January 7, 2022

To the Good People of New York’s 9th Congressional District,

I hope this edition of the Yvette Gazette finds you well, and I thank you for tuning in to hear from me on the work I have done in Congress. 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. And, once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Regards,
Yvette D. Clarke
Member of Congress

Student Loan Deferment Extension

The Biden Administration recently announced that its deferment period on student loan repayments has been extended to May 1st, 2022, meaning all federal student loans will not need to be repaid until that date. To hear more from the president on this, please click here.

Upcoming NYC Parks Career Fair

Child Tax Credit Update

On Monday, Nov. 1, the IRS launched a new feature allowing any family receiving monthly Child Tax Credit payments to update their income using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC UP), found exclusively on IRS.gov. The IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page designed to provide the most up-to-date information about the credit and the advance payments, which you can find here.

Relief for Landlords

Governor Hochul recently announced that New York's landlords can now apply for unpaid rent relief through newly available $125 million in state funding. With priority being given to landlords owning small-to-medium-sized properties, this funding could cover up to 12 months of past-due rent. To learn more on this relief opportunity, please click here.

Excelsior Pass Plus App

New York's recently launched Excelsior Pass Plus app contains a secure, digital record of your COVID-19 vaccination history. With information such as vaccine type, site, and date of vaccination, the app provides New Yorkers with the an easy to use means of accessing their records whenever needed. Learn more about the Excelsior Pass Plus and Excelsior Pass here.

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. 

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!

In hindsight the January 6th riot was a natural progression of the violence that was influenced by Donald Trump and his administration using deliberate disinformation campaigns to attack our freedom to vote. We just didn’t realize it in time to predict the violence they unleashed on this fateful day one year ago. The consequences of that day are still coming into focus, as The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol completes its important work getting to the objective truth and ensuring this coup attempt never happens again. What is clear is that the insurrection was not a spontaneous act nor an isolated event. It was a battle over truth and the future of our democracy. I want to thank the brave Capitol Police who worked with vigor to keep us safe and away from the violence that unfolded on January 6th. And I wholeheartedly condemn the rioters and all those who lied and incited the deadly mob attack on our Capitol. We must hold those who were involved accountable so this never happens again.

CLARKE STATEMENT ON HAITIAN PRIME MINISTER ARIEL HENRY ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

It is with a heavy heart to learn that over the weekend, as Haiti commemorated its 218th Independence Day, gunmen attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Ariel Henry during an event at a church in the northern city of Gonaïves. As Haiti marks its 218th year of independence, we must remember the spirit of the ancestors who fought to unite all Haitians for the just and successful fight for freedom and human rights. I will continue calling for a productive dialogue and consensus to ensure non-violent progression toward democracy and human rights within Haiti. The road ahead certainly presents challenges, but the Haitian people deserve a chance at a brighter future; to live free from the constant threat of violence and lawlessness.

CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the global Ambassador of humanity and human rights who helped usher in an era that united the world in a common cause: ending apartheid in South Africa. What a great loss for the world and mankind. The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner was the Commencement Speaker at my graduation from Oberlin College and a leader and true inspiration in the Global Racial Justice movement. I have powerful and indelible memories of Archbishop Tutu’s passion for justice as commencement speaker. This would be the first of several encounters with him over the years. He was truly an inspiring leader. He is leaving behind a legacy that will not only shape generations to come, but continue to be transformative, as we advance the movement for a more just and equitable world. May he rest in peace.

• News12Brooklyn: Lawmakers mark 1-year anniversary of Jan. 6 insurrection
• MSNBC: The toll of the unvaccinated in hospitals continues to rise, compromising life-saving care for those in need
  

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