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Press Releases

October 18, 2024


[WASHINGTON] — Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) released the following statement after the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) appointment of a District Election Officer to oversee voting rights violations in Puerto Rico under the Election Day Program:
 
“The appointment of an election officer to address allegations of fraud, discrimination, and intimidation in Puerto Rico is welcome news. However, this step does not address the island’s deep structural electoral issues.
 

Issues:Puerto Rico

October 11, 2024

Washington, DC – After airline ticket fares skyrocketed in the lead-up to Hurricane Milton, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has introduced legislation to cap airfares when a disaster has been declared.
 


October 7, 2024

Washington, DC- Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks:
 


October 4, 2024

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement regarding the passing of Carroll Gardens hero Kevin Barry:

“I am deeply saddened by the recent passing of Kevin Barry. He was a dear friend, entrepreneur, community volunteer and all-around good guy.


October 3, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led 7 of her colleagues from the New York delegation in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) urging the agency to reassign jurisdiction of its San Juan Field Office from Region IV in Atlanta to Region II in New York.

 

Issues:Puerto Rico

September 25, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) calling on the agency to act to safeguard the rights of Puerto Rican voters in the face of ongoing disenfranchisement in the Puerto Rican electoral system.
 

Issues:Puerto Rico

September 23, 2024

Brooklyn, NY – Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) announced her intention to introduce a federal version of New York’s Mel’s Law. Velázquez’s bill would require colleges and universities receiving federal funding to establish a policy to award posthumous degrees to students who pass away before completing their required coursework.
 


September 20, 2024

Washington, D.C. –Today, on the seventh anniversary of Hurricane María’s landfall in Puerto Rico, Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced the Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act. This legislation would require federal agencies providing recovery grants for Puerto Rico to report on the critical data gaps they face while administering these grants and indicate the federal statistical products to which Puerto Rico should be integrated into.
 

Issues:Puerto Rico

September 12, 2024

Washington D.C.– Today, Representatives Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Young Kim (R-CA) and U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the reintroduction of the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement (IDEA) Act of 2024, bicameral, bipartisan legislation to permit the collection of data that will provide a better understanding of the disparate rates at which women, veterans, and other groups apply for patents in the United States.


September 5, 2024

Brooklyn, New York - Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement regarding the passing of Dianne Jackson: 
 
“I was incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Dianne Jackson, a friend, and tireless activist on behalf of New York City’s public housing residents. As a lifetime public housing resident, she became a leader and activist dedicated to improving living conditions and advocating for tenant rights.