel and Serbia.</h3><h3>Read more about John’s remarkable journey below.</h3><h4>Born in the Bronx, Raised in Rockland County</h4>“I was born in the Bronx, in the same neighborhood where my father grew up. When I was three years old, we moved to Suffern. My parents wanted to raise their family 'upstate'.I went to Cherry Lane Elementary school, Airmont Middle School, Suffern Junior High, and finally Suffern High School.Looking back, I never thought much about whether we were middle class, but I do know we never wanted for anything. My father always worked more than his primary job as a fireman, and my mother raised my brother, sister, and me before later working for the Town of Ramapo. They gave us more than they ever had themselves, without question or hesitation. My parents gave us the American dream, and I am forever grateful.When I was 8 or 9, we flew to Florida to visit my aunt. With my face pressed against the window the entire flight from New York to Ft. Lauderdale, I fell in love with flying. I knew right then and there that I’d be a pilot one day.Two teachers went out of their way to help me on my path to the Air Force Academy. I didn't know much about how to become a pilot or about the opportunities the military offered, but Mr. Galindez, my junior high school science teacher, mentored me for years and prepared me to apply to the Academy, guiding me through the process; while Mr. Jaeger, my high school history teacher, taught civics, and what it meant to be a good citizen..<h4>Setting My Sights Higher</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/1d804e86-33b3-4e1f-a2d2-ebcfe99519d9/017b1b5b-a9ad-4ea6-ab47-42ff19649934/017b1b5b-a9ad-4ea6-ab47-42ff19649934.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=5&amp;con=0&amp;sat=36&amp;high=-9&amp;shad=-20&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2343%2C2954&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="John graduating from the Air Force Academy" align="right" alignwidth="30" variant="framed">John graduating from the Air Force AcademyAt the Academy, I planned to study aeronautical engineering — after all, that’s what I thought every astronaut should study (and we all wanted to be astronauts!). But I found myself drawn more to history, political science, and international affairs. I ended up majoring in Political Science with a minor in Russian Area Studies, which set me on the path I’ve followed ever since. I also played varsity lacrosse for three years, walking on my sophomore year and earning a spot on the team taught me a lot about discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.Following graduation, I attended undergraduate pilot training (UPT) at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. After a year of pilot training, I was selected to fly the B-52 and was assigned to Loring Air Force Base in Caribou, Maine. I went from living a few miles from the Mexican border to living a few miles from the Canadian border.<h4>Duty Calls</h4>When Sadam Hussein invaded Kuwait, I deployed to Diego Garcia, a key strategic location in the Indian Ocean, for the first Gulf War. The following year I was selected to fly the B-1 and went on to fly the aircraft during assignments at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, and Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. While stationed in Wichita, I earned my Master's degree in Political Science from Wichita State University and later studied Russian in St. Petersburg, Russia during a language immersion course.My military service provided me the opportunity to live across the United States, and wherever I was stationed, I made it a priority to give back to the community. Living off base allowed me to connect more closely and contribute in meaningful ways. In Caribou, Maine, I volunteered as a mentor and in Wichita, Kansas, I participated in the Big Brothers program.In Rapid City, I mentored Native American youth, taught at Oglala Lakota Tribal College and National American University, and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for more than two years standing up for children who experienced abuse or neglect. These experiences connected me to the community and shaped how I understood service beyond the military.Between flying assignments, I was selected to serve on the faculty in the political science department at the Air Force Academy, and as instructor pilot for cadets and women’s lacrosse coach.In 2002 I was assigned to Kyiv, Ukraine to the Military Liaison Office, where I managed a program that coordinated exchanges and cooperation with the Ukrainian military. I was then assigned to U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany where I served on the J-5 staff, responsible for Strategy, Plans, and Policy.At the headquarters in Germany, I was responsible for the Western Balkans and traveled extensively in the region to support U.S. policy. I worked closely with the embassy staffs and spent considerable time in Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Romania, and Bulgaria. This assignment was eye-opening and sparked my interest in serving at a U.S. embassy. I was later selected to serve as the U.S. Air Force Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. Midway through my three-year tour, in 2008, I became the acting Defense Attaché.It was during this assignment in Belgrade that I learned about the rescue during World War II of more than 500 American airmen from occupied Serbia. I learned about this amazing story my very first week in Serbia, and it remains an important part of who I am and what I do today.After Belgrade, I was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, where I served two assignments, the first three years as U.S. Air Force Attaché and the second, after my retirement from the Air Force, supporting the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. While in Tel Aviv I studied at University of Tel Aviv for a masters in Middle East Studies.<h4>Serving My Country in New Ways</h4>After leaving government service in 2015, I moved to Washington DC to become a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD,) where I led the military affairs program for two years. I then worked as country manager for Spirit of America, where I led the Serbia program, providing support in areas where government funding is not always readily available, and improving U.S. standing in the country.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/1d804e86-33b3-4e1f-a2d2-ebcfe99519d9/c4b0fad1-1255-4590-8009-b12e066c271f/c4b0fad1-1255-4590-8009-b12e066c271f.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=3&amp;con=0&amp;sat=24&amp;high=-14&amp;shad=-17&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=19%2C18%2C458%2C336&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="At a school in Serbia, working with Spirit of America" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">At a school in Serbia, working with Spirit of AmericaSpirit of America (SoA) brought me on to prove a strong focus on a single country could have an amplified impact. And we did… in 18 months in Serbia, we implemented more than 50 projects, achieving measurable results and building strong local relationships. Our pace of progress exceeded expectations, and the U.S. Embassy asked us to align our efforts more closely with their operational tempo. We adjusted accordingly, ensuring our work continued to support diplomatic and defense priorities.The experience reinforced my belief that persistence and consistency would have an impressive positive impact. We made a real difference, and the potential for even greater impact was clear.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/1d804e86-33b3-4e1f-a2d2-ebcfe99519d9/a7eff516-e2a3-405c-a6bc-957c025af576/a7eff516-e2a3-405c-a6bc-957c025af576.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=8&amp;sat=16&amp;high=-2&amp;shad=10&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=57%2C49%2C967%2C544&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Meeting with a World War II veteran in the Serbian countryside" align="right" alignwidth="37" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">Meeting with a World War II veteran in the Serbian countryside<h4>Coming Home</h4>My career has given me the opportunity to see the world and to understand our role in it, but even more, it’s made me appreciate the ripple effects that strong communities like ours can have far beyond our borders.  I think about the life my parents were able to provide for us on their middle-class salaries, and worry that the opportunities I had are becoming more and more out of reach for families like mine. And I think about how our Congressman — the person whose job is to be our Representative in Washington has sold us out to curry favor with a President whose tactics are divisive, focusing on what separates us rather than what brings us together.I’m coming home to continue to serve. To make sure somebody’s looking out for people like my parents, like my siblings, and like the people I meet in our communities every day.This isn’t about me — as I said, I’ve already lived my dream. It’s about making sure future generations have the opportunity to live theirs as well."

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<h3>A National Security Strategy that Keeps America Safe, Strong, and Respected</h3>America’s security depends on strong alliances, resilient supply chains, and the smart use of American power. National security is not just about military strength, it is about diplomacy, economic resilience, technology leadership, and honoring our commitments. I support a strategy that protects the American people while strengthening the international system that has kept us safe and prosperous for decades.Strengthen Alliances and Restore American LeadershipOur alliances are force multipliers, not burdens. NATO and our partners make the United States safer by deterring aggression before it reaches our shores. I will:<ul><li>Reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to NATO and Article 5</li><li>Ensure allies meet their defense commitments through diplomacy and coordination, not public threats</li><li>Expand joint training, intelligence sharing, and interoperability with allied forces</li><li>Use sustained diplomacy to prevent conflicts, not just react to them</li></ul>When America leads with credibility, our allies step up, and our adversaries think twice. Support Ukraine and Defend the Rules-Based OrderRussia’s invasion of Ukraine is a direct challenge to international law and global stability. Supporting Ukraine is about preventing wider war and defending the principle that borders cannot be changed by force. I support:<ul><li>Continued military, intelligence, and economic assistance to Ukraine, paired with strict oversight and accountability</li><li>Long-term security assistance that helps Ukraine defend itself and negotiate from a position of strength</li><li>Coordinated sanctions enforcement with allies to reduce Russia’s ability to fund its war</li><li>A clear diplomatic strategy to end the conflict on terms that protect Ukraine’s sovereignty</li></ul>Failing to stop aggression in Europe only increases the risk of larger, more costly conflicts later.Compete with China Without Sleepwalking into ConflictChina is America’s most serious long-term strategic competitor. We must compete where necessary, cooperate where possible, and confront where required - without reckless escalation. I will work to:<ul><li>Invest in American innovation, manufacturing, and workforce development to outcompete China economically</li><li>Protect critical technologies - AI, semiconductors, quantum computing - through export controls and research security</li><li>Strengthen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India</li><li>Maintain open lines of communication to prevent miscalculation and conflict</li></ul>Competition with China should be strategic, disciplined, and focused on American strength, not driven by rhetoric.U.S. Leadership in the Middle East&nbsp;(or, Israel and Middle East Security)The United States has both a moral and strategic responsibility to support Israel, one of our closest allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. I support:<ul><li>Continuing the U.S.–Israel Memorandum of Understanding to ensure sustained military assistance and deep security cooperation, so Israel has the resources it needs to defend its citizens against evolving regional threats.</li><li>Long-term goal of a two-state solution, negotiated directly by the parties and informed by the progress of the Abraham Accords, that guarantees Israel’s security while offering Palestinians a viable path toward peace, dignity, and self-determination.</li></ul>A secure Israel and a stable Middle East are essential to U.S. national security.Secure Supply Chains and Critical InfrastructureNational security depends on resilient supply chains and secure infrastructure. The pandemic exposed dangerous vulnerabilities. I support:<ul><li>Reducing reliance on adversarial nations for critical goods like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and rare earth minerals</li><li>Incentivizing domestic manufacturing and trusted allied production through targeted tax credits and procurement policies</li><li>Protecting ports, energy systems, telecommunications, and transportation networks from cyber and physical threats</li><li>Strengthening public-private partnerships to safeguard critical infrastructure</li></ul>Economic security is national security. Invest in Technology, Cybersecurity, and the WorkforceModern threats require modern tools. I will push for:<ul><li>Increased investment in cybersecurity to protect government, businesses, and critical systems</li><li>Clear national standards for data protection and infrastructure resilience</li><li>Expanded STEM education, apprenticeships, and defense-industrial workforce development</li><li>Faster adoption of emerging technologies within the Department of Defense</li></ul>We cannot deter 21st-century threats with 20th-century systems. Use American Power Responsibly and LawfullyStrength matters, but so do restraint, oversight, and the rule of law. I will:<ul><li>Reassert Congress’s constitutional role in decisions about the use of military force</li><li>Demand clear objectives, exit strategies, and accountability for any overseas deployment</li><li>Care for service members, veterans, and military families before, during, and after service</li></ul>American power is strongest when it is used wisely, lawfully, and with the support of the people.Bottom line: A strong America leads by building alliances, investing at home, defending democracy abroad, and competing from a position of confidence, not fear. By strengthening our partnerships, securing our supply chains, and modernizing our defenses, we can keep the United States safe, secure, and prosperous in a dangerous world.

