Press Releases

New York City – Representatives Nydia Velázquez (D – Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens) and Anthony D. Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens) today commented on the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement that it would nominate Newtown Creek, home to the largest coastal oil spill in American history, to its National Priorities List of Superfund sites. This begins the process of making the companies responsible for the pollution pay for the cleanup of Newton Creek, one of the most populated waterways in the country.

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) made the following comments tonight after the President’s address to a Joint Session of Congress regarding health care:

“Rising health insurance costs are hurting families and burdening many small businesses that are trying to do right by their employees. Too many Americans, including almost one in three Hispanics, lack health insurance coverage. These challenges are not going away and they demand action.

NEW YORK – A Brooklyn financial institution has been selected to receive a $700,000 award from the U.S. Department of Treasury in support of its efforts to provide financial services to underserved communities. The First American International Bank will use the funds to offer affordable home mortgage loans, housing development loans, commercial real estate loans and home improvement loans to the local community. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) applauded the local bank for providing responsible lending opportunities to New Yorkers.

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved $1.5 million in funding for a Red Hook small business to develop a safer and more effective way to drop cargo needed for military operations. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Department Appropriations Act. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) said the funds will support a Brooklyn manufacturer and allow the high-tech company to expand and hire more workers.

“When Olga Mendez was elected to the New York Senate in 1978, she paved the way both for Puerto Ricans and women who sought elected office. She was a fearless leader in New York City, a dedicated public servant, a fighter for the working class and a force to be reckoned with. Today, I mourn her loss.

Washington, DC –The U.S. House of Representatives approved $850,000 to benefit three programs in New York’s 12th Congressional District. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) said the funds will be used to provide career training services, English language education and community health resources to low-income residents. She pledged to continue working to support local organizations that bring vital services to New York City’s working families.

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), along with her Puerto Rican colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, has sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisting that residents of Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories be fully included in any version of health care reform legislation that comes out of Congress.

The following is the text of their letter to Speaker Pelosi:

July 24, 2009

Washington, DC –The U.S. House of Representatives has approved $800,000 in federal resources to revitalize Brooklyn’s Moore Street Market and refurbish historic features in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. The projects were included in the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) said the two projects would strengthen Brooklyn communities by promoting local commerce and tourism.