WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Scott Peters, D-California, issued the following news release: Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) re-asserted the need for a new congressional calendar that would increase the time members can spend in their districts, increase the number of days Congress is in legislative session, and reduce taxpayer-paid member travel to help fight climate change. An article in Wednesday's New York Times called out Congress for failing to heed the federal government's own advice for best p  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 11: Following multi-billion dollar bipartisan deal to fund the federal response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), U.S. Senator E. Charles Schumer announced he is turning his efforts towards policy changes needed to address the outbreak. He will make a full-court push to guarantee that the in-the-works-right-now coronavirus vaccine is fully covered by Medicare so seniors who want it and nee  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 13: As many individuals and families face economic uncertainty due to the coronavirus, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) called on Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to urge him against implementing the Trump Administration's new work requirement rule for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If implemented, an estimated 700,000 could lose  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: Following the introduction of the Tax Relief for Bridge Tolls Act by Congressman Max Rose, a bipartisan group of state and local elected officials announced their support of the legislation and urged Congressional leaders to take up the measure. "I'm proud to have such broad-based, bipartisan support for this effort because providing toll relief for commuters is something we should all be able to get behind,"  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) applauded the release of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission report which included two Katko-authored measures among its list of recommendations to improve cybersecurity across public and private sectors. Established in 2019, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission is a bipartisan commission tasked with developing and recommending a comprehensive national strategy for improving Americ  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- 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 U.S. Attorney General William Barr requesting information concerning the Department of Justice's handling of novel coronavirus (or COVID-19) and the health and safety of those in federal prisons. Full text of the letter is available here (https://judiciary.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2020-03-  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on March 13: Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Matthew T. Albence asking questions regarding the measures ICE is taking to ensure the health and safety of individuals in custody and the staff and contractors who work in detention facilities. In the lette  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) hosted a meeting in Washington, D.C. aimed at tackling racial health disparities existing in Western New York. The University at Buffalo (UB) was recently awarded a $21.7 million federal grant from the National Institute of Health' Clinical and Translational Science Awards program designed to transfer clinical observation to community interventions that improve public he  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: Following pressure by Congressman Max Rose, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this morning that it is taking two actions to help expand testing capabilities in New York State. Rose spoke with Dr. Jeff Shuren, Director of the Centers for Devices and Radiological Health at FDA following the FDA's announcement. "Following this morning's announcement, I spoke with senior FDA leadership to continue   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the 2020 census. The report (GAO-20-415) is entitled "Bureau Generally Followed Its Plan for In-Field Address Canvassing". The report was sent to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, chairman, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, ranking member of the House Committee, Rep.   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the National Biodefense Strategy. The report (GAO-20-483T) is entitled "Opportunities and Challenges with Early Implementation". The report was sent to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, chairman, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee on March 11, 2020. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report. What GAO Found: "Issued in September 2018, the   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Small Business Administration. The report (GAO-20-168) is entitled "Disaster Loan Processing Was Timelier, but Planning Improvements and Pilot Program Evaluation Needed". The report was sent to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, chairman, Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman, and Rep. Steve Chab  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on economic sanctions. The report (GAO-20-324) is entitled "Treasury and State Have Received Increased Resources for Sanctions Implementation but Face Hiring Challenges". The report was sent to Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, chairman, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 11, 2020. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report. What GAO Found: "A  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced that H.R. 4334, the Supporting Older Americans Act, as amended by the Senate, has passed the House and is headed to the President's desk. Stefanik led the House passage of this bipartisan legislation, which reauthorizes the Older Americans Act and improves the delivery of services so aging Americans can remain in their communities. Provisions from three pieces of se  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on March 11: * * * - Legislation provides paid leave, establishes free testing, protects health workers, and provides important benefits to children and families * * * House Democrats introduced the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to bolster the federal government's response to the coronavirus outbreak and address the severe impacts of the corona  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The House Judiciary Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-412) on the Access to Counsel Act (H.R. 5581), which clarifies the rights of persons who are held or detained at a port of entry or at any detention facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The report was advanced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, on March 5. Excerpts of the report follow (with changes