November Newsletter: The End of the Government Shutdown, Distributing Fresh Groceries, and Fighting for November SNAP Benefit Funding

Table of Contents:

In Our Community
From Capitol Hill
Constituent Corner: Resources Available To You

A Message from the Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

To our Neighbors in NY-14,

We hope that you are doing well and had a wonderful Thanksgiving! In this month’s newsletter, the office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez would like to update you on the ways she is fighting for you in D.C. and in the district.

In Our Community

The heart of our work lies in the vibrant communities of NY-14. See below for ways our office is helping constituents navigate federal agencies and bring resources back to the district.

Distributing Fresh Groceries in the District

Two weeks ago, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez joined the Throggs Neck Community Alliance and GrowNYC for a food distribution in Throggs Neck. The fresh produce was sourced directly from regional farmers, like the Halal Pastures Farm in Rock Tavern, and distributed from GrowNYC’s Regional Food Hub to community members for free. Over 350 community members attended and 1,500 pounds of fresh produce, halal turkeys, and chicken were distributed. We are proud to have secured $1,000,000 in Community Project Funding towards the establishment of GrowNYC’s Regional Food Hub, which is now strengthening food access across NY-14 and beyond.

Constituent Story

Our constituent, Aly, contacted our office seeking help with the Social Security Administration. Aly previously applied for Social Security cards for his children in 2023 but encountered delays and came to our office last year. After our inquiry and assistance over several months, Aly confirmed that he was finally able to obtain Social Security cards for his U.S. citizen children living abroad!

This is just one of the many wins our incredible casework team achieves regularly for our constituents. If you have an issue pending with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to reach out.

“Thank you for assisting my children with issuing their Social Security card. I sincerely appreciate all the support provided by the Congressmember’s office.”

- Aly

From Capitol Hill

Highlighting Potential Economic Threat of AI Bubble

This month, the Congresswoman highlighted the psychological and economic dangers of Artificial Intelligence during a hearing in the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Urging FEMA to Integrate Rooftop Solar in Puerto Rico’s Grid Rebuild

In November, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez led a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to comply with a landmark federal court ruling requiring the agency to fully evaluate rooftop solar, battery storage, and other distributed renewable options when rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electric grid.

Urging the Trump Administration to Fund November SNAP Benefits

Last month, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez led members of New York’s congressional delegation in writing to President Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins urging them to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in New York state, and across the nation, receive their November benefits without delay.

SNAP benefits were reinstated following the reopening of the federal government, but many are now set to permanently lose them. The Republican funding bill cuts food assistance like SNAP and may lead to a decrease in your benefits.

If you have questions about how your food benefits may be impacted, go to New York City’s Department of Social Services website.

Constituent Corner: Resources Available To You

Pausing All Asylum Applications

Last week, President Trump decided to pause all asylum decisions for applicants attempting to seek safety and refuge in the United States. U.S. Citizenship and Information Services (USCIS) will also place a hold on pending applications filed by nationals of the 19 countries subject to the existing travel ban. For the latest updates, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Information Services website.

If you have any questions related to your immigration status, you can contact the New York State Office for New Americans Hotline to request a legal consultation at (800)-566-7636.

Protecting Your Mail

As this holiday season approaches, it is important that you take precautions to protect your mail and important deliveries.

If you change addresses, immediately notify your Post Office
Don’t send cash in the mail
Report all suspected mail theft to a postal inspector
Sign-up for informed delivery at usps.com

Questions? Call our office at (718) 662-5970

In Service,

The Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez