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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving New York Newsletter for Sunday January 19, 2020 ( 126 items )  

10 Years After Disastrous Citizens United Decision, Reps. Rose, Porter, Freshmen Dems Launch New 'End Corruption' Caucus
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: * * * - Following passage of H.R. 1, the most sweeping anti-corruption effort in a generation, Freshmen Members band together to continue fight against corruption * * * Congressmembers Max Rose (NY-11) and Katie Porter (CA-45) announced with fellow Freshmen Members of Congress and End Citizens United Action Fund a new Congressional caucus, End Corruption. This group of Members, who have been leade  more

6 Trump Nominees, Including Government Publishing Office Director, Confirmed by Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of six individuals for positions in the federal government on Dec. 4: Hugh Nathanial Halpern, of Virginia, to be Director of the Government Publishing Office. John L. Sinatra, Jr., of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York. Sarah E. Pitlyk, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. Douglas Russell Cole, of Ohio, to be United States District J  more

8 Trump Nominees, Including Assistant Navy Secretary, Received by Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Senate received the nominations of eight individuals for positions in the Trump Administration on Dec. 2: Charles Williams, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy. John Peter Cronan, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. William Scott Hardy, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania. John F. Heil III, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judg  more

Chairman Nadler Announces House Judiciary Investigation Into Trump Administration's Remain in Mexico Policy
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: * * * - On the one-year anniversary of the introduction of the Keep Families Together Act, the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship announced that it will be investigating the Administration's implementation of the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy * * * Today, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), alon  more

Chairman Nadler Introduces Bipartisan 'Eyes on the Courts Act' Allowing Cameras in the Courtroom
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - By requiring cameras in all Supreme Court and federal appellate court proceedings, the "Eyes on the Court Act" would finally bring cases addressing some of the most important issues facing our country into the public view. * * * House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), along with Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL), Gerry Connolly (D-V  more

Chairman Nadler Requests Documents in Response to DOJ Inspector General FISA Report
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), sent a letter to Attorney General Barr and FBI Director Wray to request documents. The documents requested are necessary to facilitate the Committee's consideration of potential reforms to underlying authorities within the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Full text of the letter is available below   more

Citing Local Impact, Rep. Katko Calls on USDA to Review New SNAP Rules and Ensure Food Security for Central New Yorkers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24), sent a letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue engaging with food security stakeholders to ensure individuals in Central New York and vulnerable communities nationwide are not adversely impacted by new requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition assistance Program (SNAP). This letter comes in response to the USDA's   more

Congressman Higgins Announces $1.5 Million YouthBuild Award for the Service Collaborative of Western New York
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Participants to Receive Career Training In Construction, Hospitality and Advanced Manufacturing * * * Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced a $1.5 million federal grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor to The Service Collaborative of Western New York for their Western New York YouthBuild: Leaders Under Construction Program. YouthBuild combines education and job skill developme  more

Congressman Higgins Announces House Action to Protect Student Borrowers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Measure Aims to Reverse a DeVos Rule that Would Deny Debt Relief to Students Defrauded by Predatory Colleges * * * The House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 76, cosponsored by Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), to reverse a rule put forth by the U.S. Department of Education that would deny debt relief to students defrauded by their college, university, or other institution of hi  more

Congressman Joe Morelle Calls for Universal Childcare for Working Families
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: * * * - Following Children's Agenda report on childcare crisis in Monroe County, Rep. Morelle announces sponsorship of Childcare for Working Families Act * * * Following a report this week from The Children's Agenda outlining the extent of this childcare crisis in Monroe County, Rep. Joe Morelle announced his sponsorship of the Childcare for Working Families Act and recommitted to fighting f  more

Congressman Joe Morelle, Local Advocates Push for Federal Assistance to Provide Relief to Puerto Rico Following Earthquakes
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Urges President Trump to approve major disaster declaration and provide resources to help families in Puerto Rico recover from devastating natural disasters * * * Congressman Joe Morelle is urging President Trump to provide federal assistance to Puerto Rico as the island recovers from last week's devastating earthquakes. "Puerto Ricans are American citizens--and we have a moral responsibility   more

Congressman Morelle, Local Advocates Announce $1.5 Million in Funding for Early Childhood Services
ROCHESTER, New York, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Funding will expand All Kids Thrive, strengthen support services for children in need * * * Congressman Joe Morelle and local partners announced $1.5 million in funding has been awarded to the All Kids Thrive program to strengthen early childhood services. This funding is awarded over three years and made available through a $40 Million Preschool Development Birth Through Five grant fr  more

Engel Demands Documents From State Department on Potential Threat to Ambassador Yovanovitch's Security
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, demanded documents from the Department of State connected to recently revealed records suggesting surveilling of and threats to the security of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch before she was recalled from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Documents disclosed yesterday as eviden  more

GAO Issues Report on Counternarcotics, Treasury Reports Some Results from Designating Drug Kingpins, but Should Improve Information on Agencies' Expenditures
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on counternarcotics. The report (GAO-20-112) is entitled "Treasury Reports Some Results from Designating Drug Kingpins, but Should Improve Information on Agencies' Expenditures". The report was sent to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vermont, chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, chairman, House Foreign Affairs sub  more

House Appropriations Committee: House Democrats Release Puerto Rico Earthquake Supplemental
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - $3.35 billion emergency supplemental provides robust funding for educational needs, transportation infrastructure repairs, and disaster relief activities * * * House Democrats, led by House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), released emergency spending legislation to provide additional support to Puerto Rico following a ser  more