to the law omitted, and available at https://www.co  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The House Judiciary Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-413) on the National Origin-Based Anti-Discrimination for Non-Immigrants Act (H.R. 2214), which transfers and limits Executive Branch authority to suspend or restrict the entry of a class of aliens. The report was advanced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, on March 5. Excerpts of the report follow (with changes to the law omitted, and available at https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/116th-congress/hous  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The House Ways and Means subcommittee on Worker and Family Support issued the following testimony on March 11 by Angela Rachidi, Rowe scholar in poverty studies at the American Enterprise Institute, at a hearing entitled "Combatting Child Poverty in America": My name is Angela Rachidi and I am the Rowe Scholar in Poverty Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. My background on child poverty comes from my work at AEI, where I research policies aimed at reducing pove  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Provision was included in H.Res.756 among other recommendations adopted by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress * * * The House of Representatives passed a provision authored by U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (NY-04), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, that will require all Members of the House to undergo annual cybersecurity and information security trai  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following news release: In light of the COVID-19 spread, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) announced changes to physical office locations in order to protect public health and prevent the potential spread of coronavirus. The office will take necessary precautions and ensure constituent services are not interrupted during this challenging period. Calls will continue to be answered and messages returned, and constitue  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, author of the 2010 Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act, and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo introduced two key bills that prohibit deceptive census mailings and create criminal penalties for anyone who distributes false information to prevent others from completing their census forms. T  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 12: As schools throughout New York face potential closures due to the coronavirus, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) has called on Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to immediately approve waivers New York State needs in order to continue providing school meals for students who qualify for free and reduced-price school meals. "Government red tape and bur  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following joint statement on March 13 with Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security; Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations; Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy; Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Subcom  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. John Katko (R, NY-24) introduced the Help Extended Auditory Relief (HEAR) Act, alongside U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D, PA-08). This bipartisan legislation expands Medicare coverage to include hearing aids and audiology assessments that so many Central New York seniors need. According the National Institute on Aging, approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss.  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release on March 11: * * * - After Missteps, Top Health Agency Officials Confirm Administration in Mitigation Phase * * * Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, held a hearing with top health officials at agencies responsible for addressing the novel coronavirus outbreak. Today's hearing confirmed that strateg  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: Congressman David Price (NC-04), Congressman Jose E. Serrano, co-Chair of the Congressional Census Caucus, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and co-Chair of the Congressional Census Caucus, and Congressman Jamie Raskin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent a lette  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Anthony Brindisi called on members of both parties to work together to enact a comprehensive public health and economic response to the coronavirus pandemic. Brindisi urged his colleagues to put politics aside and pass legislation that protects health care workers, helps families, and makes sure tests are accessible and affordable to the public. "It's time to put politics aside and pass an  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) announced nearly $1.2 million in federal funding over the next five years from the National Science Foundation to prepare undergraduate science majors at SUNY Oneonta to teach in high-need schools. The funding will support the development of certified middle and high school STEM teachers in rural, high-need schools. "Education is the gateway to opportunity an  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 12: Yesterday, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) along with Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), and Dina Titus (NV-01) introduced the Pandemic Response and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, to help prepare our communities for the economic impacts of the coronavirus. The bill would expand the menu of benefits available under federal Emergency Declarations to include critical nutrition  more

KINGSTON, New York, March 9 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following statement on the positive case of coronavirus in Ulster County: "I am aware of the case of COVID-19 in Ulster County and have been in touch with the Ulster County Executive Office. "Keeping folks safe across our region is my top priority. I continue to closely monitor this quickly evolving situation and coordinate with local public health and elected officials. As testing occurs we are likely to see the numb  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Eliot L. Engel commended the passage of the Safeguarding Therapeutics Act through the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee, which he co-authored with Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY). This legislation would protect Americans from imported counterfeit and unapproved medical devices, including those purporting to be treatments for coronavirus. "My district encompasses New Rochelle, which is fa  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Eliot L. Engel helped introduce legislation that would provide workers with 14 paid sick days if a public health emergency is called