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July 23, 2021
To the Good People of New York’s 9th Congressional District,
I hope this edition of the Yvette Gazette finds you well. Always remember, I cannot do it alone. Through the support of passionate individuals such as yourself, we bring tangible, meaningful change to our district.
To reach out to my office, send us an email at clarke.house.gov/contact/email/. If you’d like to call, you can reach my D.C. office at 202-225-6231 or my Brooklyn office at 718-287-1142. Remember to encourage your neighbors to sign up for this newsletter at clarke.house.gov/contact/newsletter/.
If you’d like daily updates on my work in Congress, visit my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. I wish you well, and I look forward to my next opportunity to get in touch with you.
Regards,
Yvette D. Clarke
Member of Congress
Immigrant Resources From The Brooklyn Public Library
The Brooklyn Public Library is currently hosting several critical services and resources for Brooklyn's immigrant community. These resources include a virtual citizenship program, ESOL classes, and free, confidential legal consultations. If you or someone you know are interested in any of these services, please feel free to reach the Library by phone at (718)230-2007 or by email at [email protected].
Child Tax Credit
As many of you know, the enhanced Child Tax Credit designated by the American Rescue Plan began going out to families yesterday, July 15th. The expanded and improved Child Tax Credit offers transformative, historic economic support to middle and working-class and low-income families struggling to make ends meet. Through several months of additional payments, the Child Tax Credit puts more money in the pockets of hardworking families so they may attain afford the necessities of life, food, childcare, shelter, and healthcare. These monthly payments will help set America’s children up for success and aid their parents as they fuel our economy while building back better their lives after the greatest economic downturn in a generation.
Roughly 39 million households, covering almost 90 percent of children in the United States – should begin seeing their monthly payments automatically starting today, with no further action required. The American Rescue Plan increased the existing Child Tax Credit to $300 a month for children under the age of six and to $250 for children between ages six and seventeen. Any American with children who filed their tax returns in 2019 or 2020, or who got their stimulus check will automatically receive this tax relief. In conjunction with these first payments, the IRS recently upgraded Child Tax Credit Update Portal to allow families to update their banking information or unenroll from advance payments. Click here to reach the Update Portal.
New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program
New York State's Emergency Rental Assistance Program is now open to applicants.
For low and moderate-income households facing instability with their housing, this program will provide invaluable aid in the form of rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. For more information, and to apply, click here.
Urgent Passport Struggles
In recent weeks, I have heard ever-increasing pleas from my constituents on their inability to renew or receive their passports. For countless Americans, a passport is more than a means for traveling; it is an essential possession necessary for their lives. The State Department has noted routine services can take up to 18 weeks from the day you submit your application to when you receive your passport and offers expedited services for a fee. Fortunately, my office has been able to assist several of our constituents who have come forward with their own passport related issues. If you are struggling with issues or concerns related to your passport, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Issues
It has come to my attention that many of you are having difficulty applying the EBB credit to your current plans. While I am working to address it, I want you to be informed that as of right now this credit is temporary and will be utilized for as long as there remains funding. It is important that you understand that by changing your plan for the purposes of receiving this credit, you are at risk of being stuck with the new plan and you may not be able to receive the older plan you were on previously. It is important that you fully discuss your options with your Internet service provider before you make any changes. Additionally, as it currently stands, the legislation allows providers to apply the credit to any plan they had at the time of its passage. It is important to me that you know I am working diligently with my colleagues in congress to make this credit permanent and applicable to all plans going forward. My office is currently exploring all options to make this credit more inclusive and applicable to all plans. Please make sure to follow the newest editions of my newsletter and my social media pages for the latest on this issue.
Getting Vaccinated
To overcome the COVID-19 virus once and for all, it will take as many of us as possible to do our part and get vaccinated. If you haven’t received your COVID-19 vaccine but are interested in doing so, and New Yorkers ages 12 years and older can receive their vaccine at select sites across our city found here. If you’d like to make an appointment to get vaccinated, please click here to find a location that best suits you. For New Yorkers who are ages 75 and older, an in-home vaccination appointment can be made here, or by calling 1-877-VAX-4-NYC. We are so close to the finish line; let’s cross it together!
Co-Sponsored Legislation: This week, I lent my support to the following bills:
- H.R. 4131 The Better Care Better Jobs Act provides a dramatic increase in federal funding for home and community-based care services (HCBS) which provide critical care to seniors and individuals with disabilities who struggle to access medical services outside of their own home. Additionally, the bill would enhance funding for family care givers and home care workers, a majority of whom are women and people of color, that are drastically underpaid and overworked. Let me be very clear, healthcare is a human right, a right that should not be limited or adversely affected by one’s age or disability. I am proud to support this legislation to ensure that all Americans have the ability to receive quality, long-term care in a setting that is most accommodating to their unique needs.