House Conducted 16 Committee Hearings for Jan. 15
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 16 committee hearings on Jan. 15, 2020: DOD'S ROLE IN COMPETING WITH CHINA Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled "DOD's Role in Competing with China". Testimony was heard from public witnesses. WHY FEDERAL INVESTMENTS MATTER: STABILITY FROM CONGRESS TO STATE CAPITALS Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled "Why Federal Investments Matter: Stability from Congress to State   more

House Financial Services Committee Issues Report on ESG Disclosure Simplification Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- The House Financial Services Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-365) on legislation (H.R. 4329) to provide for disclosure of additional material information about public companies and establish a Sustainable Finance Advisory Committee. The report was advanced by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-New York, on Jan. 7. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose and Summary...3 Background and Need for Legislation...4 Section-by-Section Analysis...5 Hearings...7 Committee Considerati  more

House Financial Services Committee Issues Testimony From Greater Jamaica Development
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The House Financial Services subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions issued the following testimony on Jan. 14 by Hope Knight, president and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp., at a hearing entitled "The Community Reinvestment Act: Reviewing Who Wins and Who Loses with Comptroller Ottings Proposal": My name is Hope Knight and I am the President and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC). GJDC is a non-profit that works t  more

House Homeland Security Committee Issues Testimony From Atlantic Council
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The House Homeland Security Committee issued the following testimony on Jan. 15 by Thomas S. Warrick, non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, at a hearing entitled "U.S.-Iran Tensions: Implications for Homeland Security": In the morning hours of Wednesday, January 8, 2020, Iraqi time, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) fired 22 surface-to-surface missiles at two Iraqi airbases, Al-Asad and Irbil, killing no one. According to the New York Tim  more

House Oversight & Reform Committee Seeks Information Related to Hazardous Conditions at Uzbekistan Air Base
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, sent letters to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense seeking information related to press reports that U.S. servicemembers and special operations forces who deplo  more

House Oversight & Reform Committee Sets Hearing on Facial Recognition Technology, Part III
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- The House Oversight and Reform Committee issued the following hearing information: "Facial Recognition Technology (Part III): Ensuring Commercial Transparency and Accuracy" at 2154 Rayburn House Office Building at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15: WITNESSES: * Brenda Leong, Senior Counsel and Director of AI and Ethics, Future of Privacy Forum * Charles Romine, Director, Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology * Meredith Whittaker, Co-Founder  more

House Overwhelmingly Passes Rep. Maloney Bill to Close Trading Loophole
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: The House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney's (D-NY) H.R. 4335, the 8-K Trading Gap Act, to fix a loophole in our current law that allows corporate executives to trade on information before it's disclosed to the public and to their own shareholders. Currently, when there's a significant corporate event at a public company, the company must disclose that significant event to the   more

House Speaker Pelosi Issues Floor Remarks in Support of Resolution to Appoint Impeachment Managers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, issued the following floor remarks: Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.Res. 798, which appoints Chair Adam Schiff of California, Chair Jerry Nadler of New York, Chair Zoe Lofgren of California, Chair Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Congresswoman Val Demings of Florida, Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas as Impeachment Managers an  more

House Speaker Pelosi Issues Statement on Rep. Beyer as Vice Chair of Joint Economic Committee
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, issued the following statement: Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Congressman Don Beyer of Virginia to be Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, replacing Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York. "On behalf of House Democrats, it is a privilege to announce Congressman Don Beyer as the new Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee for the 116th Congress," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "As a powerful voice in Congress and on the Joint   more

House Speaker Pelosi Issues Transcript on House Impeachment Managers Announcement
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, issued the following transcript: Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Chair Adam Schiff of California, Chair Jerry Nadler of New York, Chair Zoe Lofgren of California, Chair Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Congresswoman Val Demings of Florida, Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas to announce their appointments as Impeachment Managers. Below is a full transcript: Speaker Pelosi. Good morning, everyone.   more

Members of House Foreign Affairs Committee Issue Statement on Threats Against Human Rights Defender Esperance
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with chairman of the committee, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, and members - Reps. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, Francis Rooney, R-Florida, Gregory Meeks,D-New York, Andy Levin, D-Michigan, and Ted Yoho, R-Florida, to express solidarity with Haitian human rights defender Pierre Esperance and to condemn the threats made against him following his C  more

Rep. Beyer Issues Statement on Appointment as Joint Economic Committee Vice Chair
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named him as the Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, replacing Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York: "On behalf of House Democrats, it is a privilege to announce Congressman Don Beyer as the new Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee for the 116th Congress," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "As a powerful voice in Congress and on the Joint Economic Committee, Congressman Beyer h  more

Rep. Brindisi Champions Upstate Veterans & Introduces Chuck Osier Burial Benefits Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Congressman Introduces Bill to Right Wrong on Behalf of Sherrill Veteran Chuck Osier - Working with Osier Family, Congressman's Legislation Would Expand VA Burial Benefits to Non-Traditional Burials * * * Congressman Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs', joined Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-6) to introduce bipartisan legislation to extend VA burial b  more

Rep. Brindisi Joins Town of Vernon Officials Calling on New York State to Answer on Water Quality
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: Congressman Anthony Brindisi announced a new effort to demand transparency from the state of New York and improve water quality in Vernon. Brindisi, joined by Vernon Town Supervisor Randy Watson and County Legislator Keith Schiebel, called on New York State to answer questions about water quality in the hamlet of Vernon Center. "Clean, safe, and drinkable water should be a basic right for al  more

Rep. Brindisi Protects Older Americans From Age Discrimination
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Congressman Votes to Expand Protections for Older Americans Amid Rising Age Discrimination - Brindisi: Older Americans have a lot to offer and should not face discrimination in the workplace * * * Congressman Anthony Brindisi fought to protect older Americans from age discrimination by passing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. The bipartisan legislation lowers the burd  more

