January 21, 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

• Participates in SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Participates in free and reduced-price school lunch or breakfast program;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Participates in or meets the criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program; or
• Income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines

To submit your application, please visit http://www.acpbenefit.org/. To learn more about the program, click here. 

Free at-home COVID-19 tests through USPS 

Place an order with the USPS here for one set of 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Orders are limited to one per residential address, they include 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, and they will ship for free starting at the end of January.

Military Service and Social Security

If you are an active or retired service member and would like to know more about the social security benefits you are entitled to, please click here for invaluable information from the Social Security Administration.

Vaccination Requirement for Non-U.S. Individual Travelers Entering the United States at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals  at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders

As of January 22, 2022, DHS will require non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise nationwide. These new restrictions will apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons. They will not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

COVID-19 Testing Sites

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.

Casework

Cases Open: My staff is always hard at work assisting our constituents. As of January 19th, we have a total of 515 active cases, which we work every day towards resolving. These cases can involve anything from trouble securing hard-earned social security checks to difficulties with your passport. If you have an issue you are struggling with that you believe we can assist with, please do not hesitate to reach out to my Brooklyn office.

Cases Closed: From January 4th - January 19th, my staff closed 219 cases from constituents, meaning 219 issues our neighbors in the 9th District brought to my team's attention were resolved. 

Co-Sponsored Legislation; The past two weeks, I lent my support and commitment to the following bill:

H.R. 6385
With the ongoing pandemic and the scarcity of live-saving PPE, legislation like the Masks for All Act is an absolute necessity to ensure every American, regardless of their income, has access to the N-95 masks that have been so fundamental in our fight against COVID-19.

I proudly voted for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act because voting is the most solemn civic duty available to Americans, and it is one that must be protected at all costs. Along with my Democratic colleagues in the House, we passed both bills and reaffirmed our dedication to delivering voting justice to all. Regrettably, this legislation will face an uphill fight in the Senate. As they have so thoroughly proven throughout recent months, Senators Sinema and Manchin would prefer to uphold outdated rules of a bygone era instead of protecting democracy from the threats of today. Their relentless obstruction has once again stifled opportunity and inhibited progress. Elections should not and must not be bought. And until the Senate is in a position to pass these critical pieces of legislation, they will continue to be sold to the highest bidder. Action is needed today, and we can not afford to stand aside another moment as our democratic principles are eroded by partisan actors masquerading as patriots. Our shared right to vote as Americans is centered in the principle that we have voices of equal power and are entitled to equal treatment. Yet, since this nation’s dawn, many Americans have been discriminately deprived of that right. Their diverse thoughts have been denied, their say in self-governance has been stripped; a sobering, increasingly visible fact in communities across America. Republican lawmakers within state legislatures and the dark money groups who fund them are working to restrict voting freedom at every turn. Through partisan gerrymandering, through economically and racially discriminatory ID laws, and through every illicit tactic at their disposal. Make no mistake, these bad actors will continue their campaign of assault against American democracy if Congress does not take the necessary action to stop them.

HAITI CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS OBSERVE THE 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2010 HAITI EARTHQUAKE

On this somber anniversary, we also recognize the immense challenges that Haiti has experienced over the last year. Even as the impacts of the 2010 earthquake continue to be felt, the Haitian people have endured political instability and gang violence, the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, and an additional 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck last August. Yet the Haitian people remain resilient, and we have seen Haitian civil society organizations continue to rise to face these challenges and work together to pursue a Haitian-led transition to democracy, security, stability, peace, and prosperity. As Co-Chairs of the House Haiti Caucus, we mourn with the Haitian people and recommit ourselves to lifting up their voices and leadership in the reformation of a stronger and more resilient democracy. Today and every day, we stand with the people of Haiti.

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