May 9, 2020

To the good people of New York’s 9th Congressional District,

There is no way that our community would continue to thrive without your support of the greater good and your commitment to help each other during this pandemic by social distancing. As we continue to adjust to this new normal, please, do not hesitate to contact my office if you need any assistance—Team Clarke is here for you. My staff remains committed to NY-09 as they telework throughout this pandemic.

This week marked Teacher Appreciation Week and the COVID-19 pandemic has taught many of us how invaluable teachers are. Teachers’ jobs are challenging under the best of circumstances and during this pandemic we know they’re working harder than ever. Schools might be closed, but teachers across Brooklyn and our city have been showing up for their students in every way possible. I am grateful to these educators who have so valiantly switched to distance learning classrooms. Thank you.

To all the mothers out there--I wish you a happy Mother’s Day this weekend. While celebrating might be a bit different this year, I know soon we will all be able to gather with loved ones to celebrate momentous occasions and holidays. And to those who are unable to be with their moms this weekend because they are no longer with us, I give you my heartfelt love and comfort.

You all have made innumerable sacrifices to aid our community in rebuilding as we have been one of the hardest-hit communities by coronavirus. Although the weather is getting warmer and we are getting restless, remaining inside and practicing social distancing is imperative in ensuring our city gains the strength to reopen.

In good health,

Yvette D. Clarke

Member of Congress

Congressional Legislative Updates:

I’m an original co-sponsor of the Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act to:

cancel rent until a month after this national emergency ends
establish a HUD fund to reimburse renters
hold landlords accountable for just-cause evictions
make new vacancies eligible to voucher holders

I am working with Congresswomen Meng and Ocasio-Cortez to push for the next coronavirus relief package to include rent and mortgage forgiveness.
I joined my colleague Congressman Lacy Clay in writing Speaker Pelosi to urge House Leadership to include language to protect funeral homes, their workers, and families of deceased persons.
I’m an original co-sponsor of Congresswoman Maloney’s Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Healthcare Workers to alleviate the debt of our essential workers in the healthcare industry.
This week, I called for the immediate firing of NYPD officers who have engaged in racial profiling and senseless violence in this age of social distancing.
I am disturbed to see the violent arrests that have put Black lives on the line, so I'm calling for the immediate removal of any and all NYPD officers who have taken part in these unjust practices.
House Democrats moved quickly to follow up by passing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which:

For families’ health security: this legislation ensures free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured. Our legislation also increases funding for Medicaid to support local, state, tribal and territorial health systems, so that they have the resources needed to combat this public health emergency.
For families’ economic security: our bill provides two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of family and medical leave for eligible workers and enhances Unemployment Insurance. It also supports small businesses by fully reimbursing them for providing leave.
For families’ food security: our legislation strengthens nutrition initiatives including SNAP, student meals, seniors’ meals and food banks.
The American people need and deserve a coordinated, fully-funded, whole-of-government response to keep them and their loved ones safe from the coronavirus epidemic. House Democrats will continue to

Bipartisan House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis:

We face a deadly virus and a battered economy with millions of Americans suddenly out of work. Congress has taken an important step in meeting this crisis by passing three bills with over $2 trillion dollars in emergency relief. We need to ensure those tax dollars are spent carefully and effectively to save lives.
What made sense then makes even more sense now. That is why the House has formed a special bipartisan oversight panel: the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
This panel will root out waste, fraud and abuse, and it will protect against price gouging and profiteering.
It will also press to ensure that the federal response is based on the best possible science and guided by our nation’s leading health experts.
The committee will be empowered to examine all aspects of the federal response to the coronavirus to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being wisely and efficiently.
The work of the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis will help save lives, deliver relief and benefit our economy.

NYC Mayor’s Updates:

The MTA will disinfect the New York City Transit system, as well as the Metro-North and Long Island Railroad, every 24 hours. To achieve this, subway service will stop nightly from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM, beginning on Wednesday, May 6. The MTA will provide free alternative transportation options to essential workers including buses, "dollar vans" and for-hire vehicles. The entire fleet of Metro-North Railroad and LIRR will also be cleaned daily (with no service disruptions). This is an unprecedented undertaking and requires a full MTA/State/City partnership.
All New York hospitals must allow partners to stay with women as they recover from giving birth. A previously signed Executive Order allowed one person to be present (in addition to the patient) during both labor and delivery. Following the recommendation of the COVID-19 Maternity Task Force, hospitals must now allow partners to stay with women during labor, delivery and the postpartum period, which includes recovery.
No New Yorker should go to bed hungry. One of the greatest concerns of the pandemic is food accessibility and hunger. New Yorkers should have access to food regardless of where they are in the state. To find a food pantry that services your county, visit ny.gov/foodbanks.
Even though New York is still on PAUSE, New York State Parks remain open for solitary walks or hikes. To help beat cabin fever, all fees for state, local and county parks are waived — but you must keep six feet of distance from others and where a mask where social distancing is not possible. (You don't need to stay six feet away from someone in your own household who is joining you.)