Rep. Brindisi Touts Rome Lab's Quantum Research During Armed Services Committee Hearing on Emerging Threats From China
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Anthony Brindisi, a member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, grilled witnesses during a hearing on the Department of Defense's (DOD) role in competing with China. Brindisi championed the work being done at Rome Lab in Upstate New York. Recently in 2017, Rome Lab took a major step in its quantum research by becoming the first Department of Defense Lab to trap an ion, which was   more

Rep. Delgado Helps Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Discrimination Against Older Workers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined a bipartisan coalition in voting to pass the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This bill ensures older workers have the tools to fight back against age discrimination by restoring the same legal protections against discrimination based on age as those that exist for discrimination based on race, sex, nationality, and religion. "With m  more

Rep. Delgado Issues Floor Remarks to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following floor remarks on Jan. 15: U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) spoke on the House floor to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in advance of the upcoming MLK Day of Service on January 20, 2020. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks. Click here (https://www.facebook.com/RepAntonioDelgado/videos/2308327286124164/) to watch Rep. Delgado's full remarks. "Thank you. Madam Speaker, I rise today  more

Rep. Delgado Issues Statement on Anniversary of Death of Senior Chief Petty Officer Kent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following statement on Jan. 16: "One year ago today, our nation lost a heroic soul who gave the ultimate sacrifice during her fifth deployment to the Middle East, Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent, of Pine Plains, New York. SCPO Kent was a skilled Navy cryptologist, in addition to being a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and an American hero. "A year after her tragic passing, she lives in the hearts of all who k  more

Rep. Delgado Issues Statement on Mount Academy Visit, Discusses Public Service With Students
ESOPUS, New York, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following statement on Jan. 17: This morning, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) visited the Mount Academy in Esopus where he toured the school, addressed students in grades nine through twelve on the importance of public service and his experiences during his first year in Congress, and answered questions. "I believe that civic engagement and public service are some of the most important things to be talking a  more

Rep. Delgado Leads 22 Members in Bipartisan Effort to Make New York Eligible for $16 Billion in Broadband Grants
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Following the FCC's decision to make New York State ineligible for billions in broadband grant funding, Rep. Delgado leads bipartisan delegation response * * * U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) led a bipartisan group of his New York delegation colleagues in a letter expressing deep disappointment in the Federal Communications Commission's recent announcement that New York State is in  more

Rep. Delgado Votes to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Address Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following news release: Last night, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined a broad bipartisan coalition in voting to pass the Veteran HOUSE Act of 2020 to expand eligibility for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which provides HUD housing vouchers to homeless veterans. The bill would also require an annual report to Congress on homelessness services provided to veterans. "No man or wom  more

Rep. Engel Issues Opening Statement at Committee Hearing on U.S. Lessons Learned in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 15 for a full committee hearing on U.S. lessons learned in Afghanistan: "Our nation has been at war in Afghanistan for more than 18 years. "Eighteen years. Let that sink in. "More than 2,000 American lives lost and thousands more wounded. More than 60,000 Afghan deaths. And more than $900 billion dollars spent on a war that has dragged on for almost t  more

Rep. Engel Issues Remarks at Committee Hearing to Evaluate Trump Administration Iran Policy
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following opening remarks on Jan. 14 at a full committee hearing to evaluate the Trump administration's Iran policy: "Under the Trump Administration, we've seen tensions with Iran ratchet up, bit by bit, to a point earlier this month when it seemed we were on the brink of war. "Iran bears much of the blame for this escalation. The regime is the world's most prolific state-sponsor  more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on 10th Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 12: Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Representatives Sires, Clarke, Hastings, Deutch, Lee, Meeks, Jeffries, Lowey, Wilson, Espaillat, Wasserman Schultz, Shalala, Levin, Mucarsel-Powell, Omar, and Diaz-Balart today made the following statement on the tenth anniversary of the January 12, 2010 earthquak  more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on GAO Report Regarding President Trump Withholding Ukraine Security Assistance
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 16 on the finding by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office that President Trump violated the law by withholding security assistance to Ukraine: "The evidence in the impeachment inquiry was clear as day that the President abused the power of his office for personal political gain, jeopardizing our national security in the process. Today's repo  more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on Modernizing Federal Cannabis Laws
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following statement on Jan. 16: On January 15, 2020, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on modernizing federal oversight of cannabis. Congressman Engel, a top Member of the committee, submitted a statement for the record underscoring the public health need for updated regulations: "Thank you Chairwoman Eshoo and Chairman Pallone for holding today's important hearing on legislative proposals to modernize fe  more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on Potential Threats to Ambassador Yovanovitch Security
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee issued the following statement: "Documents turned over to the Intelligence Committee by Lev Parnas include a profoundly alarming dialogue between Mr. Parnas and Robert Hyde, a Trump donor. The messages suggest a possible risk to Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch's security in Kyiv before she was recalled from her post last year. These threats occurred at the same time that the two men were also disc  more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on Potential Threats to Ambassador Yovanovitch's Security
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 15 regarding the potential threats to U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch's security: "Documents turned over to the Intelligence Committee by Lev Parnas include a profoundly alarming dialogue between Mr. Parnas and Robert Hyde, a Trump donor. The messages suggest a possible risk to Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch's security in Kyiv before she was   more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on Russian President Putin's Constitutional Changes
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 15 regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's constitutional changes: "What we saw in Russia today was a fully-fledged assault on its constitution and the rule of law. Make no mistake -- the changes put forth by President Vladimir Putin are nothing more than a codification of his desire to be dictator for life of Russia and its people. "Time and ti  more

Rep. Engel Issues Statement on Secretary Pompeo's Decision Not to Testify at Iran Hearing
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Secretary of State Michael Pompeo's decision not to testify at Iran hearing: "I'm disappointed and frustrated that Secretary Pompeo will not appear before the committee tomorrow. "Each passing day raises new questions about the strike that killed General Soleimani. "Was there really an imminent threat? Was it part of a larger operation? What was the lega  more