- H.R. 4440:
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States with medium- and heavy-duty vehicles accounting for roughly 23% of these emissions. Not only are fossil-fuel burning trucks and busses a major contributor to the climate crisis, they are also a significant source of harmful air pollution that disproportionately impacts communities of color. The unprecedented funding that this legislation provides will address this injustice by supporting investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure to enable a fully electrified transportation sector free from air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that our legislation is incorporated into any infrastructure package considered by Congress and I am proud support a path forward to the electrification of our transportation sector.
- H.R. 4442:
The Green New Deal for Public Schools represents a historic investment in our nation’s education system. This comprehensive legislation would invest $1.43 trillion over ten years in public schools, educational infrastructure, and climate change initiatives. Specifically, the bill directs $446 billion to cover retrofitting costs for schools, $695 billion in Title I funding to support students with disabilities, and $250 billion in block grants to fund staffing increases and curriculum development in high-need schools. I am proud to support this legislation to ensure that our schools are environmentally sustainable, nurturing, and properly addressing historic inequities in the educational system.
- H.R. 4495:
The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021 would provide financial assistance to first-generation homebuyers to expand access to sustainable homeownership and reduce historic barriers to entry to the housing market that disproportionately impacts people of color. Despite interest rates reaching historic lows, credit-worthy borrowers that lack the intergenerational wealth to afford a down payment on a home are unable to take advantage which further exacerbates the racial homeownership gap in the United States. I am proud to support this critical legislation that seeks to address this historic disparity in homeownership rates.
- H.R. 4496:
The Ending Homelessness Act of 2021 is a bill with a simple purpose; to end homelessness in this country. Homeless rates are on the rise with dramatic increases occurring among the most vulnerable and fragile populations. H.R. 4496 would fund the creation of 410,000 new housing units for people experiencing homelessness and has the potential to bring 9 million people out of poverty. Families of color continue to experience disproportionate rates of housing instability and our government currently lacks the requisite infrastructure to address this racial disparity. Additionally, this comprehensive legislation would permanently authorize the U.S Interagency Council on
Homelessness which serves a critical role in coordinating the overall federal strategy top end homelessness.
- H.R. 4497:
This bill, the Housing Infrastructure Act of 2021, would provide a historic investment of over $600 billion to fund fair, affordable, and accessible housing to address both the national eviction and homelessness crises. Almost every state in this country lacks an adequate supply of housing for the lowest income renters. Supporting targeted federal investments to these areas not only helps struggling communities and families, it also creates hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue for state and local governments. Affordable housing is infrastructure and I am proud to support this legislation that properly address the chronic undersupply of affordable housing in this country.
Clarke Issues Statement On Texas Court Ruling The Deferred Acton For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program Unlawful
This disappointing attack on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program makes it clear we must remain committed to supporting undocumented children and providing a viable, humane pathway to citizenship in this country. As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Immigration Taskforce, one of the six women known as the ‘Closers’ selected by Speaker Pelosi to champion immigration reform and pathway to citizenship legislation in the House of Representatives, a Senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee and most importantly, the daughter of Jamaican Immigrants this ruling is deeply troubling. This ruling does not change the status of existing DACA recipients, meaning those who currently have DACA can still renew. However, the Department of Homeland Security is temporarily prohibited from approving new applications. Let me be very clear, this ruling will be appealed, however, tens of thousands of new DACA applicants who have submitted their applications will be barred from receiving protections against deportation and work authorization during the appeal process. The only viable response is a permanent legislative solution fortifying DACA and creating a pathway to citizenship. Our immigration system is broken, full stop. We must reimagine the immigration system in a manner that is humane, just, and fair. The time has come for the values of our nation to be reflected in our immigration policies.
Clarke Issues Statement On The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girl's Letter To International Olympic Committee On Treatment Of Black Women
The Olympic Games are a coveted opportunity for athletes of various backgrounds and ethnicities to demonstrate more than their talents; it is a platform to display culture and community on a worldwide stage. Regretfully, the International Olympic Committee’s recent biased, exclusionary actions continue to disproportionately impede Black women from reaching their deserved success. Moreover, it violates the spirit of the Olympics. Our unyielding focus as co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls remains with supporting Black women, anywhere and everywhere, full stop. We call upon the IOC to immediately address and reevaluate these harmful and divisive policies.
Clarke Applauds Biden Executive Order Promoting Competition In The American Economy
I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this critical legislation that will pave the way forward for the electrification of our transportation sector. Not only are fossil-fuel burning trucks and busses a major contributor to the climate crisis, they are also significant sources of harmful air pollution that disproportionately impacts communities of color. The unprecedented funding that our legislation provides will address this injustice by supporting investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure to enable a fully electrified transportation sector free from air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that our legislation is incorporated into the major infrastructure packages moving through Congress.
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The debilitating passport troubles those within and beyond our district continue to experience are unacceptable, and my colleagues and I refuse to stand by while our constituents struggle. Following our letter to the State Department late last month stating as much, my staff recently attended a briefing from the Department where we were made aware of the efforts to overcome these problems. We are fully confident in the State Department's ability to resolve this crisis, and we promise to aid its efforts wherever possible.
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