Tomorrow we'll gather with friends and loved ones to share thanks for the abundance in our lives. It's a reminder to be grateful, every day, for the soldiers and veterans, and their families, who have sacrificed so much for our freedom--and, especially in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, for the first responders who give their all when their neighbors need help in a crisis.

This year Thanksgiving comes just after a big election. While I won't be returning to Washington this time around, knowing how many dear and generous and supportive friends I have is a blessing for which I'm profoundly grateful. I'll honor it by continuing to do everything I can to assure that our Hudson Valley, and our country, will have the future of opportunity and prosperity they deserve. I became a citizen legislator to use my skills and experience to make government work better and smarter for the people, and it's very clear that we still have a lot to accomplish together in the coming months and years!