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   EXPOSING LUCRATIVE SHELTER CONTRACTS READ MORE I joined concerned members of the Brooklyn community in calling on the City Council to repeal zoning laws that are allowing hotels to be turned into homeless shelters and incentivizing property owners to exploit loopholes to enter lucrative contracts with the City. Instead of robbing taxpayers blind to warehouse people in residential neighborhoods, the City should focus on creating permanent and affordable housing options. PRESIDENTS' DAY ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS I met with the Staten Island and Brooklyn winners of our office's Presidents' Day Essay Contest to celebrate their achievements and listen to the great ideas they have to improve our community. From combatting inflation and human trafficking, to keeping litter off our streets, to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, these students effectively shared their thoughts on everyday problems impacting Americans. It was a pleasure to meet with them and I hope this contest sparks a passion for positive change and civic engagement that grows throughout their academic careers! FUNDING FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS I stopped by the Salvation Army's Bensonhurst Community Center in Brooklyn to announce federal funding our office secured to make improvements to the facility and make their restrooms more accessible for individuals with mobility issues. By providing nutrition, activities and social services, this center plays a vital role in the lives of our senior citizens. I also joined Staten Island and Brooklyn family members, friends and advocates for those with developmental disabilities at the On Your Mark Gala where I announced $1.5 million in federal funding for fitness center upgrades and wheelchair accessible elevators at their Staten Island facility. These improvements will increase patient-centered programming that promotes community, social inclusion, health, fitness and independence for those with developmental disabilities. WATCH CONTINUING OUR FIGHT AGAINST CONGESTION PRICING READ MORE I joined State Assemblymen Michael Tannousis, Mike Reilly, and City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli in highlighting new legislation introduced on the state level to kill New York City's congestion pricing program, something I've also done on the federal level with New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer. As we continue to use every legal and legislative tool at our disposal to stop this cash grab, it's important for you to get your elected officials at every level of government on the record for OR against this scheme! $1 MILLION FOR MID-ISLAND BLUE BELT I recently announced $1 million in federal funding our office secured for the Mid-Island Blue Belt Street Reconstruction Project. This funding will be used for road reconstruction in the Ocean Breeze section of Staten Island, including new curbs, sidewalks and potential street raising to prevent future flooding and ponding. Securing New York City's fair share of federal infrastructure funding has been one of my top priorities in Congress, and I look forward to seeing this and other flood resiliency projects completed across our borough in the near future! READ MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HILL   CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES The recent display of antisemitism on college campuses has been extremely disturbing, particularly at Columbia University here in New York City where pro-Hamas students have been camped out on the University's campus for nearly two weeks. I joined Speaker Mike Johnson and some of my House colleagues at Columbia to visit with Jewish students who have been threatened and assaulted by their peers to show our support. WATCH   HONORING AMERICA'S ROSIE THE RIVETERS I attended the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring America's Rosie the Riveters, who, during World War II, took up jobs at factories to make fighter jets and military equipment to support the wartime effort that led to victory. We can learn a lot from these amazing women who contributed so much to our country's success! WATCH IN THE NEWS Bipartisan push to stop NIH pain tests on cats and dogs A bipartisan measure targeting maximum pain tests on cats and dogs was introduced on Thursday, the latest in a string of efforts to curb tax dollar support for animal testing. ... “While we continue our fight to end cruel animal testing altogether, I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this bipartisan legislation that requires more oversight over NIH-sponsored animal research and prohibits studies that cause significant pain and distress to our most vulnerable animal populations,” Malliotakis said. READ Rep. Malliotakis to Newsmax: Mayor Gaslighting New Yorkers on Crime Despite a recent surge in violent crimes leaving New Yorkers on edge, New York City Mayor Eric Adams reportedly is doubling down on his assertion that crime in the city is down, sparking skepticism among residents. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., criticized Adams' stance, likening it to gaslighting, during an interview on Newsmax's "Saturday Report."  "Yeah, it's so insulting to New Yorkers to tell them that what you're seeing and reading about, experiencing on a regular basis in New York is just not happening," Malliotakis said. "It's similar to the president telling you that the economy is great while you're struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over your head." 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]