Here's a quick update on what I've been working on during a busy few weeks in Washington, DC, Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn   My friend, Here's a quick update on what I've been working on during a busy few weeks in Washington, DC, Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn... IN THE DISTRICT   SECURING MILLIONS FOR STEM PROGRAMS READ MORE I joined the College of Staten Island to announce that our office secured $2.9 million in the federal government's operational budget for the College's STEM labs. The funding will support over 100 projects at the College, ranging from new equipment and technology, to new construction of labs, state-of-the-art instructional facilities and cooperative work spaces so students can learn in a hands-on environment and become successful leaders in the STEM field. BAY RIDGE SENIOR CENTER GRAND OPENING I was happy to join Brooklyn seniors to celebrate the grand opening of the brand new Bay Ridge Center (BRC) for Older Adults. I was proud to secure $2 million in federal funding to help the BRC complete construction of this project and its my hope that it will provide our seniors with a comfortable place to gather and thrive for years to come! PROGRESS ON FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECTS I met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Commander of the New York District to discuss progress made on Staten Island's East Shore Seawall, dredging in Great Kills Harbor that we expect to begin this year and the study for protection along Brooklyn’s Belt Parkway to deter severe flooding during future storms. CITY APPEALS NONCITIZEN VOTING RULING The City Council and non-profit LatinoJustice have filed notices to appeal last month's decision to strike down noncitizen voting in New York City elections. There's nothing more important than preserving the integrity of our election system and the city's appeal is a slap in the face to New Yorkers and legal immigrants who followed our rules, became U.S. citizens, and earned their right to vote. The city should not waste taxpayers dollars on this unconstitutional law and instead focus on the needs of hardworking citizens. READ MORE HARMFUL IMPACT OF CONGESTION PRICING READ MORE I joined local elected officials on Staten Island to highlight how the city's congestion pricing plan will make hardworking outer-borough commuters and minorities pay to have more traffic and pollution shift to their residential areas, like Staten Island's North Shore. We won't stop fighting this cash grab and are suing as the program is inequitable and is being implemented in violation of federal environmental laws. FIGHTING ILLEGAL MIGRANT SHELTERS Our team was able to identify multiple issues with the Certificate of Occupancy and Lease Agreement that turned Island Shores from a senior residence to a migrant shelter. We continue to urge the city to return the facility to its rightful use as permanent housing and are consulting with attorneys and formers tenants on potential legal options. READ OUR LETTER READ MY STATEMENT We're also working to stop the new proposed homeless shelter in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, just blocks away from six different schools. Instead of warehousing people in shelters with no transitional resources to get their lives back on track, the City should take advantage of tax credits passed by the House that would allow for the creation of thousands permanent and affordable housing units. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HILL   WELCOMING THE NYPD TO THE CAPITOL READ MY REACTION TO BIDEN'S ADDRESS HERE It was an honor to welcome NYPD Lt. Ben Kurian, Officer Zunxu Tian and their wives to the Capitol for President Biden's State of the Union address. Sadly, these officers were attacked by individuals who should not have been in our city, but were granted parole by President Biden. Our NYPD officers are unfortunately being forced to deal with thousands of violent crimes being committed by those in our country illegally. I was humbled to have these officers in Washington to not only show support for New York City's finest, but to also bring attention to the need for the Biden Administration to end its dangerous border policies that have allowed millions of unvetted individuals to enter our country illegally. CONDEMNING COMMUNIST CUBA As the daughter of a Cuban refugee, I joined my Cuban colleagues to condemn socialist lawmakers' recent trip to Cuba and bring attention to Cuba's human rights violations. The Communist Cuban regime jails, beats and murders peaceful protesters and political opponents, harbors terrorists and cop-killers, helped spread communism across South America, and allows our adversaries to operate spy bases 90 miles from our shores. They MUST stay on the state sponsor of terrorism list. WATCH OUR PRESS CONFERENCE HERE EXPANDING HOUSING FOR NYC VETERANS READ MORE I've partnered with Queens Rep. Grace Meng to introduce bipartisan legislation that makes co-ops eligible for mortgages backed by the VA, expanding affordable housing options for local veterans. With co-ops accounting for roughly a quarter of the housing market in New York City, it’s critically important that we ensure access to these properties for our veterans who’ve sacrificed so much for our nation. CUOMO FACES FEDERAL SUBPOENA Former Governor Andrew Cuomo's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic led to nursing homes across New York State being forced to accept COVID+ patients. Our Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is seeking accountability for the thousands of families who lost loved ones due to his misguided order. Thus far the former Governor has ignored and delayed our investigation, however, we've issued a federal subpoena so he's forced to provide New Yorkers with the answers they deserve. READ MORE ADDRESSING MEDICATION SHORTAGES WATCH The House Committee on Ways and Means is working to increase domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical ingredients so we're no longer beholden to Communist China for our country's medical supply needs. I recently discussed our Committee's efforts and the need for the Biden Administration to swiftly address the shortage of 250 medications, including chemotherapies and antibiotics. IN THE NEWS House GOP demands federal records on migrants’ backgrounds amid crime concerns at Floyd Bennett Field House Republicans want the National Park Service to explain its “unprecedented decision” to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field, which they say has led to a concerning “uptick in crime.” ... The lawmakers — including Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Long Island Reps. Anthony D’Esposito, Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino — said “tenants, employees of Floyd Bennett Field, and surrounding residents deserve to know if they are living with migrants who have previous arrest records and/or convictions.” READ Brooklyn residents protest proposed men-only homeless shelter in their neighborhood: ‘It’s going to be a war’ Rep. Nicole Malliotakis whose district includes Bensonhurst, opposes the shelter and said in a press release, "Instead of building permanent solutions to the housing crisis, the City has resorted to warehousing people in shelters that offer no transitional resources to get their lives back on track. Placing a homeless shelter in Bensonhurst just blocks away from six different schools is not only unfair and unsafe for the surrounding community, but also demonstrates a lack of leadership when the federal government has taken action to increase opportunities for cities to build more affordable housing units." READ Rep. Malliotakis to Newsmax: Cuomo Must Answer for COVID Decisions While the nation may be moving on from the coronavirus pandemic, congressional Republicans are not moving on from questions of accountability for actions that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo took during that time, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said. "As a New Yorker, I saw constituents lose loved ones," the New York Republican told Newsmax's "Wake Up America." "I believe they lost loved ones in nursing homes because of the mandates put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that were not in sync with federal guidance." READ New Staten Island maternity center can accommodate the birth of 1K babies a year Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the center is in its final stages of completion, thanks in part to the advocacy efforts of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who secured $2 million in the federal budget.  “SIUH’s women and newborn facilities have not been upgraded since 1979, forcing services to be offered in three different locations across two floors in the hospital,” Malliotakis said. “I’m happy to have played a role in ensuring women in our community continue to have access to high-quality, patient-centered care.” READ Washington DC Office 351 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3371 Staten Island Office 1698 Victory Blvd Suite 2L Staten Island, NY 10314 (718) 568-2870 Brooklyn Office 7716 Third Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 306-1620   [link removed] Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) | 351 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]