Stefanik discussed her committee’s act to enhance military spouses and co-sponsoring another act on Lyme disease, plus backed President Donald Trump’s administration’s stance on North Korea.

In recent weeks, the North Korea denuclearization has been stop-and-go with the presidential administration sending a letter on Thursday cancelling the summit. Stefanik said she believes Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are on the right track when it comes to setting preconditions before the summit meeting.

“I think we need to continue to assert strong leadership to make sure their (Trump) preconditions met before we go to the table,” Stefanik said. “I know that has been this administration’s policy in the beginning, that’s what I support.”

On Thursday, Stefanik and the House Armed Services Committee found out their National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The act aims to address military spouse unemployment, improved artificial intelligence, attain the east coast missile defense and other related facets.

“It was bipartisan,” Stefanik said of NDAA. “It helps streamline the process for spouses to find potential employment. The reason why that is relevant to a district like mine is, whether you think about Fort Drum, which is an Army base or I have a Naval facility in the Saratoga County area … you have military spouses and military family members. You want to make sure there are jobs in the community (for them).”

Stefanik cosponsored the Tick-Borne Diseases Control and Accountability Act, H.R. 5900, on Friday. The effort is to treat and prevent Lyme disease and it builds off of 21st Century Cures Act, where Stefanik helped begin the legislation. She stated that 90 percent of Lyme disease cases are reported from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The Adirondack region is no exception.

“It is super important,” Stefanik stressed of Lyme disease in the greater Glens Falls area. “If you look at the cases of Lyme disease, it is much more prevalent in the northeast and if you specifically look in our region, it is a huge challenge.”

On the Barkeater Chocolates tour, Stefanik met co-owners Debbie and Jim Morris at 3235 New York Route 28, North Creek. The owners described their 10-year endeavor through the chocolate world and also showed the congresswoman the building and their future of expansion.

In one room, two opposing walls hoisted maps. One was of the United States, while the other had the world. They had pins that were placed by visitors showing where they came from and the reach of Barkeater and the Adirondacks.

Stefanik bolstered the local impact the chocolate maker has.

“The tour was great,” Stefanik said. “...I was pleased to see the positive experience of (Barkeater Chocolates) working with the small business administration as well as USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) as well as the SBDC (small business development center) in Plattsburgh.”

“It’s also great to hear about some of the younger team members who studied locally at SUNY Adirondack,” she continued, “and how that is a pipeline for local jobs.”