Rep. Garbarino, challenger Halpin clash over Trump, immigration and congressional leadership in South Shore race

They're now less than a week away from election day. This morning, we're highlighting a South Shore congressional contest where national issues are taking center stage here at home. Transparency and communication are needed now more than ever. Congressman Andrew Garbarino may be the most powerful member of Long Island's congressional delegation. The Republican from Bayport is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, a high-profile perch with key oversight responsibilities. When I go to Congress, I make sure that I'm Long Island first. But Garbarino insists he's also kept his eye on the ball here at home, delivering on a series of issues that matter to Long Islanders. The SALT deduction increase, the 9/11, fully funding the World Trade Center health program, returning over $2 billion to New York State that was being held up by FEMA. I'm running for Congress because I've got two adult daughters and a little granddaughter. So what kind of a country are they going to have? Garbarino's opponent is former Suffolk County Executive and State Assemblyman Pat Halpin. The Democrat from Oak Beach hasn't run for office in years, but says he was drawn back into the fray by his frustration with the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. The Republican Party that I have always worked with as county executive, as a state assemblyman, that party is gone. It's now the MAGA party. Halpin ties the affordability crisis to the war in Iran, a war Halpin says Congress and Garbarino should have stopped. His votes have been six times to keep this war in Iran going. He and the Congress, this is an illegal war. Only Congress can declare war. Halpin also says Garbarino hasn't done enough as Homeland Security Committee chairman to rein in ICE. Garbarino says that just isn't true, citing a series of public hearings and bipartisan closed-door meetings. We are asking the tough questions and making sure that the administration just can't get away with whatever it wants. Now, Republicans have long held this congressional seat, dating back to the days of another Homeland Security Committee chairman, now retired Congressman Peter King.