for a coronavirus outbreak in their community. The Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal Family Care Act would protect workers by requiring employers to provide 14 days of paid sick leave that is available immediately after a public emergency i  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following remarks: Congressman Eliot L. Engel lauded passage of H.R. 451, the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act, by the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. At a press conference promoting the legislation, Rep. Engel delivered the following remarks: The T-Band is a critically important issue that has flown under the radar for quite some time. But no longer. I first introduced the Don't  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- 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, led debate in the House of Representatives on legislation to stop the Trump Administration from plunging us into war with Iran. The House voted to approve the measure making it clear that Congress has authorized no such military action and the President is prohibited from at  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following news release: Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, led debate in the House of Representatives on legislation to stop the Trump Administration from plunging the United States into war with Iran. The House voted to approve the measure making it clear that Congress has authorized no such military action and the President is prohibited from attacking Iran without congressional au  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the Russian State Duma voting to allow President Vladimir Putin to continue his presidency for two more six-year terms, until 2036: "This is yet another scheme in Putin's long game of keeping his grip on power. Clearly, the Kremlin dictator thinks Russia needs another tsar rather than a functioning democracy. "The Russian State Duma must stop advancing su  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following statement: "I had hoped that Secretary Pompeo's appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee would provide the American people with answers about the Trump Administration's Iran policy, especially the strike on Soleimani and the path forward. Unfortunately, Mr. Pompeo avoided answering most direct questions and was unable to account for the administration's shifting explanations since the strike at the start of the ye  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump's coronavirus response and travel restrictions: "My top priority right now is making sure Americans, especially those I represent in New Rochelle and in the rest of my district, are getting support and resources to deal with this worsening pandemic. I fully support Speaker Pelosi's efforts to provide American families with the help they need  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Eliot Engel joined New York House Democrats in writing to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross calling for an extension to the 2020 census due to the rapidly escalating coronavirus outbreak. "We write you today to impress upon you the necessity of extending the enumeration period for the 2020 Census due to the social disruption caused by COVID-19," the Members wrote. "As states and local jurisdiction  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, ranking Republican member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. John Katko, R-New York, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, issued the following joint statement regarding President Trump's emergency declaration under the Stafford Act: "We welcome the President's emergency declaration and commend him for taking this critically important action in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This de  more

JAMAICA, New York, March 6 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following statement on March 11: On Friday, March 6, 2020, Congressman Al Green attended the field hearing hosted by the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions titled, Modern-Day Redlining: The Burden on Underbanked and Excluded Communities in New York. After the hearing, Congressman Green released the following statement: "Redlining is among the unfinished busin  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Calls for a Strong Federal Economic Response * * * Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) is calling for immediate and long-term action by the federal government in response to the coronavirus. The Congressman is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to swiftly approve the use of high-throughput technologies to test for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York laboratories, including   more

SYRACUSE, New York, March 12 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24), announced $3.8 million in federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Syracuse Community Health Center (SCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves more than 34,000 patients each year in Onondaga County. The grant was awarded by the Health Resource and Services Administration's Health Center Cluster grant program and will support  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) called on leaders in the House and Senate to postpone the upcoming district work period and keep lawmakers in Washington to pass a bipartisan, bicameral coronavirus package that bolsters resources for our nation's healthcare system and provides flexible support for families and businesses: "As legislators, we have a duty to remain in Washington to address the ongoing coronavirus  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn calling on the Trump Administration to approve more l  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: House Appropriations Committee and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) condemned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for refusing to testify before the Subcommittee regarding the Trump administration's budget request and its response to the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to Secretary Pompeo, Lowey exp  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York, issued the following remarks on March 10: Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee's hearing on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget request for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: I thank Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole for holding this heari  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) announced updates to office policy for her offices in Washington, DC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. These updates include: * All staff will begin telework on Monday, March 16 and all meetings will be moved to telephonic or electronic communication. * All offices will be physically closed. * Constituent casework will continue uninterrupted. For any urgent  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, issued the following statement on March 10 at a hearing titled: "The International Role of the U.S. Coast Guard": Welcome to today's hearing on The International Role of the United States Coast Guard. In my other role, as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware of the international moves being made  more

