Press Releases

Washington, DC –Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) issued the following statement regarding the omnibus spending bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today:

“It is unconscionable that Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell prevented the year-end spending bill from containing meaningful provisions to address Puerto Rico’s fiscal problems. This is not only a fiscal crisis, but is rapidly becoming a humanitarian one. 3.5 million American citizens were counting on Congress and the Republican Leadership turned their back.

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today wrote to the New York City Parks Department asking for a review of the agency’s safety protocols for contractors involved in tree removal. The letter comes after a Red Hook deliveryman died after being struck by a falling tree in Coffey Park.
The full text of the letter is below:
December 17, 2015

Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP
Commissioner
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
830 Fifth Ave
New York, NY, 10065

Dear Commissioner Silver:

Washington, DC –Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today regarding the omnibus, year-end spending bill and provisions related to Puerto Rico. The text of her remarks are below and a video clip can be watched here:

“Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that the legislation we are considering does nothing to address Puerto Rico’s mounting debt crisis.

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today voted against legislation that would largely shut the door on refugees fleeing violence in Syria. The bill, H.R. 4038, authored by House Republicans, would place a moratorium on Syrian refugees entering the United States potentially for years, while security standards that are largely duplicative of existing protocols are developed. Velázquez said the legislation is a political response to the recent violence in France that would leave many desperate, innocent refugees in the cold without meaningfully enhancing U.S.

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez released the following statement on the passing of Jin An Liu, the Brooklyn deliveryman who passed away after being struck by a tree while cycling in Red Hook:

"My heart breaks for this loss. The passing of one of our neighbors at such a young age is tragic and our entire community mourns. All of us should come together to provide Jin An Liu's family with compassion.

Washington, DC – Small businesses harmed by Hurricane Sandy may soon be able to reapply for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) due to legislation approved by Congress Monday. The bill, H.R. 208, is authored by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), and would allow many small firms in New York and throughout the country to seek emergency loans from the SBA given the agency's slow response following Sandy in 2012.

NEW YORK—Today, Rep. Velázquez joined Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Congressional delegation in urging Congress to invest – not disinvest – from New York City transportation and infrastructure needs, encouraging the House and Senate to pass a long-term surface transportation reauthorization that increases federal funding support for our transportation systems, including subways, buses, streets, bridges, rail, and ferries to meet growing needs.

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) today wrote Attorney General Loretta Lynch calling on the Department of Justice (DoJ) to investigate whether recent false accusations of espionage against several Asian Americans were influenced by race, ethnicity or country of origin. The full text of the Congresswoman’s letter is below.

November 8, 2015

The Honorable Loretta Lynch
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Lynch: