Email 05/06/2013
Press Release
Statement on Explosions in Boston Marathon
On behalf of the people of the 9th Congressional District in New York, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims killed today at the Boston Marathon.
It is disheartening to learn that explosive devices were placed to intentionally harm innocent bystanders, but I want to encourage everyone to cooperate with law enforcement authorities as they work to identify whomever is responsible for these senseless attacks and increase public safety. I want to applaud our first responders for their heroism.
I wish the women, men, and children injured in this incident a quick recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the city of Boston at this time.
Statement on April Jobs Report
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly job report indicated that the total number of jobs increased by 165,000 in April, reducing the unemployment rate to 7.5 percent.
I am very pleased that the economy has continued its recovery, despite substantial reductions in federal expenditures as a result of the budget sequester. We know from business owners and economists that Congress could hasten the recovery - and further reduce unemployment - if we reach an agreement on the budget.
Representative Clarke co-sponsored legislation that would restore adequate support for the Meal-on-Wheels program for senior citizens, college tuition assistance for veterans of the Armed Forces, day-care and after-school programs for children.
We will succeed as a nation only if we invest in our people. We know that these investments will provide the foundation for an economic recovery that allows every family to thrive.
Clarke Commemorates May Day,
Urges Unions to Act
Every family in the United States today knows the benefits of organized labor, from the forty-hour work week to employer sponsored health insurance and pensions to regulations that protect the health and safety of people at their jobs.
We have arrived at a critical moment in the history of organized labor. Workers in every community in the United States have experienced some serious difficulties in recent years - high rates of unemployment, wages that have not been increased in years, and a reduction in benefits such as health insurance.
Once, members of a labor union could bargain collectively with management for higher wages, comprehensive health care, and security in their positions.
But in 2013 this opportunity does not exist for many Americans, because membership in labor unions, particularly for workers in the private sector, has decreased to the lowest rate in a century, less than seven percent.
The decline in labor union membership has serious consequences for workers. Many of the achievements for which we bargained have been diminished, as union members have been required to concede on retirement benefits and the outsourcing of jobs.
With outsourcing, labor unions have suffered as companies send jobs to other nations in which workers are not allowed to bargain collectively. Recently, many public sector jobs have been "outsourced" under government contracts - the majority of the workers employed by government contractors are not unionized.
Unions must form coalitions to participate in the debate about labor issues, such as the opposition to "right-to-work" laws that have reduced membership in their ranks, and other issues, such as comprehensive immigration reform that has important implications for workers in this nation.
News
Education Department Announces Changes to FAFSA Form to More Accurately and Fairly Assess Students' Need for Aid
Obama Administration 2014 Budget Prioritizes Key Education Investments to Provide Opportunities for All Americans
USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Cap
USCIS Announces Citizenship and Integration Grant Opportunity
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Adjudication of Most H-2B Petitions Following Court Order
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended for Hondurans and Nicaraguans. Additional information is available here.
IRS Seeking Applications for Volunteer Tax Assistance Program Grants
VA Launches Hotline to Answer Questions on VA Health Care and Benefits for Women Veterans
VA to Expedite Claims Decisions for Veterans Who Have Waited a Year or More
Care and Benefits for Veterans Strengthened by $153 Billion VA Budget
Schools Chancellor Walcott and City Council Speaker Quinn Announce Pilot Program to Extend School Day & Expansion of Middle School Quality Initiative
Obama Administration Simplifies, Significantly Shortens Application for Health Insurance
CMS Ensures Greater Value for People in Medicare Drug and Health Plans
Upcoming Events
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and I will present Service Academy Night on Tuesday May 28th at 6:30 p.m. High school students, parents, and school officials are invited to meet representatives from the U.S. Military, Naval, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Air Force academies in addition to the R.O.T.C. programs. The venue is St. Francis College which is located at 182 Remsen St. Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please RSVP at academy_nominations@gillibrand.senate.gov or (212) 688-6262.
Legislative Highlights
I am proud to have recently introduced H.R. 1583, the Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely Redress Act of 2013. This bill establishes an Office of Appeals and Redress to implement a redress process for individuals who believe they were wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a commercial aircraft. Specifically, this bill serves individuals that believe they were denied a right, benefit, or privilege by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) because they were wrongly identified as a threat when screened against the terrorist watchlist used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or any component of DHS.
In a rare expression of solidarity, the House of Representatives unanimously voted to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, in recognition of the 50th commemoration of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church where the 4 little Black girls lost their lives, which served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. As a cosponsor of this bill, I was deeply moved that we were able to give long overdue recognition to the sacrifice of these girls. I pledge to preserve their legacy and to continue the work of those who gave their lives in the name of Civil Rights. I will never give up the fight for an America that truly lives up to the ideals of equality that serve as its foundation.
As co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Immigration Taskforce, the ongoing negotiations concerning comprehensive immigration reform are of great importance to me and has the potential to impact the residents of my Congressional district. Therefore, we remain vigilant and continue to work diligently to ensure that our nation implements immigration reform that recognizes the needs of all immigrant communities. Click here to watch a forum hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss immigration reform in Black America at Howard University on April 9.
Success Story
Every constituent case is different, therefore we cannot guarantee expediting or the same results in processing.
A U.S. citizen filed an I-130 for her husband and father of their unborn son in June 2009. Three years later, she sought the assistance of my office. Eight months after her initial visit, the Embassy issued his visa and he has since made his entry into the U.S.
Sandy Update
In April, New York State's action plan for the expenditure of $1.7 billion in grants funded through HUD's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR) was approved. Below is the allocation of funding by category:
Housing - $838M
Economic Development - $415M
Infrastructure/Facilities - $300M
Infrastructure Bank - $20M
Resilience Retrofit Funding - $30M
Planning - $25M
Administration - $86M
The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force announced that all Sandy-related rebuilding projects funded by the supplemental spending bill must meet a single uniform flood risk reduction standard. The specific steps that these types of structures will need to take include:
*Elevating the standard would require structures to elevate their bottom floor one foot higher than the most recent flood risk guidance provided by FEMA; and/or
*Flood-proofing in situations where elevation is not possible, the standard will require structures to prepare for flooding a foot higher than the most recent flood risk guidance provided by FEMA - for example, by relocating or sealing boilers or other utilities located below the standard elevation.
These additional steps are intended to protect communities from future risk and to protect taxpayer investments over the long term.
The programs which received funding in the supplemental bill and will be impacted by this standard include:
HUD: Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program
HHS: Construction and reconstruction projects funded by Social Services Block Grants and Head Start
FEMA: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the Public Assistance Program
EPA: The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs
DOT: Federal Transit Administration's Emergency Relief Program, as well as some Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Highway Administration projects
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