Velázquez E-Update 

In this issue:
Government Shutdown

Disaster Resilience Package

Supporting Small Business Innovation

Standing up for Environmental Protections

Safeguarding Puerto Rico's Debt Restructuring Efforts

Standing up for Democracy with Global Leaders

!WEPA! Day of Resistance

Flood Solutions Fair

Legislative Activity

Government Shutdown

On September 30, government funding lapsed, resulting in a government shutdown. Many federal workers have been furloughed, and government services have been stopped or delayed. Democrats are demanding that new government funding address the ongoing health care crisis as millions of families are left facing higher health care costs. The first step in addressing this is extending the Affordable Care Act tax credit, which helps families lower their monthly premium payments and afford quality, comprehensive health insurance. If these credits are not extended, 8,000 people in New York’s 7th Congressional District will see the cost of their healthcare soar. The need to address this now is imperative as insurers will start sending increased premium notices out soon, resulting in many New Yorkers losing coverage or becoming uninsured. Thousands of families in Brooklyn and Queens would be impacted, and Rep. Velázquez will continue fighting for them, refusing to rubber-stamp a budget that strips healthcare from working families and provides giveaways to the wealthy.  

Disaster Resilience Package

The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of natural disasters that threaten communities in New York and Puerto Rico. As hurricane season intensifies, the challenges posed by these disasters are top of mind. In September, Rep. Velázquez introduced five pieces of legislation – described in detail in the “legislative activity” section below – to help ensure families are not left stranded, overcharged, or underserved when a natural disaster impacts their community. These bills work to improve disaster response by FEMA and other agencies to get impacted communities the help they need, reform flood insurance to help families rebuild, and prevent airline price-gouging during disasters to allow for safe and accessible travel. In a statement about the package, Rep. Velázquez said she is working to advance this legislation because “our people deserve fair treatment, affordable protections, and responsive government when disaster strikes.”

Supporting Small Business Innovation

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) are programs that provide grants and funding to small businesses to support vital technological advancements. As Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business, Rep. Velázquez, cosponsored and helped to advance a bill that provides a 1-year extension of the SBIR and STTR programs through the Committee and the House. These programs are “some of the federal government’s most effective tools to drive innovation,” Rep. Velázquez said in a statement, and extending funding for these programs would ensure that small firms doing promising and innovative research are not interrupted while working toward a permanent reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to extend SBIR and STTR, causing them to lapse on September 30th. Rep. Velázquez, and her House Committee on Small Business colleagues, are calling on the Senate to quickly provide a temporary extension of the programs so that America’s small businesses can continue their innovative work.

Standing up for Environmental Protections

In July, the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the rescindment of its 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. The Endangerment Finding is the legal foundation for EPA regulations that set standards for vehicle emissions and other environmental protections. This month, Rep. Velázquez and Rep. Tonko led a letter to EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, calling on the agency to abandon its efforts to rescind the Endangerment Finding. In the letter, they argued that the protections made possible under the finding are key to protecting New York’s infrastructure, economy, and communities from the worst effects of climate change.

Rep. Velázquez also spoke out about the importance of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at a Natural Resources Committee hearing on the SPEED Act. Currently, NEPA requires federal agencies to analyze the environmental impact of any major activities and projects, providing the opportunity for valuable scientific and community input to decisions that may have significant environmental consequences. The Republican sponsored SPEED Act looks to narrow which federal projects would require a NEPA environmental impact study. During the hearing, Rep. Velázquez argued that this bill would undermine an important process that protects and gives voice to vulnerable communities. Standing up for environmental protections, like the EPA Endangerment Finding and the National Environmental Policy Act, are key to slowing climate change and protecting our communities.   

Safeguarding Puerto Rico’s Debt Restructuring Efforts

Rep. Velázquez released a statement with Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Torres supporting members of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico (FOMB) who were fired in August by the Trump administration. The firings have stalled debt restructuring that impacts access to electricity for 1.5 million residents of Puerto Rico and have led to calls for a dissolution of the FOMB, threatening the island’s critical cash reserves. Rep. Velázquez said, in the statement, that “Puerto Ricans have become the latest victims of [President Trump’s] policy campaign against independent institutions.” It is important that these board members be reinstated so that they can resume the work of securing affordable energy for every Puerto Rican home and business.