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<h4>"I believe I have a responsibility to get into the fight and not just complain from the sidelines. Our country deserves better."</h4> - John Cappello

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"I'm often asked, 'Why on earth would you want to do this?' It's not that complicated, I feel like I have to."

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My dad was a New York City Firefighter and my mom worked for the Town of Ramapo. They moved us to Suffern because it was a place where middle class families could afford a home and a life that gave my siblings and me opportunities we would never have had in the City. Today, that move would be impossible for them. Everything is a lot more expensive, especially housing. Add utilities, groceries, child care and other expenses and it's no wonder the next generation is moving away. They simply can't afford to stay.I've spent my life dealing with some of the world's toughest problems — from our role in the Middle East and the Balkans to how we can combat Russian disinformation. I'm running for Congress to put those skills to work for Hudson Valley families.&nbsp;&nbsp; We cannot continue on this path any longer — we need to change course. The failures in our political system are negatively impacting our economic system. Both systems need a reboot, to value results over words, and to invest in the middle class again.&nbsp; I will work with reform-minded colleagues in both parties to pass real campaign finance reform, ban individual stock trading by members of Congress, tighten lobbying rules to reduce corporate capture, and seriously explore term limits for both Congress and the Supreme Court so no one can make a career out of clinging to power.I also want to return government to the people by creating a deep bench of Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) on key issues, from healthcare and housing, to veterans, small business, the environment, and public safety. These committees will bring local experts and community voices into the room, hold regular public meetings, and provide formal recommendations that will help guide my decision making process and legislative priorities in Congress, ensuring decisions are grounded in the real experiences of the people of this district.My priorities reflect my commitment to Hudson Valley families who, like mine, worked hard and enjoyed a better life as a result. That’s the America I served for three decades in the military and that’s the America I’ll work to bring home if I’m elected to Congress.

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<h3>Meeting Future Energy Needs Will Help Our Climate and Protect Our Environment</h3>Clean, renewable energy is the future, and the United States must lead. Energy policy is not just about climate; it is about economic strength, national security, and lowering costs for families. We are in a global competition for clean-energy leadership, and if we do not act, other nations will. Build the Energy Infrastructure We NeedOne of the biggest barriers to clean energy today is not technology, it is infrastructure. We must:<ul><li>Speed up construction of modern transmission lines to connect renewable energy projects to the grid</li><li>Streamline federal and state permitting while maintaining strong environmental standards</li><li>Invest in grid modernization, including energy storage and resilience, to reduce outages and improve reliability</li></ul>A stronger grid allows new power to come online faster, increases competition, and lowers long-term energy costs for consumers.Expand Renewable Energy and StorageI support a balanced, all-of-the-above clean energy strategy that includes:<ul><li>Solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power</li><li>Investment in energy storage technologies to ensure reliability</li><li>Support for community-scale renewable projects that benefit local economies</li></ul>Expanding renewables reduces emissions, stabilizes energy prices, and creates high-quality domestic jobs. Lower Energy Costs for Families and BusinessesClean energy must deliver real savings. To do that, we should:<ul><li>Extend and target clean-energy tax incentives that lower upfront costs for households and small businesses</li><li>Encourage competition in energy markets to prevent price manipulation</li><li>Reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets that drive price spikes</li></ul>Lower long-term energy costs mean more predictable household budgets and a stronger economy. Protect Local Communities and the EnvironmentEnvironmental protection must be enforced, not waived for convenience. I support:<ul><li>Holding large corporations accountable for environmental damage, including long-standing pollution of the Hudson River</li><li>Fully funding cleanup and remediation efforts so communities are not left with the consequences of corporate negligence</li><li>Ensuring local voices are included in energy development decisions</li></ul>Economic growth cannot come at the expense of public health or irreplaceable natural resources. Compete - and Win - in the Global Clean-Energy EconomyClean energy leadership means:<ul><li>Investing in American manufacturing of renewable technologies</li><li>Strengthening workforce training programs for energy-sector jobs</li><li>Reducing reliance on foreign energy supply chains</li></ul>Leading the clean-energy economy strengthens national security and keeps innovation and jobs here at home.Bottom line: Meeting our future energy needs requires building modern infrastructure, expanding renewable energy, protecting our environment, and lowering costs for families. Clean energy is not just an environmental necessity, it is an economic and national security imperative, and we must lead with urgency, responsibility, and accountability.

