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Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved $700,000 to benefit youth development efforts in New York’s 12th Congressional District. The funding included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations bill was designated under the Department of Justice’s Juvenile Justice Program. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) hailed the resources as providing vital support to programs that give at-risk, New York City youth the opportunity to excel in school and the community.

NEW YORK - The Cypress Hills Local Development Center (LDC) will soon introduce a new education and job training program for Brooklyn youth, having received a $809,190 YouthBuild grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding supports the creation of a program that will provide youth with hands-on experience building affordable housing for local families. The Cypress Hills LDC is one of only 183 groups across the country to receive this valuable award. Rep. Nydia M.

NEW YORK - On Saturday, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) presented leaders of the Highland Park Community Development Corporation (CDC) with $200,000 in federal resources to support their successful youth programs. The funding from the U.S. Department of Justice will help young adults succeed academically and develop positive relationships with their parents and peers.

From a brilliant legal scholar on the brink of serving in the highest court of the nation, to a celebrated arts curator who led the renovation efforts of the renowned Greek and Roman wings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to an advertising producer-turned-restaurateur with $100 million in sales -- this year's Top Ten New York Puerto Rican influentials are not only breaking down barriers, they are shattering stereotypes.

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NEW YORK – On Saturday, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) presented the Graham Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) with $94,000 in federal resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The funding will strengthen the group’s farmers market program and bring fresh, healthy foods to the local community. In New York City, where 9 out of 10 residents do not eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, increased access to fresh food is desperately needed.

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.