Press Releases

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced the Lifting American Children from Poverty Act of 2022, legislation to address the crisis that has left one in every seven children in the United States living in poverty. The bill recognizes the need for the full scale of the federal government to collaborate across agencies to find solutions to end child poverty and creates an interagency task force on child and family economic security.

Brooklyn, N.Y.—Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has issued the following statement in response to the tragic murder of Delma Mateo in a HUD-assisted housing complex in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

"Tragically, a life has been taken due to unbridled and continued domestic violence. My heart is broken for the family, friends, and neighbors who cherished Ms. Mateo. I join the entire Sunset Park community in mourning this tragic loss.

New York, NY – U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led a bicameral letter calling on the Biden Administration to establish a Recovery Task Force for Puerto Rico. The task force would be modeled after the successful Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force created by the Obama Administration in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Puerto Rico Recovery Task Force's goal would be to provide a roadmap for the island's long-term recovery and ensure greater interagency cooperation.

Washington D.C.— Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has sent a letter to the heads of federal regulatory agencies charged with overseeing the nation's financial institutions and consumer protection laws. Velázquez wrote to the heads of the CFPB, Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA, and the OCC, expressing concerns over the economic exploitation of survivors of domestic violence.

New York, New York –Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) announced that the United States Department of Transportation has awarded $1,600,000 in planning grants for the comprehensive long-term maintenance and fortification of four East River bridges: Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge and Queensboro Bridge. These grants will be used for planning, feasibility analysis and revenue forecasting projects that will aid application for the Bridge Investment Program.

Washington, D.C.--In the wake of Hurricane Fiona, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced the Puerto Rico Recovery Act, a bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security to waive the Jones Act for vessels or operators reasonably demonstrating their intention to provide disaster relief to Puerto Rico. The waivers would be valid for one year or until the end of the Major Disaster Declaration for Puerto Rico, whichever comes first. The bill was also introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) in the Senate.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Recently, Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) sent a letter to Congressional leadership to call for billions in federal economic relief for Puerto Rico, a week after Hurricane Fiona devastated the island, leaving at least 16 associated deaths and hundreds of thousands more without power or running water. Velázquez is urging congressional leadership to provide emergency supplemental funding for disaster recovery and relief support as well as $1 billion in nutritional aid for Puerto Rico.

Washington D.C.— Today, on World Contraception Day, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced a resolution that expresses support for global and domestic access to contraception and encourages Congress and the Administration to study contraceptive deserts and ways federal policy can address the issue.