Standing up for Democracy with Global Leaders

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Rep. Velázquez participated in a special event, “Democracia Siempre”, to grow the coalition in defense of democracy with leaders from around the world. Rep. Velázquez gave remarks to the audience and took part in a panel discussion. In the remarks, Rep. Velázquez outlined threats to democracy and justice in the U.S. and beyond and work she has done to protect the rule of law. Among the work Rep. Velázquez discussed was her bill, the No Masks for ICE Act – which  is critical to ensuring that law enforcement remains accountable to the public. The Representative also discussed her role as one of the earliest voices in Congress demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, knowing, as a Puerto Rican, that the fight against colonialism is inseparable from the fight against authoritarianism. The remarks concluded by underlining the need to continue fighting for our communities, together, and from the ground up.

!WEPA! Day of Resistance

Rep. Velázquez joined El Puente’s annual WEPA street festival with music, dance performances, and more. This year’s theme was “DEFEND! ¡PA’LANTE!”, focused on protecting community organizations that are experiencing disinvestment. Rep. Velázquez was proud to join in responding to challenging circumstances with culture, joy, and celebration.

Flood Solutions Fair

Rep. Velázquez hosted a Flood Solutions Fair in Sunnyside, Queens. A community where Hurricanes Sandy and Ida and other storms have taken a heavy toll. The fair brought together local public officials, experts, and agencies to provide New Yorkers with concrete steps to protect their homes from storm damage. The fair hosted two key-note speakers, two panel discussions, and twenty tables that covered a wide range of topics, from masonry and waterproofing upgrades to flood insurance, and what steps can be taken if you are a renter or live in a basement apartment. A recording of Rep. Velázquez’ opening remarks and the informational panels on flood solutions is available here.   

Legislative Activity

Bills Introduced by Rep. Velázquez:

• H.R. 5500 – National Flood Insurance Program Administrative Reform Act of 2025

This bill would improve the operation of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The bill makes multiple key changes to the NFIP which include allowing policyholders to buy enhanced coverage to bring damaged buildings into compliance with flood plain rules, creation of a pilot program to allow inspections for pre-existing conditions that may result in denial of a future claim, strengthening fraud prevention and require FEMA to decide claims within 90 days, give FEMA more oversight of the private insurers that handle NFIP policies, provide homeowners with more transparent policy documents, and establishing a Federal Flood Insurance Advisory Committee. 

• H.R. 5501 – Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act

This bill would require a detailed study by the Government Accountability Office on critical data gaps that actively impact how federal grant programs for Puerto Rico’s recovery are administered. This report would include an overview of current grants, how current “statistical products” (data currently available to grant decision makers), analysis of critical data needs and how those gaps impeded grant effectiveness, and recommendations to integrate Puerto Rico into more statistical products. These measures would improve the access to and quality of disaster response in Puerto Rico.

• H.R. 5502 – AirFAIR Act

This bill would protect consumers from airline price-gouging by capping fare increases at 30% during declared natural disasters and granting the Department of Transportation authority to lower the cap if necessary. 

• H.R. 5503 – Strengthening Capacity for Disaster Resilient Territories Act

This bill would require FEMA to create a continuous program to identify and address capability gaps in U.S. territories that interfere with recovery after major disasters. FEMA would also be required to report to Congress on the findings of the monitoring program and actions taken as a result of those findings.

• H.R. 5504 – Flood Insurance Tax Credit Act of 2025

This bill would create a refundable tax credit equal to 33% of flood insurance premiums paid for an individual’s principal residence under the NFIP. 

Bills co-sponsored by Rep. Velázquez:

• H.R. 5100 – To extend the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes – This bill extends the SBIR and STTR program for 1-year, allowing for the uninterrupted operation of small businesses that receive SBIR and STTR funding.

• H.R. 5168 – Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act – This bill would allow Puerto Rico to transition into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) –which it is currently excluded from – to ensure nutrition resources can reach all Puerto Ricans who need them. 

• H.R. 5319 – LINE Act – This bill would prevent Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services from disclosing Medicaid data for law enforcement purposes related to immigration.

• H.R. 5390 – FAMILY Act – This bill would bolster family and medical leave to provide access to paid leave for every worker by expanding access to all individuals who have worked in the last two years regardless of whether they are subject to Social Security taxes. It would also redefine family to include more caregiving relationships, improve program financing, increase wage replacement, provide leave for domestic violence, and eliminate benefit waiting periods. 

• H.R. 5399 – Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act – This bill would direct the Secretary of Education to implement a competitive grant program to support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher education.

For a full list of legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Velázquez, click here.