Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents New York’s 17th congressional district, recently used his social media platform to highlight several legislative and community initiatives. His posts addressed federal support for drug prevention efforts, new legislation concerning military reservists’ recognition, and the anniversary of Social Security.
On August 13, 2025, Lawler announced local recipients of federal grants in his district: “Great news for the Valley! @ONDCP has awarded Drug-Free Communities (DFC) continuation grants to support local efforts to prevent youth substance use right here in NY-17. Some local recipients include: Tarrytown, Bedford Hills, Carmel, Wappingers Falls, Suffern, Granite”. The DFC program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and aims to reduce youth substance use through evidence-based prevention strategies at the community level.
Later that day on August 13, Lawler discussed a legislative initiative for military reservists: “Proud to introduce the GRAVE Act, which amends current law that excludes from receiving a VA headstone or grave marker simply because they were never activated, and ensures our reservists aren’t forgotten simply because they weren’t called up. They were always ready, and that’s”. This act would address a gap in veterans’ recognition by allowing reservists who were not called to active duty to receive VA headstones or grave markers.
On August 14, Lawler marked an important milestone for a key federal program: “Happy 90th Birthday, Social Security! Millions of Americans retire with security and dignity with the help of Social Security. I’ll keep working to make sure Social Security remains strong, accessible, and reliable by protecting it for those who need it most.” Social Security has been a cornerstone of retirement security in the United States since its inception in 1935.
The DFC grant program is one component of ongoing national efforts to combat youth substance abuse through funding community-based organizations. The GRAVE Act seeks to close existing gaps regarding veterans’ honors for reservists—a group historically excluded from some forms of posthumous recognition if not activated for service. Meanwhile, marking Social Security’s anniversary highlights continued political focus on sustaining this benefit as demographic shifts place increased demands on its solvency.