Health and Human Services Updates:

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the distribution of $22 billion from the Health Provider Relief Fund, with $12 billion targeting hot spots and $10 billion intended to support rural health care.
HHS is distributing $12 billion to 395 hospitals who provided inpatient care for 100 or more COVID-19 patients through April 10, 2020, $2 billion of which will be distributed to these hospitals based on their Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share and uncompensated care payments.
These 395 hospitals accounted for 71 percent of COVID-19 inpatient admissions reported to HHS from nearly 6,000 hospitals around the country.
Hospitals are paid a fixed amount per COVID-19 inpatient admission, with an additional amount taking into account their Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share and uncompensated care payments.
These hospitals will begin receiving funds via direct deposit in the coming days.
Recipients of the $10 billion rural distribution will include, rural acute care general hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Community Health Centers (CHCs) located in rural areas.
Hospitals and RHCs will each receive a minimum base payment plus a percent of their annual expenses.
This expense-based method accounts for operating cost and lost revenue incurred by rural hospitals for both inpatient and outpatient services.
The base payment will account for RHCs with no reported Medicare claims, such as pediatric RHCs, and CHCs lacking expense data, by ensuring that all clinical, non-hospital sites receive a minimum level of support no less than $100,000, with additional payment based on operating expenses.
Rural acute care general hospitals and CAHs will receive a minimum level of support of no less than $1,000,000, with additional payment based on operating expenses.
Eligible providers will begin receiving funds in the coming days via direct deposit, based on the physical address of the facilities as reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), regardless of their affiliation with organizations based in urban areas.

IRS Updates:

IRS and Security Summit warn #TaxPros of cybercriminals taking advantage of COVID-19 to create new scams: https://go.usa.gov/xvKAW
To help everyone check the status of their Economic Impact Payment, IRS has launched a tool that provides the status of a payment, including the date it’s scheduled to be deposited or mailed. www.irs.gov/eip
IRS is issuing Economic Impact Payments in record time, but we understand you may have pending questions. Take a moment to check our FAQs: www.irs.gov/EIPFAQ #COVIDreliefIRS
IRSTaxTip: Be sure to know the signs of an IRS impersonating phone scam, especially during tax filing season: http://go.usa.gov/xd73W
An IRS tool lets you submit your banking information online to get an Economic Impact Payment faster. If the IRS doesn’t have your direct deposit information, get it ready now and submit it as soon as the feature is launched. www.irs.gov/eip #COVIDreliefIRS
IRS is now accepting applications for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant programs through Monday, June 1. The application packages and guidelines are available on the IRS site. Apply today: https://go.usa.gov/xvwNe
IRS alerts taxpayers of scams that may pop up during the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn to recognize scams and check that your donation goes to legitimate charities: www.irs.gov/teos
Are you a small business owner who offers paid family and medical leave to your employees? Here’s what you need to know about the IRS employer credit for paid family and medical leave and how to claim it: https://go.usa.gov/xVwTS
IRS: Three new tax credits are available to many businesses hit by COVID-19. Learn more: https://go.usa.gov/xvjbp
Recipients of Veterans Affairs benefits will automatically receive Economic Impact Payments without the need to file taxes for 2018 or 2019. Date TBD. More details from IRS at www.irs.gov/coronavirus
IRS Tax Tip: Learn to avoid common errors when filing IRS Form 7200 for advance payment of employer credits due to COVID-19: https://go.usa.gov/xvEwa #COIVDreliefIRS
#RS reminder: Deadline extended to July 15 for those who pay estimated taxes for tax year 2020. Questions? Learn more at: www.irs.gov/covidtaxdeadlines #COVIDreliefIRS
The IRS employee retention credit encourages businesses to keep workers on the payroll. It’s a refundable tax credit for employers whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. Learn more: https://go.usa.gov/xvGRk COVIDreliefIRS
The employee retention credit encourages employers to keep employees on their payroll, despite experiencing economic hardship related to COVID-19. IRS has posted FAQs to help you understand this new credit. See www.irs.gov/coronavirus #COVIDreliefIRS
Most data breaches begin with phishing scams. IRS urges you not to let your guard down: www.irs.gov/phishing
The employee retention credit encourages tax-exempt organizations to keep employees on their payroll, despite experiencing economic hardship related to COVID-19. IRS has information to help you understand this new credit: https://go.usa.gov/xvYqa
Whether you’re filing a tax return to claim a refund or to get an extension, IRS can help you get it right. Find help at www.irs.gov/help