NEW YORK, March 10 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following statement regarding New York Gov. Andrew's Cuomo announcement that he issued a pardon to Chin Mei Tsui: "New York State is standing with Chin and I commend Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this issue. "I couldn't be happier for Chin, his loved ones, and his supporters at the Transgender Law Center. "I strongly advocated for Chin's pardon and am working to ensure his swift release from ICE detention. "I will not   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following statement on March 11 regarding the announcement that Chin Mei Tsui has finally been released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody: "I am relieved and overjoyed that Chin has finally been released from ICE custody. Like so many transgender people detained by ICE, Chin was held in solitary confinement for arbitrary or discriminatory reasons and his health suffered due to the lack of specialized medical car  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) voted to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which provides needed support for families across the country during this pandemic. "As our nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to make sure that families across this country have the resources they need to take care of themselves and their loved ones. We need to make paid leave available s  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: At the request of the Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. Jose E. Serrano, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Rep. David E. Price, the Census Bureau  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release on March: * * * - National Nurses Union Contradicts CDC Director Testimony on Testing Denials - CDC Director Cannot Name Any Administration Official in Charge of Testing * * * At a hearing on coronavirus reconvened today by the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following statement after the Republican National Committee responded to the committee's request to halt census communications in electronic and paper form: "I'm pleased the Republican Party agreed to stop producing and distributing fake Census communications that could harm the accuracy of the 2020 Census. The Census determines how we distribute more than a trillion doll  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following transcript on coronavirus in an interview with Fox News: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) spoke with Fox News' Charles Payne this afternoon about the nation's preparedness to combat coronavirus and the role the National Guard will play in containment efforts if deployed. CHARLES PAYNE: The mayor of New Rochelle, New York dealing with the containment zone. Could we see more of this as the World Health Organization d  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 10: Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, chaired a field hearing on modern-day redlining. Congressman Meeks then held a press conference unveiling new analysis confirming that race, and in particular the density of black and Hispanic populations, is the predominant determinant of bank branch density,   more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) urged the nation's airline industry to not penalize passengers who alter their flights due to concerns about the coronavirus. In a letter sent this week to the head of Airlines for America, the trade association representing major U.S. airlines, Meng called for the suspension of all fees normally charged for changes and cancellations. "The airline industry has offered limited fl  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following statement: U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement criticizing House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for referring to the coronavirus as the "Chinese coronavirus." "I am shocked and dismayed that the GOP Leader in the House of Representatives has referred to the coronavirus as the 'Chinese coronavirus.' This labeling of the  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on March 10, entitled "Youth, Peace and Security Act": I rise today to announce the introduction of the Youth, Peace, and Security Act, the first comprehensive legislation that would prioritize the inclusion of youth in conflict resolution. There are more than 1.8 billion youth in the world. Whether here in the U.S. or abroad, youth populations have long been at   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to President Trump urging him to increase the availability of mobile hotspots during the coronavirus outbreak to help students complete their schoolwork. In their correspondence, Meng and Booker called on the President to set aside at least $1 billion in emergency declaration funds so that schools and libraries can purchase the ho  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - In light of Coronavirus public health crisis, Morelle co-sponsors legislation to ensure workers can stay home if they are sick without fear of losing a paycheck * * * In light of the risk posed by Coronavirus, Congressman Joe Morelle co-sponsored comprehensive legislation to ensure all workers across America have paid sick days, effective immediately. "The best thing Americans can do to prev  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on March 10 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a lower court order that requires the Justice Department to turn over redacted 6(e) grand jury material from Special Counsel Mueller's report: "I applaud today's decision. Almost a year ago, the Judiciary Committee requested access to the grand jury materials contained in Special Counsel Robert   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation Will Combat Fraudulent Filings, Protect Consumers * * * House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) joined Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA), Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA) and Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL), and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) to introduce the Trademark Modernization (TM) Act of 202  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Max Rose, a former non-profit healthcare executive, helped introduce new legislation this week to protect healthcare workers who are caring for patients with coronavirus (COVID-19). The COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020 would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to ensure