Rep. Engel Sets New Date for Hearing With Pompeo on Iran, Iraq, and the Use of Force in the Region
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following news release: Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has announced a new date to hear testimony from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Trump Administration's policy toward Iran, Iraq, and the use of force in the region. In a letter to Secretary Pompeo, Chairman Engel wrote, "As the Administration's public face of this policy, your participation at this hearing is necessary   more

Rep. Engel Votes to Protect Older Americans Against Age Discrimination
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Eliot Engel joined 260 of his House colleagues this week in voting to pass H.R. 1230, the Protecting Older Americans Against Age Discrimination Act, bipartisan legislation that would level the playing field for older workers and restore their rights to fight back against age discrimination in the workplace. Age discrimination is a serious problem for many older Americans. A 2013 AARP study found  more

Rep. Fudge Issues Statement in Support of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio, issued the following statement: Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations, issued a statement of support Friday for the lawsuit brought by a coalition of 14 states, the District of Columbia and New York City to block implementation of the Administration's final rule that will strip Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from nearly 700,000 hungry people  more

Rep. Katko Announces $10.5 Million in Federal Funds to Reduce Homelessness in Central New York
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: This afternoon, U.S. Representative John Katko (NY-24) announced $10.5 million in federal funds for community organizations in Central New York focused on combating homelessness. These awards are from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of the Homeless Assistance Grant's Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, a program which provides nonprofits as well as State and local gov  more

Rep. Katko Issues Statement Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 16, entitled "Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act": I rise in support of H.R. 1230, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This bipartisan and commonsense legislation will level the playing field for older workers in Central New York and across the country by restoring the ability to combat age discrimination in the workpla  more

Rep. Lowey Announces $100K in Federal Funds for Historic Hudson Valley
TARRYTOWN, New York, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Rockland/Westchester), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that Historic Hudson Valley in Tarrytown, NY, will receive $100,000 through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support the project People Not Property: Stories of Slavery in the Colonial North and enhance their digital tools to assist educators as they teach this s  more

Rep. Lowey Issues Statement on GAO Declaring President Trump Ukraine Aid Withholding Illegal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office determined that the Trump administration violated federal budget law by withholding security assistance to Ukraine: "The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has confirmed what Congressional Democrats have understood all along: President Trump abused his power and broke the law by withholding security assistanc  more

Rep. Maloney Calls on National Credit Union Association to Place Immediate Moratorium on Taxi Medallion Loan Foreclosures
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, called on the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) to place an immediate moratorium on both taxi medallion loan foreclosures and sales of taxi medallion loans currently owned by the NCUA. The letter comes in light of a New York City Medallion Task Force proposal to provide as much as $500 million in debt relief to borr  more

Rep. Maloney Calls on Trump to Defend Ambassador Recalled for Defending LGBTQ People
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Daniel Foote, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, was removed by the Trump Administration after speaking out in support of imprisoned LGBTQ couple * * * Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) called on the Trump Administration to explain the recall of Daniel Foote, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia. Rep. Maloney was joined by 53 Members of the House of Representatives. Amb. Foote was recalled after speaking o  more

Rep. Maloney Helps Pass Bipartisan Bill to Protect Older Workers From Discrimination
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) helped pass the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, important bipartisan legislation that will ensure older workers and job seekers are not discriminated against because of their age. "No New Yorker should face discrimination in the workplace. Period. End of Story," said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. "As our workforce ages, it's important that we stan  more

Rep. Maloney Introduces Bill to Ensure Breastfeeding Rights for Working Moms
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) introduced the PUMP (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) for Nursing Mothers Act. This bill will close unintentional gaps in the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Act to ensure that millions of working mothers have the access and protections they need to breastfeed should they choose to do so. "As the first woman to give birth while serving on the New York City Co  more

Rep. Maloney Issue Statement on Transmission of Additional Evidence as Part of Impeachment Inquiry
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 14: The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Committee on Foreign Affairs provided additional evidence to the Committee on the Judiciary to be included as part of the official record that will be transmitted to the Senate along with the Articles of Impeachment. The evidence provided includes p  more

Rep. Maloney Issues Statement on Becoming Sponsor of CARE Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following statement after becoming the sponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act (H.R. 2569): "I am honored to continue the work started by Chairman Elijah Cummings in becoming the lead sponsor of the CARE Act, his bill to expand access to substance use disorder treatment. "The Committee has heard from medical experts and public health officials on th  more

Rep. Maloney Issues Statement on GAO Finding That President Trump Violated Federal Law by Withholding Security Assistance From Ukraine
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 16 after the independent Government Accountability Office issued a legal opinion concluding that the Trump administration violated federal law by withholding hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russian aggression: "Today's report is extremely troubling because it documents in great detail President Tru  more

Rep. Maloney Issues Statement on House Passage of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following statement after the House Education and Labor Committee passed Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 2694): "Too many pregnant workers throughout the country are still facing discrimination even though we have protections on the books. "These employees are being forced out of their jobs and denied even the smallest of accommodations - like being able to carry a water bottle - that would allow them to continue working   more

Rep. Maloney Issues Statement on Resolution to Appoint House Managers, Transmit Articles of Impeachment to Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following statement after the House voted on a resolution (H.Res. 798) to appoint managers for the impeachment trial of President Trump and transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate: "As Members of the House of Representatives, we upheld our oath of office to hold the President accountable for abusing his power and obstructing Congress for his own personal and pol  more

Rep. Maloney Issues Statement on Resolution to Appoint House Managers, Transmit Articles of Impeachment to Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following statement: Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted on H.Res. 798, a resolution to appoint managers for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate: "As Members of the House of Representatives, we upheld our oath of office to hold the President acc  more