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<h3>End Harmful Tariffs and Support Small Business Owners</h3>Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they are being squeezed from every direction. One of the biggest drivers of increased costs is tariffs. While often framed as tough trade policy, tariffs function as a hidden tax on American consumers and small business owners. Roll Back Broad, Unfocused TariffsTariffs raise prices on everyday goods like coffee, cars, and household products, but they also raise the cost of inputs small businesses rely on to operate. I support:<ul><li>Rolling back blanket tariffs that raise costs without delivering real national security or economic benefits</li><li>Conducting regular, transparent reviews of tariffs to assess their impact on consumers, inflation, and small businesses</li><li>Targeting trade enforcement narrowly and strategically, rather than using tariffs as a blunt political tool</li></ul>Trade policy should help American workers and businesses compete, not punish them. Lower Costs for Builders and HomebuyersTariffs on lumber, steel, aluminum, and manufactured components drive up the cost of housing. That hurts everyone. I will work to:<ul><li>Remove tariffs on construction materials that contribute directly to higher housing prices</li><li>Coordinate trade and housing policy so we are not undermining affordability with our own regulations</li><li>Support domestic manufacturing through incentives and investment, not price hikes that stall construction</li></ul>If we want to build more homes, we have to stop making them artificially expensive. Strengthen Small Businesses at HomeEnding harmful tariffs must be paired with policies that help small businesses grow. I support:<ul><li>Expanding access to low-interest capital through community banks and credit unions</li><li>Increasing the Section 179 expensing limit so small businesses can invest in equipment and technology</li><li>Simplifying the tax code and reducing compliance burdens that fall hardest on small firms</li><li>Prioritizing small businesses in federal procurement and supply chains</li></ul>Small businesses don’t need special treatment, they need a fair shot. Fair Trade, Not Trade WarsI believe in fair trade that protects American workers while keeping prices down. That means:<ul><li>Enforcing labor and environmental standards through trade agreements</li><li>Using targeted sanctions and trade remedies against bad actors, not across-the-board tariffs</li><li>Working with allies to counter unfair trade practices instead of acting alone</li></ul>Trade wars raise prices and create uncertainty. Cooperation and strategy deliver results.Bottom line: Tariffs should be used carefully and strategically, not as a political weapon. By rolling back harmful tariffs and focusing on smart trade enforcement, we can lower prices, support small businesses, and make housing and everyday goods more affordable for American families.

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<h3>Housing: Increase Supply, Lower Costs, Build Real Wealth</h3>Housing affordability is one of the major challenges facing families in NY-17. The problem is not complicated: we do not have enough homes, and the homes we do have are increasingly priced out of reach for working and middle-class families. Solving this requires expanding access to ownership and increasing supply, while protecting housing from speculative abuse. Expand Access to Homeownership - Without Creating Lifelong DebtAs a veteran, I benefited from preferred mortgage programs that reduce or eliminate down payments. These programs work, and we should responsibly expand them to qualifying first-time buyers, especially young families, teachers, nurses, first responders, and skilled workers, so long as income and residency requirements are met.What we should not do is push 50-year mortgages. Those products do not build wealth; they trap families in permanent interest payments and create generational debt instead of generational wealth. Homeownership should remain a pathway to stability and wealth, not a financial treadmill. Increase Housing Supply - At ScaleAffordability will not improve unless we significantly increase the number of homes available. I would focus federal policy on:<ul><li>Targeted tax incentives and credits for builders who construct affordable and workforce housing</li><li>Federal support for multi-family housing and apartment construction, particularly near transit and job centers</li><li>Streamlining federal permitting and environmental reviews where appropriate to reduce unnecessary delays and costs</li><li>Converting underused and abandoned commercial properties such as office parks, malls, and retail space, into mixed-income housing</li></ul>Federal incentives should reward actual units built and occupied, not speculation or land banking. Protect the Single-Family Housing MarketLarge corporate investors buying up single-family homes have distorted local markets, driven up prices, and reduced opportunities for families trying to buy their first home. I support:<ul><li>Restrictions or graduated taxes on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes</li><li>Disclosure and transparency requirements so communities know who owns housing stock</li><li>Incentives that prioritize owner-occupants over absentee investors</li></ul>Homes should be places to live, not financial instruments for hedge funds.Meet the Next Generation Where They AreToday’s buyers face higher debt, higher prices, and fewer entry-level homes than any generation before them. Federal policy must reflect today’s reality by pairing responsible financing tools with real supply growth, not slogans or shortcuts.Bottom line: We can lower housing costs, expand ownership, and build real wealth, but only if we stop relying on debt gimmicks and start fixing the supply problem while protecting families from speculative abuse. That’s the approach I will take in Congress.

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<h3>Fix Our Broken Immigration System</h3>America’s immigration system is broken, and has been for decades. We need a serious, comprehensive solution that restores order at the border, upholds the rule of law, and reflects our values as a nation of immigrants. Strong borders and legal pathways are not competing goals, they are inseparable.Secure the Border and Enforce the LawBorder security is essential to national security and public confidence. I support:<ul><li>Modern border management using technology, personnel, and infrastructure, not chaos or cruelty</li><li>Faster processing to quickly distinguish between asylum seekers, legitimate migrants, and bad actors</li><li>Targeted enforcement focused on human traffickers, drug smugglers, and violent criminals, not families seeking work or safety</li></ul>Security works best when the system is functional and orderly, not overwhelmed. Modernize the Asylum SystemThe asylum system is slow, outdated, and easily exploited, which hurts both migrants and communities. We must:<ul><li>Dramatically increase the number of asylum officers and immigration judges to reduce backlogs</li><li>Set clear, consistent standards so claims are reviewed quickly and fairly</li><li>Provide legal orientation and case management to ensure people show up for hearings and comply with the law</li></ul>A fair system depends on speed, clarity, and accountability. Expand Legal Pathways for Work and FamilyWhen legal immigration doesn’t match economic reality, illegal immigration fills the gap. I support:<ul><li>Expanding and modernizing work visa programs tied to real labor needs in agriculture, healthcare, construction, and service industries</li><li>Streamlining family reunification to reduce years-long backlogs</li><li>Creating flexible, market-responsive visa caps that adjust with the economy</li></ul>Legal pathways reduce chaos at the border and strengthen our economy.An Earned Path to CitizenshipFor long-term undocumented residents who contribute to our communities, we need a realistic solution. I support:<ul><li>An earned path to legal status and eventual citizenship for those who have lived here for years, paid taxes, and passed background checks</li><li>Clear requirements and accountability, this is not amnesty</li><li>Protections for Dreamers and mixed-status families</li></ul>This brings millions out of the shadows and into the legal economy. Reject Mass Deportations and Political StuntsMass roundups and mass deportations are costly, ineffective, and harmful. They:<ul><li>Tear families apart and traumatize communities</li><li>Worsen worker shortages and drive up prices for housing, food, and healthcare</li><li>Distract from real enforcement priorities</li></ul>We can enforce the law without abandoning our values or common sense. Immigration as an Economic StrategyImmigration should strengthen America. I will push policies that:<ul><li>Align immigration with workforce needs</li><li>Protect workers from exploitation so wages are not undercut</li><li>Support local governments and schools that manage population growth</li></ul>When immigration is legal, orderly, and fair, it benefits everyone.Bottom line: We need an immigration system that is tough, fair, and functional; one that secures the border, enforces the law, expands legal pathways, and treats people with dignity. Politics and slogans have failed us. Serious reform is the only way forward.

