Newsletter: $12 Million for The Bronx and Queens, File Taxes for Free Directly with the IRS

A Message from the Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

To our Neighbors in NY-14,

We’re so excited to share that we’re bringing over $12 million in federal funding for community projects in The Bronx and Queens! The federal funding will help establish a violence prevention-focused community center in Astoria, create a youth center for Co-op City residents, improve street safety on Astoria Boulevard and Westchester Square, and more. Find the full list of projects here.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez pictured with organizers and community members at Malikah, one of the recipients of a community project funding grant in Queens

On top of bringing back federal dollars to our communities, we’ve also been busy in D.C. Last month, we reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act to address the housing crisis in this country. Our bill will expand public housing, create jobs, repeal the Faircloth amendment to allow for the construction of more public housing, and more — all while making housing more affordable. Learn more here.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez at the House Triangle in Washington, D.C. Reintroducing the Green New Deal for Public Housing

Later that same week, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez gave a speech on the House Floor on the looming famine in Gaza and the Biden administration’s response to the crisis. There is no world in which the forced famine of 1.1 million people cannot be considered genocide — and that is exactly what we are watching unfold in Gaza now. We must enforce U.S. laws and halt weapons transfers to the Israeli government to stop further atrocities. Watch the full speech below.

We've included more updates below, including information about an upcoming webinar on the new IRS Direct File tool and our new district office in Queens. As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office if you need help with federal issues or other concerns. You can reach us online or by phone at 718-662-5970.

In service,

The Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Other Updates from Our Office

This week, we're hosting a webinar to teach you how to file your taxes FOR FREE. New Yorkers with relatively simple returns qualify for a new pilot program through the IRS called Direct File. This program will allow certain people to electronically file federal tax returns for free directly through the IRS. Join us virtually on Thursday, April 4th at 6:00 pm to learn more. Register here.

Visit our new district office in Astoria! We’re available for in-person assistance on Thursdays from 10 am to 6 pm. Our office is co-locating with New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán at 30-83 31st Street, Queens, NY 11102. Our dedicated team of constituent liaisons can help with federal issues, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and more.

We're now accepting Community Project Funding requests for Fiscal Year 2025! Each year, Congress works to pass appropriations bills that determine how federal dollars are spent. Nonprofits and local and state government entities can submit their funding requests now through April 5th, 5 pm EST. Apply here.

We asked the Biden administration to grant Ecuadorians Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, along with Rep. Rob Menendez and Rep. Adriano Espaillat, led 24 Members of Congress in sending this letter. While Ecuador is experiencing unrest, a TPS designation would allow many in our Ecuadorian community to breathe a sigh of relief by keeping families together and making them eligible for work authorization to support themselves. Read the full letter in English and en espańol.