Rep. Maloney Issues Statement on Virginia Votes of Equal Rights Amendment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following statement on Jan. 15: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), lead House sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), released the following statement celebrating the votes in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate to ratify the ERA. "The votes today in favor of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia's House of Delegates and Senate mark a huge step in the fight for women's equality. The ratification by  more

Rep. Maloney Leads Members of N.Y. Delegation in Letter to ICE Demanding Answers Regarding Yuen Release
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) led members of the New York delegation in a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding answers regarding the status of Yuen "Chin" Mei Tsui's release from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) custody and why his immigration court hearing was abruptly postponed. The letter comes after the delegation was informed that Mr. Tsui's immigration   more

Rep. Maloney Votes to Protect Students and Reject DeVos' Giveaway to Predatory, For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) voted to reject Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' elimination of student loan borrower protections and rollback of safeguards preventing low-quality schools from scamming students, veterans and taxpayers. The resolution, H.J. Res. 76, will block DeVos' new Borrower Defense Rule from going into effect, and prevent students enrolled in for-profit colleges  more

Rep. Meeks and New York Delegation Announce Bill to Help Relieve Taxi Medallion Owners of Debt
NEW YORK, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 17: Congressman Gregory Meeks unveiled legislation that would help provide some financial relief for taxi medallion owners by not considering debt forgiveness they receive as income. He was joined by Members of the New York City and Long Island delegations, State and City elected officials, the Taxi Workers Alliance (TWA), and Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Nydia Velazquez, State Senator Jessica   more

Rep. Meng Issues Statement on Korean American Day
QUEENS, New York, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following statement: * * * - New York has second largest Korean population in U.S. * * * U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, issued the following statement ahead of Korean American Day, which falls on Monday, January 13, 2020. "Korean American Day recognizes the profound contributions of Korean Americans in the United States and I am proud to recognize this important  more

Rep. Meng: Queens Elected Officials Demand Answers About Harassment, Sexual Assault of Students at Marie Curie Middle School in Bayside
QUEENS, New York, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Meng, Vallone, Liu, Grodenchik, Koo, Rozic and Braunstein send letter to NYC Schools Chancellor * * * Queens elected officials - U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, Councilman Paul Vallone, State Senator John Liu, Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Councilman Peter Koo, and Assemblymembers Nily Rozic and Ed Braunstein - announced that they sent a letter to New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza demand  more

Rep. Nadler Applauds Ed & Labor Committee Passage of Bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: The Committee on Education and Labor advanced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 2694), a bipartisan proposal introduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to secure clear and strong protections for pregnant workers. The legislation guarantees pregnant workers' right to reasonable accommodations-such as extra bathroom breaks, relief from heavy lifting, and other minor job modifications t  more

Rep. Nadler Issues Statement on Appointing House Managers for Impeachment Trial of President Trump
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following floor statement on Jan. 15 in support of a resolution (H.Res. 798) appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial of President Trump: "Madam Speaker, the resolution before us today appoints managers to prosecute the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. "This trial is necessary because President Trump gravely abused the power of his office when he stro  more

Rep. Nadler Issues Statement on GAO Decision That President Trump Violated Law By Withholding Ukraine Aid
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office announced that President Trump violated the law when he withheld millions in military aid for Ukraine: "Today's decision by the Government Accountability Office confirms what we already knew: the President broke the law by withholding critical military aid from a vulnerable ally. "Despite the President's continuing efforts  more

Rep. Nadler Issues Statement on Virginia General Assembly Vote to Pass Equal Rights Amendment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following statement: Yesterday, the Virginia General Assembly voted to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), setting the state on the path to become the 38th and final state necessary to ratify the ERA to the Constitution. After the vote, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Subcommittee Chair on Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Chair Steve Cohen (D-TN) released the following statements:   more

Rep. Nadler Sends Letter to ICE Demanding End of Transgender Migrant Detention
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler joined a group of forty Members of Congress in calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release all transgender individuals currently in detention. LGBTQ immigrants are 97 times more likely to be sexually victimized in detention than straight and cis-gender immigrants and at least two transgender women, Roxsana Hernandez Rodrigue  more

Rep. Rose Chairs Hearing on Combating Anti-Semitic Domestic Terrorism
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: * * * - Homeland Security Intel & Counterterrorism Subcommittee Hearing included testimony from Jewish community leaders, homeland security experts * * * Congressman Max Rose chaired a Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Counterterrorism hearing titled "Confronting the Rise in Anti-Semitic Domestic Terrorism." Rose's hearing focused on recent incidents of domestic terrorism motivated   more

Rep. Rose Helps Lead Over 30 Dems in Calling for Vote on NO BAN Act to Repeal Anti-Muslim Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Following reports of the Administration expanding the anti-Muslim Travel Ban to additional countries, Congressman leads coalition of moderate Democrats call for passage of legislation that would repeal existing ban, and prevent expansion or future discriminatory bans * * * Congressman Max Rose joined together with Congressmembers Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Stephanie Murphy of Florida to lead a  more

Rep. Rose Issues Floor Remarks on Death of Staten Island Community Leader Cusick
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following floor remarks on Jan. 13: Following the passing of Mimi Cusick on January 5th, Congressman Max Rose gave a speech on the House floor honoring Ms. Cusick's deep commitment to public service and lasting legacy on Staten Island. Rose's speech, as delivered: Madame Speaker, I rise today in solemn memory of Ms. Mimi Cusick, a public servant, devoted mother, and larger than life figure in Staten Island politics for the past fiv  more

