Press Releases

NEW YORK – Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) met with public housing residents on the Lower East Side yesterday evening to discuss how the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” will impact the day-to-day lives of these working families. As a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, the Congresswoman worked to ensure $4 billion in funding was included to repair and rebuild decaying public housing facilities in New York City and across the country.

NEW YORK – Last night, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) held a workshop in downtown Brooklyn to help New York City small businesses gain information about assistance included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as well as new federal contracting opportunities. As Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, Velázquez worked to ensure the sweeping economic legislation signed into law in February included lending initiatives and tax benefits to help entrepreneurs keep their businesses up and running.

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (H.R. 1728) to protect consumers by curbing abusive lending practices. With home foreclosures impacting over two million homes between 2008 and 2009, this bill would make it illegal for lenders to make loans to borrowers who do not have a ‘reasonable ability to repay.’ Included in the legislation are two initiatives from Congresswoman Nydia M.

NEW YORK - Last night, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) joined students, parents and administrators at the Grand Street Campus in Brooklyn to present the school with $100,000 in federal support for their arts education programs. Speaking at the school’s Spring Arts Celebration, she praised the participants for building valuable job skills through their dedication to the arts. Students from the Campus’ three high schools demonstrated their musical talents and handled all event production, from the marketing and sales to the lighting and sound set-up.

“Justice Souter is a dedicated public servant who brought independent thinking to the court. His sensible approach to legal issues should serve as a model for future nominees and justices. With his retirement President Obama has an historic opportunity to shatter the glass ceiling and appoint the first Hispanic to the Supreme Court. There are a number of qualified candidates, including Judge Sonia Sotomayor, to choose from. I look forward to working with the President to appoint a justice that is both committed to constitutional principles and reflective of our nation’s diversity.”

Washington, D.C. – Social Security recipients in New York City will soon receive $250 economic recovery payments provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) announced today. Checks will begin to go out tomorrow, May 7, with the goal of all payments being sent by the end of May. Payments to recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will also begin to go out by mid-May.

NEW YORK –The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services today approved the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (H.R. 1728), legislation aimed at curbing predatory lending practices. The bill prevents financial institutions from unfairly providing loans to borrowers that do not have a ‘reasonable ability to repay.’ Included in this bill is an amendment from Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) that strengthens legal counseling services by providing prospective homebuyers with increased access and information on the benefits of home inspections.

NEW YORK – Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) today traveled with President Barack Obama to Mexico City for meetings with the nation’s leaders, and will continue on with the President as he heads to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. This is the President’s first trip to Mexico and the Caribbean since he took the Oath of Office, and the Congresswoman will join in discussions on the economy, immigration and security issues, and the environment with many of the United State’s closest neighbors.