<h3>Education and Apprenticeships that Lead to Good-Paying Jobs</h3>Education should be a pathway to opportunity, not a lifetime of debt. To compete in a rapidly changing economy shaped by automation and AI, we must modernize how we prepare students and workers for good-paying careers. That means expanding access to higher education and trade schools, strengthening apprenticeships, and aligning education with real workforce needs. Expand Access to Affordable Higher EducationWe need to ensure that cost is not a barrier to opportunity. I support:<ul><li>Increased federal support for community colleges and public universities to lower tuition and fees</li><li>Expanded need-based grants and targeted loan forgiveness for graduates entering high-demand fields</li><li>Clear, career-focused pathways that help students understand the return on investment of their education</li></ul>Education should open doors, not trap families in unmanageable debt. Strengthen Trade Schools, BOCES, and Career &amp; Technical EducationNot every successful career requires a four-year degree, and our policies should reflect that reality. I will:<ul><li>Fully fund BOCES and Career &amp; Technical Education (CTE) programs</li><li>Invest in modern equipment and facilities that reflect today’s workforce needs</li><li>Ensure trade credentials are portable, respected, and recognized across industries</li></ul>These programs provide direct pathways to skilled, well-paid jobs and deserve the same respect and support as traditional academic tracks. Build Apprenticeships through Business PartnershipsWe should look to successful international models, such as Germany, where education and industry work together. I support:<ul><li>Incentives for businesses to partner with trade schools and community colleges</li><li>Paid apprenticeship programs that combine classroom learning with on-the-job training</li><li>Tax credits and federal matching funds for companies that hire and train apprentices</li></ul>Apprenticeships allow people to earn while they learn and enter the workforce without crushing debt. Prepare Workers for Automation and AIThe economy is changing, and our workforce must be ready. I will focus on:<ul><li>Expanding reskilling and upskilling programs for mid-career workers</li><li>Supporting training in high-growth fields such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, and technology</li><li>Ensuring lifelong learning opportunities are accessible to workers at every stage of their careers</li></ul>Preparing for AI and automation means investing in people—not fearing innovation. Make the Hudson Valley a Hub for InnovationWith the right investment, the Hudson Valley can be a national leader in innovation. That requires:<ul><li>Connecting schools, businesses, and research institutions</li><li>Supporting entrepreneurship and workforce pipelines tied to local industries</li><li>Keeping talented graduates in the region by creating real job opportunities</li></ul>The next great American innovations can come from right here, if we give students and workers the tools they need to succeed.Bottom line: Education policy must be practical, affordable, and connected to real careers. By investing in universities, trade schools, apprenticeships, and workforce training, we can create opportunity, strengthen our economy, and ensure that hard work leads to good-paying jobs in the Hudson Valley and beyond.