Rep. Rose Issues Joint Statement on N.Y. School Taking Action to Address Anti-Semitism
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following joint statement: U.S. Congressman Max Rose (NY-11) and U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) wrote to the leadership of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) to commend the school for acting to address anti-Semitic comments made by a recent guest speaker and to prevent similar incidents in the future. "We acknowledge that ECFS has already begun to undertake dedicated programming designed to address anti-Semitism in  more

Rep. Rose, DA McMahon, NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan, NYPD Discuss Efforts to Combat Illicit Fentanyl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Max Rose, Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, and NYPD officials held a press conference at the Office of the District Attorney of Richmond County to announce continued efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and stem the flow of illicit fentanyl into the United States and New York City. Rose announced his legislation th  more

Rep. Stefanik Announces Significant Funding for Homeless Assistance Programs Across the North Country
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has announced Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding totaling $2,473,080 to be awarded to various projects to combat homelessness across Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Saratoga, and Warren counties. Some of these projects include homeless veterans housing, domestic violence crisis services, and community housing centers. HUD's Continu  more

Rep. Stefanik Co-Leads the American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is co-leading the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, legislation sponsored by Reps. Paul Tonko, Pete Olson, and Scott Peters. This legislation will support the manufacturing of next generation technologies, including refrigerants, solvents, fire suppressants, foam blowing agents, aerosols, and propellants. It implements a phasedown of hydrochlorofluorocarb  more

Rep. Stefanik Cosponsors Legislation Addressing New State Bail Reform Laws
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Bill's Promise Act, legislation that would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of how individuals on pre-trial release are monitored at the federal, state, and local levels. Under New York State's new bail reform policy, cash bail is not required for most defendants accused of misdemeanors an  more

Rep. Stefanik Helps House Pass Bill to Improve Veterans' Dental Care
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Last night, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik helped the House pass a bill to provide a waiver for the VA to begin a pilot program to improve dental care access and services for enrolled veterans who are currently ineligible. This bill would allow the VA to work with the American Dental Association and Federally Qualified Health Centers across the U.S. to offer pro bono and discounted dental services to vetera  more

Rep. Stefanik Legislation Protecting Older Workers From Discrimination Passes House
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik crossed the aisle and voted today in favor of the bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination (POWADA) Act, legislation that she cosponsored alongside Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA). The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was enacted in 1967 to prohibit discrimination against older workers, but the 2009 Supreme Court decision Gross v. FBL Financial Services we  more

Rep. Stefanik Sends Letter Outlining Great Lakes Task Force Priorities to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has signed onto a letter to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requesting critical funding for the Great Lakes region be considered as the USACE develops its work plan for fiscal year 2020. The letter requests that the USACE include funding for projects to keep Asian carp, an invasive fish species, from reaching the Great Lakes, and additional funding for the co  more

Rep. Tonko Announces $85,000 in Awards to Capital Region Arts Programs
ALBANY, New York, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - National Endowment for the Arts awards will fund creative work at Albany Symphony, Sanctuary for Independent Media, Skidmore College & Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute * * * Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced this morning that four Capital Region organizations are being awarded a combined $85,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to support their efforts to foster music, arts and cul  more

Rep. Tonko: Horseracing Integrity Act Reaches Key Milestone in House
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: * * * - Bipartisan measure now sponsored by more than half of House members * * * The Horseracing Integrity Act (H.R. 1754), introduced last year by Congressional Horse Caucus co-chairs Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Andy Barr (R-KY), has officially received formal endorsement by a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives, with 226 Members now cosponsoring the legislation. This bi  more

Rep. Velazquez Issues Statement at Committee Hearing on Enhancing Patent Diversity for Innovators
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 15 at a hearing entitled "Enhancing Patent Diversity for America's Innovators": As the Chair of the House Small Business Committee, I see every day how innovation and invention drive entrepreneurship. An important part of how we support American inventors is through our patent system. Applying for and obtaining a patent allows small firms to gain a  more

Rep. Velazquez Issues Statement in Tribute to Former Congressional Aide Fish
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 10, entitled "Paying Tribute to Nicholas Fish": I rise to pay tribute to a lifetime of public service. This week, Nicholas Fish, or Nick as his friends called him, passed away. He will be fondly remembered for his commitment to advancing the quality of urban life for all. Nick was born in New York City in 1958. After attending the Dutchess Day Scho  more

Rep. Velazquez Issues Statement on Release of HUD Puerto Rico Funds
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following statement regarding the news reports that the Trump Administration would lift a hold on long delayed disaster relief funds for Puerto Rico from the Department of Housing and Urban Development: "While it is a welcome development that the Administration has released its hold on these funds, this step is inexcusably overdue. "Congress approved this disaster relief almost two years ago and these ongoing delays speak   more

Rep. Velazquez, Sen. Schumer Demand HUD Meeting on Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have led more than forty Members of Congress in calling for a meeting with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in light of the agency's ongoing refusal to release previously approved disaster relief funds. The letter notes that following earthquakes that struck Puerto Rico last week and over the weekend, the I  more

Rep. Velazquez: House Passes Bipartisan Prison Reform Through Entrepreneurship Bills
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release: The House passed two bipartisan prison reform bills authored by House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The two bills, H.R. 5078, the Prison to Proprietorship Act and H.R. 5065, Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act would improve entrepreneurship op  more

Rep. Zeldin Announces Nearly $3M for NY-1 Homelessness Programs
PATCHOGUE, New York, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $2,900,950 in Continuum of Care grants to local homeless assistance programs across New York's First Congressional District, which help individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those living in places not meant for habitation, located in sheltering programs or at immine  more

Rep. Zeldin Issues Op-Ed on Electron-Ion Collider
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following op-ed on Jan. 13: Long Island is home to state of the art research facilities, such as Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and supporting their important research is of the utmost importance for not only our area's economy and the future of scientific research on Long Island, but for the scientific advancement of our entire nation and world. Last week, it was an honor   more

