Congressman Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) represents New York's 24^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Born and raised in Utica, New York, Arcuri still lives in Utica with his wife, Sabrina, and their three children. Congressman Arcuri received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany and his law degree from New York Law School in New York City.  After passing the NYS Bar, he returned to Utica to open his own law practice, where he frequently represented children and families.  Arcuri also served as District Attorney in Oneida County for 13 years, and during that time took an active role in working with local law enforcement to successfully reduce violent crime and create the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.

Since taking office in January 2007, Arcuri has been fighting for the families, small businesses, seniors, veterans and farmers of Upstate New York.  Arcuri serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and House Rules Committee where he works to bring resources back to Upstate New York to build the local economy and create good-paying jobs.  Arcuri is currently focusing on the development a high-speed rail system across Upstate New York to improve transportation and spur economic activity.

Arcuri sponsored bipartisan legislation - which is now law - to create the Northern Border Economic Development Commission, allocating resources each year for job creation and economic development to regions like Upstate New York. Arcuri believes that the future of the Upstate New York economy relies on utilizing our region's rich natural resources, which is why he championed legislation that invests in alternative energy technology, reduces consumer costs and aims to grow our local economy through the creation of "green collar" jobs.

To help small business owners and families succeed, Arcuri led the charge in support of the Small Business Tax Relief Act, which provides $1.3 billion in tax relief for small businesses and family farms. Arcuri has voted over 20 times to provide tax relief for working families and small businesses.

Looking ahead to future generations, Arcuri is working to ensure that our children have the educational opportunities they need to succeed in a global economy. Arcuri was an original co-sponsor of the College Student Relief Act, which cut interest rates on federal student loans in half and he voted to increase Pell Grants to help working families send their children to college.

Arcuri is also fighting on behalf of Upstate New York's seniors.  Arcuri is sponsoring legislation to protect seniors from identity theft by prohibiting federal agencies from printing seniors' social security numbers on Medicare and other federal identification cards.  Arcuri was named, "Legislator of the Year" in 2009 for sponsoring legislation to help install fire safety equipment in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in order to protect seniors from deadly fires. Congressman Arcuri also remains a strong opponent of privatizing Social Security.

Arcuri's father fought in WWII, which drives him to help maintain our nation's commitment to veterans.  Congressman Arcuri created a veterans advisory committee to advise him regarding issues important to local veterans and their families.  Arcuri earned a 100% pro-veterans voting record during his first-term in Congress for his support of legislation to provide the largest funding increase in history for the Veterans Administration, increase compensation for veterans, and support for a new GI Bill that provides full, four year college scholarships to returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Agriculture remains a critical component of the Upstate New York economy, and Arcuri remains committed to creating an economic environment where local family farms can thrive.