<h3>Health Care Should Not Lead to Bankruptcy</h3>No American should face financial ruin because they get sick. Yet today, too many families go directly from a devastating diagnosis to overwhelming medical debt. Fixing this requires strengthening coverage, lowering costs at their source, and protecting the programs millions rely on, while continuing to encourage medical innovation.Strengthen and Restore the Affordable Care ActRestoring full ACA support for qualifying Americans is the fastest and most effective way to stabilize coverage and reduce medical bankruptcies. This includes:<ul><li>Preserving and expanding ACA premium subsidies for middle- and working-class families</li><li>Strengthening protections for pre-existing conditions</li><li>Improving outreach and enrollment so eligible Americans receive coverage</li></ul>A stable insurance market lowers uncompensated care costs, which ultimately reduces premiums for everyone.Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social SecurityI oppose any cuts, caps, or block grants to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security. These programs are pillars of health and economic security, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Instead of weakening them, we should:<ul><li>Allow Medicare to fully negotiate drug prices across a broader range of medications</li><li>Reduce administrative waste and overbilling through smarter oversight</li><li>Expand access to preventive and primary care to reduce costly emergency interventions</li></ul>Cutting care does not save money, it shifts costs onto families and hospitals.Lower Costs by Addressing the Drivers of Health Care SpendingTo make health care affordable, we must focus on what really drives costs:<ul><li>Prescription drugs: Expand federal drug price negotiation and promote faster approval of generics and biosimilars</li><li>Hospital costs: Increase transparency in pricing and limit anti-competitive hospital consolidation</li><li>Administrative overhead: Simplify billing and insurance processes that add cost without improving care</li></ul>Lower costs should come from efficiency and competition, not from denying care.Expand Access While Encouraging InnovationWe can expand access to health care without undermining medical progress. That means:<ul><li>Supporting public-private research partnerships that reduce early-stage risk while preserving innovation incentives</li><li>Protecting intellectual property timelines while preventing price gouging on long-established drugs</li><li>Investing in domestic manufacturing of critical medicines to improve supply stability and reduce costs</li></ul>Innovation should benefit patients, not price them out of treatment.Focus on Prevention and Community-Based CareBetter outcomes cost less. I support:<ul><li>Expanded access to preventive screenings and mental health care</li><li>Increased support for community health centers and rural providers</li><li>Integrating behavioral health into primary care settings</li></ul>Preventive care reduces long-term costs and improves quality of life.Honor Commitments to Veterans Through a VA System That WorksVeterans should not face delays, understaffing, or gaps in care after serving their country. I support:&nbsp;<ul><li>Fully funding the Department of Veterans Affairs, focused on staffing, modern equipment, and timely access to both physical and mental health services&nbsp;</li><li>Facilities that serve our region. Montrose VA Medical Center must have the capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality care close to home&nbsp;</li></ul>The VA system should work to prevent health issues from becoming lifelong disabilities, reduce long-term costs, and reflect a basic commitment to those who served.Bottom line: Health care policy should protect families from bankruptcy, preserve essential programs, lower costs through smarter policy, and ensure continued medical innovation. We can build a system that is affordable, accessible, and sustainable, without forcing Americans to choose between their health and their financial future.

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<h3>I want to serve every member of the Hudson Valley community</h3>I am a proud member of this community, here to represent every constituent regardless of party registration. If you have additional ideas for these or other priorities, please feel free to email them to me at <a style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);" href="mailto:john@cappelloforcongress.com">john@cappelloforcongress.com</a>. I’d love to hear from you.&nbsp;

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Read John Cappello's Priorities that Lead to Affordability as he runs for Congress.

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"Every opportunity I've had — the opportunity to attend the Air Force Academy, to serve my country, to live my dream — I've had because I was fortunate enough to grow up in this community. At this time, when so many people are feeling those opportunities are increasingly out of reach and Congress is abdicating its responsibilities, I feel my own responsibility to step up, give back, and serve so future generations can have the same — or better — opportunities than I had."

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Service to the Community that Gave Me Everything

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"I remain incredibly optimistic about the future of America. We've been through tough times before and we've emerged stronger as a country.My optimism isn't naivety. I've taught history to Air Force cadets who are still volunteering to serve because they believe in America. I've also seen how hard people will fight for democracy. I have seen what happens when we acknowledge our differences and take a commonsense approach to our common problems: nothing can stop us."

Better Days Are Within Reach

"Our country was conceived in the ideal that ‘all men are created equal’ — I still believe in that commitment to equality.&nbsp;This is who we are as Americans. We must continue to strive to make 'a more perfect union.'We are at our best when we act in a way that is consistent with our ideals. We must not retreat from this promise to each other."

Recommitting to Equality

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John Cappello is running for Congress in New York's 17th district