Rep. Zeldin Issues Statement Recognizing Service of Deputy Warden Bologna
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Lee M. Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 15, entitled "Recognizing the Service of Deputy Warden Robert F. Bologna": I rise today to recognize the service of Deputy Warden of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office's Corrections Division, Robert F. Bologna, as he culminates 28 years serving our community with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Beginning his civil service career with the Sheriff's  more

Rep. Zeldin Leads 60 Members in Introducing Israel Anti-Boycott Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) was just joined by 60 of his colleagues in introducing the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (H.R. 5595),which would combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. By amending the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit boycotts or requests for boycotts imposed by international governmental organizations against Israel, it protects American companies from being coerc  more

Rep. Zeldin Urges Protection for Service Members' Parental Rights While Deployed Overseas
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) urged state officials to take steps to ensure that as our deployed troops are fighting for our nation abroad they are not forced to surrender their parental rights at home. A signed PDF of the letter is available here (https://zeldin.house.gov/sites/zeldin.house.gov/files/202001101626.pdf). Full text of the letter is as follows: Dear Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader C  more

Rep. Zeldin: Army Corps Awards $10.7 Million Contract for WOSI Dune Road Project
PATCHOGUE, New York, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $10.7 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company for the placement of an estimated 600,000 cubic yards of sand just West of Shinnecock Inlet to restore this area to its 2005 authorization level, a 15-foot-high dune with an associated 140-foot-wide beach berm from the toe of the dune, which   more

Reps. DeFazio, Maloney Issue Remarks at Hearing on Decarbonizing Maritime Industry
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, chair of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, issued the following opening remarks at a hearing entitled: "The Path to a Carbon-Free Maritime Industry: Investments and Innovation": Chair DeFazio: Thank you, Chairman Maloney, I commend you for taking up the topic of "green shipping" as the first hearing in the new   more

Reps. Lowey, Price Issue Statement on Disaster Funding for Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following joint statement on Jan. 15 with Rep. David Price, D-North Carolina, chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, after the Trump administration announced that it would no longer delay disaster recovery aid for Puerto Rico: "It's been 704 days since Congress appropriated disaster recovery funding for Puerto Rico to help our fellow America  more

Reps. Lowey, Visclosky, Wasserman Schultz Issue Statement on Trump Administration Plan on Border Wall Funding
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Indiana, chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies, on reports that the Trump administration is planning to take $7.2 billion from counternarcotics and military construction funding to pay for  more

Reps. Nadler, Cohen Issue Statements on Virginia's Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Vote
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, chair of the Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, issued the following statements on Jan. 16: Yesterday, the Virginia General Assembly voted to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), setting the state on the path to become the 38th and final state necessary to ratify the ERA to the Constitution. After the vote, House Judiciary Committee  more

Reps. Schiff, Maloney, Engel Issue Statements on Transmission of Additional Evidence as Part of Impeachment Inquiry
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Reps. Adam B. Schiff, D-California, chairman of the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statements: The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Committee on Foreign Affairs provided additional evidence to the Committee on the Jud  more

Reps. Soto, Ocasio-Cortez, Serrano, Mucarsel-Powell Call on Trump Administration to Restore Power to Residents in Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Jose E. Serrano, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: Reps. Darren Soto (FL-09), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jose E. Serrano (NY-15) and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) led a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor, urging the agency to use all available resources to help restore power to Puerto Rico after recent destructive earthquakes struck the island. Following January 7th's earthquake, the Costa S  more

Reps. Stefanik, Brindisi, Schumer, Gillibrand Call on Administration to Accept Appeal for Disaster Declaration Relief
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release on 17: Following the devastating Halloween storm in Upstate New York, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik worked with federal, state, and local officials to initiate a FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment in order to secure funding to rebuild our communities. She also sent a letter to President Trump urging him to give New York State a major disaster declaration. Following that, New York received the major di  more

Reps. Tonko-Olson Bill Supporting American HVAC Manufacturing Gets Review
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Committee considers bipartisan legislation endorsed by U.S. Chamber, National Association of Manufacturers * * * Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, and Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX) spoke at a hearing on their bill, H.R. 5544, the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Leadership Act, bipartisan legislation sup  more

Reps. Zeldin, Perry, Murphy, Crenshaw Introduce Bill to Provide Vets With PTSD Ground-Breaking Treatment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) joined Representatives Scott Perry (R, PA-10), Greg Murphy (R, NC-3), and Dan Crenshaw (R, TX-2) in introducing the TREAT PTSD Act to provide veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) access at VA facilities to a lifesaving treatment, known as stellate ganglion block (SGB) therapy. SGB therapy is a simple outpatient procedure that has been used since the 1  more

Reps. Zeldin, Perry, Murphy, Crenshaw Introduce Bill to Provide Vets With PTSD Ground-Breaking Treatment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) joined Representatives Scott Perry (R, PA-10), Greg Murphy (R, NC-3), and Dan Crenshaw (R, TX-2) in introducing the TREAT PTSD Act to provide veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) access at VA facilities to a lifesaving treatment, known as stellate ganglion block (SGB) therapy. SGB therapy is a simple outpatient procedure that has been used since the 1  more

Repss. Engel, McCaul Issue Statement on Taiwan Elections
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- RepS. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, and Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement on Taiwan elections: "We congratulate Dr. Tsai Ing-wen on her reelection as the President of Taiwan, and the millions of Taiwanese people who demonstrated their democratic spirit by voting in the presidential and Legislative Yuan elections. "These elections again demonstrate Taiwan's vibrant, plur  more

