August Recap: Advocating for Affordable and Sustainable Housing, Highlighting the Puerto Rico Water Crisis, Sharing Immigration Resources, and Connecting with Young Leaders in Our Community

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 you are all thriving during this back-to-school season! 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.

Fighting to Expand Health Care

This month, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez gave the community an inside look at her day in the district meeting with NYC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga, as they work to develop a strategy to protect and expand health care in New York City.

Watch here

Constituent Story

Recently, our constituent, Barnabas, contacted our office seeking help with an expedited request for his Form I-131 Application for Travel Document. After our inquiry, Barnabas let us know that he received his authorization document!

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.

“My request for an Expedited Processing for my Advance Parole application was made to enable me travel outside the United States to continue my services to the great State of New York through my role at SUNY Maritime College. I reached out to the office of the Congresswoman after a long wait without any tangible progress and they graciously obliged to help. Today, my Advance Parole Authorization Document has been approved.”

- Barnabas

Hosting Young Leaders at New York Public Library to Read and Discuss The NY-14 Summer Reading Challenge

At the beginning of summer, our office launched our first ever Summer Reading Challenge for constituents in New York’s 14th District. This month, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez had an opportunity to read to our future leaders and talk with them about how we can build community and community power.

From Capitol Hill

Highlighting the Puerto Rico Water Crisis

During some of the hottest months on record, over 180,000 Puerto Rican households have been forced to live without running water for days at a time. This month, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) released a statement regarding the ongoing water crisis in Puerto Rico, calling it “the result of federal neglect and mismanagement” and emphasizing that access to clean water is a fundamental human right.

Read the full statement here

Reintroducing the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act

At the beginning of August, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, alongside Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), landmark housing legislation which would rebuild the United States’ public housing stock, address the longstanding capital backlog, and create thousands of union jobs. This bill provides much-needed federal funding to update every public housing unit through weatherization, electrification, and modernization so that it may serve as a model of efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency for the rest of the nation.

Constituent Corner: Resources Available To You

REMINDER: Last Chance to Join The NY-14 Summer Reading Challenge!

Today is the last day for constituents to participate in the NY-14 Summer Reading Challenge! The reading challenge is wrapping up today at 6pm. Upon completion of 10 books, participating constituents will receive congressional commendations from our office. The time is now and we hope you’ll join us!

Download a summer reading log here

Constituents can submit a picture of their reading logs to [email protected], on this form, or drop off in-person at either the Hunts Point or Astoria Office.

2026 Congressional App Challenge

Students across our district continue to inspire us with their authenticity, vision, and passion. Our office invites your middle and high school aged students to participate in the 2026 Congressional App Challenge!

Every year, middle and high school students are invited to create a software application as part of the Congressional App Challenge.

Students can register here for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge and start coding their apps. Submit your apps by October 26, 2026 at 12:00 pm ET.

For questions about the Congressional App Challenge, you can reach out to [email protected].

View last year's winning entry here

Public Charge: What Is It and Who Does a Test Apply To?

You may have heard that the Trump Administration recently issued a new rule on how the use of public benefits might affect an individual’s immigration case. On July 16, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a final rule on public charge inadmissibility provisions that goes into effect on September 18, 2026. This rule replaces the Biden Administration’s public charge regulations from 2022. The public charge inadmissibility test applies when some people apply for a green card or for a visa. However, many types of applicants are exempt from the public charge test by law.

“Public charge” determinations have been part of our country’s immigration laws for over 140 years. A “public charge” determination is used by the government to determine whether someone is likely to depend on the government as their main source of support in the future based on a review of their overall circumstances - including job, health, and age. Immigration authorities have used public charge tests to deny “admission” (approval to enter the country or approval of certain green card applications) to someone who they determine is likely to become a “public charge.”

Who does a “public charge” test apply to?

The “public charge inadmissibility test” affects some people applying for admission to the country or for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (also known as a “green card”). It does not apply to immigrants seeking admission via humanitarian pathways including refugees; asylees; survivors of domestic violence, trafficking and other serious crimes; special immigrant juveniles; and certain individuals paroled into the U.S.
For more information, read the National Immigration Law Center’s (NILC) explainer here or access Protecting Immigrant Families’ resources here.

***This is not legal advice; for legal advice, please contact an attorney.***

In service,

The Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez