July 21, 2020 

To the Good People of New York's Ninth Congressional District:

The dog days of summer are upon us, and with that in mind, it's important to take precautions to keep yourself cool. An average year sees 130 New York City residents die from heat-related causes, like heat stroke and dehydration, and many are hospitalized from the same conditions.

To help combat this, the city is offering a Cooling Assistance benefit, on a first come, first-served basis until August 30, 2020 for eligible applicants. This benefit provides for up to $800 for installation of an air conditioner or fan. 

You may be eligible for a Cooling Assistance benefit if:

• You have a medical condition that gets worse with heat, which you can verify with a letter from a medical professional
• You and the people you live with are US citizens or have satisfactory immigration status
• You don’t have a working air conditioner that is newer than five years
• You do not live in subsidized housing, such as NYCHA and Section 8, where heating costs are included in the rent bill
• You receive SNAP benefits, Temporary Assistance, or Code A Supplemental Security Income.

Applications for the benefit can be found here.

Additionally, the IRS has resumed collecting tax payments for taxpayers who took advantage of the People First Initiative tax relief and did not make previously owed tax payments between March 25 to July 15. If you were in payment agreements and skipped any payments from March 25 and July 15, you should start paying again to avoid penalties and possible default on their agreements.

And lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention the passing of a true American icon, my friend and colleague, the Honorable Representative John Lewis. The last surviving speaker at the March on Washington, Lewis passed away late Friday night at the age of 80, after a bout with pancreatic cancer. My prayers and deepest condolences go out to his family.

Regards,

Yvette D. Clarke

Member of Congress

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS:

Committee on Homeland Security
Monday, July 13, 2020

• In Wednesday’s hearing, I spoke about the widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 in several privately-operated ICE facilities and asked several facility executives about their response procedures to the pandemic. 

IN THE DISTRICT:

Friday, July 10, 2020

• I was honored to speak at the National Minority Quality Forum's Webinar last week, sharing some of the work that the Energy & Commerce Racial Disparities Working Group. You can watch our conversation here. 

CONSTITUENT CORNER:

If you know someone who deserves to be nominated, submit answers to the following questions to [email protected]

1. Who would you like to nominate? 
2. What is their position? 
3. What type of essential worker? This includes any person such as, but is certainly not limited to: Medical, Hospital custodian/sanitation, Nursing, NS81, Service aide, Respiratory therapy, Housekeeper, Environmental services, Security screening, PICU, Transporter, CCU, Storeroom helper, Laundry worker, Deli worker, Uber/Lyft driver or delivery person, Grocery store worker, Food or restaurant worker, etc.
4. How was this person influential in your life during our COVID-19 Pandemic?

COMMITTEE SCHEDULE:

Committee on Energy and Commerce 
Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Pathway to a Vaccine: Efforts to Develop a Safe, Effective and Accessible COVID-19 Vaccine

• This Oversight subcommittee hearing will discuss the  national effort to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, and will feature testimony from the executives of companies working on such a vaccine.

Committee on Homeland Security
Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Examining the National Response to the Worsening Coronavirus Pandemic: Part II

• This full committee hearing will discuss how federal officials responded to the outbreak of COVID-19 and will feature testimony from FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor.

UPCOMING LEGISLATION:

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

• This week, the National Defense Authorization Act is up for a vote on the House floor. Many of my own amendments, including one that would vet AI systems used by the Department of Defense for any potential biases, are included as well.

Repeal of Muslim Ban

• On Wednesday, the House will vote on the NO BAN Act, which would repeal the xenophobic "Muslim Ban" issued by the Trump Administration. 

• Kings County Politics: Clarke calls for Immediate Senate Action on Gun Violence
• Government Executive: ICE Detention Operators Defend Coronavirus Response Amid Growing Concerns

Even before the pandemic, Black girls faced increased rates of arrest and disciplinary actions in schools. Jailing a Black teenager for not completing schoolwork is cruel, and an extension of the racist school-to-prison pipeline.

Over the last few weeks, it's been heartbreaking to see the outbreak of gun violence in our borough. But it's also clear to me that these issues won't be solved through policing alone. Gun violence is a multifaceted issue that requires a multifaceted solution.

The Trump Administration's latest decision makes us all less safe. In the midst of a deadly pandemic that has cost over 140,000 American lives, playing politics will inevitably result in more lives lost.

The maternal mortality rate for Black women, compared to women of any other race is a sobering reminder about the prevalence of systemic racism in the healthcare industry. The practice of ignoring Black women's pain must come to an end.

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