Sen. Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Help Expand Child Care Services for Student Parents
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation that would help expand access to high-quality child care services at no cost to student parents enrolled in community colleges and minority-serving institutions (MSIs). This comes after a report revealed that one in five college students are raising a child under the age of five while in school, and that many of these parents have trouble finding a  more

Sen. Gillibrand Issues Statement on President Trump Impeachment Trial
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following statement on President Trump Impeachment Trial: "With the Senate trial set to begin, I will do my constitutional duty to hold the president accountable and try him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The facts laid out by the House are disturbing. According to an admission by his own chief of staff, President Trump withheld military aid to an ally, currently engaged in warfare with Russia, in   more

Sen. Gillibrand Issues Statement on Voting Against U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following statement on her vote against the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: "I plan to vote against President Trump's USMCA agreement. "President Trump's USMCA deal may be slightly better than NAFTA, but let's be clear: That's not good enough. "Bad trade deals, including NAFTA, hollowed out upstate New York's manufacturing industry. I don't believe this agreement will reverse this trend or help the generations of New Yorkers  more

Sen. Schumer Calls on Feds to Give Health Care Benefits to Vets Suffering from Agent Orange-Linked Conditions
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: Standing at the Veterans Outreach Center, flanked by Rochester Vietnam War veterans suffering from Agent Orange-linked conditions including bladder cancer and hypothyroidism and not receiving the care and compensation they deserve, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to finally prioritize the health and well-being of Upstate New York veterans and finally  more

Sen. Schumer Issues Floor Statement on Border Security
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 15, on border security: On the wall, yesterday the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration is planning to divert $7.2 billion in funding from the Defense Department to fund his border wall with Mexico. Once again, the administration proposes stealing this funding from military families and counterdrug programs, bringing the tot  more

Sen. Schumer Issues Floor Statement on China
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 15, on China: On China, later this morning the President is expected to take part in the signing ceremony for the so- called phase 1 trade agreement with China. Now, I have commended the President for his instincts when it has come to China. At one point, his instincts were to be strong and tough. I have compared his stances previously to tho  more

Sen. Schumer Issues Floor Statement on Impeachment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 15, on impeachment: Today is a momentous, historic, and solemn day in the history of the U.S. Senate and in the history of our Republic. The House of Representatives will send Articles of Impeachment against President Trump to the Senate, and the Speaker will appoint the House managers of the impeachment case. Two articles will be delivered.   more

Sen. Schumer Urges Canadian Government to Immediately Implement Pre-Clearance for WNY Rail Passengers at New Niagara Falls Train Station
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: Standing once again at Niagara Falls' state-of-the-art Amtrak train station, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Canadian government to stop stalling and implement pre-clearance for rail travelers seeking to enter Canada through the station via Amtrak. In 2016, Schumer successfully fought to pass his legislation, the Promoting Travel, Commerce and National Security Act of 2016, which   more

Sen. Schumer, Gillibrand Reveal: Feds Plotting to Exclude New York From Vital $20 Billion Pot of Funds to Expand Rural Broadband Connectivity
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 17: * * * - Senators Say Rural Broadband Access Is Essential to Thrive In the Modern Economy, Call on Fcc to Reverse Course At Once - The FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Will Allocate +$20 Billion For States To Connect Rural, Unserved Communities To High-Speed Internet; New FCC Proposal Would Unjustly Prevent New York From Participating In Fund; FCC Disqualifying NYS Due To Its Participa  more

Sens. Gillibrand, Schumer Call on Corps of Engineers to Prioritize Funding to Protect Lake Water Quality
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to prioritize funding to protect the lake's water quality from toxic algal blooms by including the Chautauqua Lake Feasibility Study in its Fiscal Year 2020 Work Plan. Chautauqua Lake and its su  more

Sens. Gillibrand, Schumer, Rep. Brindisi Announce Construction Will Start on Rome Lab Perimeter Security
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Anthony Brindisi [NY-22] announced that, following their major push, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a $13.15 million contract to Four Tribes Enterprises LLC to construct long-sought and sorely-needed perimeter security at Rome Lab. The representatives said that ensuring the saf  more

Sens. Schumer, Gillibrand and Brindisi Announce Construction Will Finally Start on Long-Awaited and Once Threatened Rome Lab Perimeter Security
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Reps Say $13.15m Army Corps Contract Marks Major Progress IN Effort to Shield Rome Lab From Potential Harm * * * U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Anthony Brindisi [NY-22] announced that, following their major push, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a $13.15 million contract to Four Tribes Enterprises L  more

Sens. Schumer, Gillibrand Call on Corps of Engineers to Prioritize Funding to Protect Lake Water Quality
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to prioritize funding to protect the lake's water quality from toxic algal blooms by including the Chautauqua Lake Feasibility Study in its Fiscal Year 2020 Work Plan. Chautauqua Lake and its su  more

Sens. Schumer, Gillibrand, Brindisi, Stefanik Call on Administration to Accept New York State's Appeal for Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: Following the disastrous Halloween flooding in the region, New York representatives Congressman Anthony Brindisi, Senator Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called on the Administration to reverse their denial of Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Despite heavy damage and loss of life, FEMA denied New York State's requ  more

Trump Judicial Nominee for Eastern District of New York Confirmed by Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of an individual for a position in the judicial branch on Dec. 3: Eric Ross Komitee, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.  more

Trump Nominee for New York Circuit Judge Confirmed by Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of an individual for a position in the judicial branch on Nov. 14: Steven J. Menashi, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.  more

Velazquez Looks to Increase Equity for Women, Minorities in Patent System
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release: The House Small Business Committee under Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) held a hearing examining the issue of patent diversity and how a lack of diversity in the innovation process is hindering the economy and small business. Studies show that women and minorities apply and obtain patents at a rate significantly lower than their white male counterpa  more