healthcare facilities implement comprehens  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following statement on March 9: Congressman Max Rose, who has been leading the effort to designate violent foreign white supremacist groups as foreign terrorist organizations, issued the following statement on a Politico report that the U.S. Department of State is preparing to designate at least one violent white supremacist group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Such a designation would further empower law enforcement and   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: At a Congressional hearing and in bipartisan letters to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Congressman Max Rose today pressed top Administration officials who are overseeing coronavirus (COVID-19) responses on the need to approve automated coronavirus testing to increase capacity across New York. Rose's push followed Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's annou  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to practice safe social distancing, Congressman Max Rose's Staten Island, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C. offices will temporarily be closed for walk-in appointments and will principally be working from home during normal business hours. The Congressman's staff will be rescheduling all in-person meetings to phone calls. Through telework and safe workplace policies,  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: As Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites are faced with the highest toll rates in the country, Congressman Max Rose unveiled new legislation today at a press conference on Staten Island to provide much needed relief to commuters. Rose's Tax Relief for Bridge Tolls Act would save Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites hundreds to even thousands of dollars each year. "This bill will put hundreds, if not thous  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following joint statement with Staten Island Borough President James Oddo on efforts to help protect Staten Islanders, and all New Yorkers, from the coronavirus: "The coronavirus is here and we must make hard decisions to ensure our public health. After consultation with our leading medical experts and local health officials, we are calling for three key steps to stop the spread of coronavirus and protect our most vulnerable populati  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced over $2 million in funding for Head Start Projects in Warren and Jefferson Counties. The Warren County Head Start and Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County will receive funding to promote the readiness of children under the age of 5 from low-income families through education, health, social and other services. "I am proud to announce that communitie  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is cosponsoring the COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect students' access to school meal benefits during school closures that occur as a result of coronavirus. The legislation will create a nationwide waiver authority, allow school officials to distribute food in any number of settings across all nutrition programs, and allow for   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik voted to pass two pieces of legislation to support North Country veterans' efforts to be as competitive as possible in the workforce after their service to our country, and to ease the financial burden on those who are disabled due to their service. The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act requires the Department of Labor to ensure registered apprenticeship   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Thomas Suozzi, D-New York, issued the following news release: This weekend, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) joined several members of Congress for a Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama. During the trip, Suozzi and his colleagues, including Rep. John Lewis, visited historic landmarks and memorials of major significance to the struggle for racial equality in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma. Suozzi also met with noted civil rights luminaries including   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following statement on March 9 after the indictment of 27 individuals in a horse doping scandal: "Today's indictments underscore the pressing need for the development of uniform racing standards under one independent regulatory body. It is abundantly clear that the current system of 38 separate jurisdictions leaves a void where, when exploited, manipulation and cheating can occur. "Tragically, in some cases the health of our eq  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release on March 10: Today, small business owners and public health experts testified before the House Small Business Committee on the impact the novel coronavirus is having on small firms and the threat the outbreak poses moving forward. Chairwoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) called the hearing in the wake of the passage of an $8.3 billion emergency supplementa  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release: House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) announced that all scheduled House Small Business Committee hearings for March would be postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. "During a public health crisis, it is vital that we take the utmost precautions to protect members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release on March 11: The House Small Business Committee passed four bipartisan bills to modernize SBA lending, improve small business exporting opportunities, and expand federal small business initiatives in U.S. territories. "Today, our Committee came together to pass four bipartisan bills that will bring new opportunities to current and aspiring entreprene  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) called for the reinstatement of the full State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction as part of tax relief legislation in an economic stimulus package responding to the coronavirus outbreak. Last Congress, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) placed a $10,000 cap on the State and Local deduction. "As Congress considers a tax relief bill as part of an economic stimulus package in re  more

PATCHOGUE, New York, March 11 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Following Northwell Health Labs' recent approval for manual coronavirus testing, Congressman Zeldin urged the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the approval for use of automated coronavirus testing at labs across the state, including Northwell Health Labs. Today, after helping secure the approval of automated testi  more

PATCHOGUE, New York, March 9 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following statement after Suffolk County's first case of coronavirus was confirmed: "Suffolk County's first confirmed case of coronavirus serves as a reminder for all levels of government to work closely together to try to contain coronavirus as much as possible. This outbreak over the past several weeks has been a quickly evolving situation, and now is not the time to play politics, and, in light of this, I implore our par  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: On Wednesday March 11, 2020, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) joined Congressman Eliot Engel (D, NY-16), Senator Ed Markey (D, MA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY) along with first responders from New York, Massachusetts, and across the country to urge passage of the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act following its passage through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which would allow first  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: In 2018, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) ushered into law his proposal to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reassess the North Shore Route (NSR) to address the noise impact on affected communities, improve altitude enforcement, and consider alternative routes. Since passage of his proposal, Congressman Zeldin has been in constant direct communication, via in person meetings and phone cal  more

PATCHOGUE, New York, March 10 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) provided an update on the federal government's continued response to the coronavirus outbreak. On March 8, 2020, the first positive case of coronavirus was confirmed in Suffolk County, New York. "Over the last several weeks, I've been in constant contact with my colleagues in government to ensure this is a very robust, whole-government approach - at every level - to  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-New York, issued the following op-ed: The coronavirus outbreak is a quickly evolving situation, and now is not the time to play politics. On March 8, Suffolk County confirmed its first case of coronavirus and served as a reminder for all levels of government to work closely together to try to contain coronavirus as much as possible. At a time like this, fear can oftentimes outweigh facts, and we are even more susceptible to fear when the facts are har  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security seeking information on its plan for preventing and responding to a potential outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COV  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Nydia M. Velazquez, along with Reps. Nita M. Lowey, Eliot Engel, Adriano Espaillat, Carolyn Maloney, Gregory W. Meeks, Jerrold Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Max Rose, and Jose E. Serrano announced that they will be sending a letter tomorrow to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the agencies to expedite and exp  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued the following joint statement after introduction of the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6172): "Along with the House Leadership, we have engaged in bipartisan negotiations with input from many members to get to a deal on reforming FISA while reauthorizing important national security provisions set to ex  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - The Proposed Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal Family Care Act Would Expand Requirement for Paid Sick Leave Coverage - Bill Would Immediately Provide 14 Days Paid Sick Leave to Qualifying Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak * * * Confronting the nation's growing public health crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging Congress  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following transcript on coronavirus in an interview with Fox News: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) spoke with Fox News' Charles Payne this afternoon about the nation's preparedness to combat coronavirus and the role the National Guard will play in containment efforts if deployed. CHARLES PAYNE: The mayor of New Rochelle, New York dealing with the containment zone. Could we see more of this as the World Health Organization de  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 11: * * * - ARC Funding Will Be Used To Increase Corning's Internet Connection Redundancy & Resilience; However, Additional Federal Funding Is Needed For This Regional Investment To Start - Schumer Calls For $1.5M To Bring High-Speed Internet To Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Yates, Tompkins, & Tioga Counties * * * Following a recent federal funding award of $1,552,594 from the Appalachian R  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 11: Citing serious concerns for New Yorkers and following the $8.3 billion dollar, emergency bipartisan deal he negotiated to fund the federal response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), U.S. Senator E. Charles Schumer demanded, , that the Trump administration immediately increase testing availability and access to address the outbreak, which is lagging across New York. Nationally, t  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Funding Will Be Used To Support Early Childhood Education and Care Services for Low-Income Children in Sullivan County * * * U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $3,341,560 in federal funding for Sullivan County Head Start, Inc. The funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Early Head Start and Head Star  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 11: * * * - Senators Call for FCC Transparency Surrounding Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Eligibility * * * U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand denounced the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) decision to move forward with the recently adopted Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Order that would exclude states that have been awarded funding through   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release: House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) introduced legislation that would create a new program under the Small Business Administration (SBA) to directly supply loans to small businesses impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. "As the severity of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect day-to-day lives, Congr  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-New York, issued the following news release on March 10: Congressman Anthony Brindisi continued his tireless effort to protect the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and keep baseball in the Southern Tier. Brindisi, a leader in the fight to save the Rumble Ponies from Major League Baseball's (MLB) plan to eliminate the team, supported a bipartisan resolution to affirm the critical economic and cultural role Minor League Baseball teams play throughout the c  more