February 4, 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

Climate Justice Townhall

Lower Internet Bills with the Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is an FCC benefit program that helps households afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more by providing a discount of up to $30 per month towards internet service for eligible households in Brooklyn. A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• 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. 

Lifeguards Wanted

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.

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 February 2nd, we have a total of 517 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: In recent weeks, my staff closed 82 cases from constituents, meaning 82 issues our neighbors in the 9th District brought to my team's attention were resolved. 

Sponsored Legislation; The past two weeks, I introduced the following bill to the House of Representatives:

H.R. 6580

When algorithms determine who goes to college, who gets healthcare, who gets a home, and even who goes to prison, algorithmic discrimination must be treated as the highly significant issue that it is. These large and impactful decisions, which have become increasingly void of human input, are forming the foundation of our American society that generations to come will build upon. And yet, they are subject to a wide range of flaws from programing bias to faulty datasets that can reinforce broader societal discrimination, particularly against women and people of color. It is long past time Congress act to hold companies and software developers accountable for their discrimination by automation. With our renewed Algorithmic Accountability Act, large companies will no longer be able to turn a blind eye towards the deleterious impact of their automated systems, intended or not. We must ensure that our 21st Century technologies become tools of empowerment, rather than marginalization and seclusion.

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

H.R. 6583
Too many Americans with disabilities are forced to endure an arbitrary waiting period to receive the benefits they deserve. This legislation directs the Social Security Administration to phase out the five-month waiting period to receive SSDI benefits and allow those who are uninsured or unable to afford health insurance to immediately receive Medicare coverage.

H.R. 6492

This legislation provides a proportional and necessary response to the worsening climate crisis by delivering significant investments in a skilled workforce that is capable of not only responding to but preparing for the destructive impacts of climate change. The Climate Resilience Workforce Act builds the skilled, equitable, and necessary workforce that America needs to achieve climate resilience while creating millions of good-paying, union jobs and centering the communities who are disproportionately affected by the worsening climate crisis. 

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the sudden and unexpected passing of my life-partner and best friend, Mr. Charles B. Durham over the weekend. “Mr. Charles,” as he was affectionately known, has been my rock and steadfast life partner whom I have had the sincere privilege, joy and honor to share the last 30 years with. There are no words to describe the sense of loss all those who love him feel. I simply ask that you honor my family’s privacy during our moment of grief and please be gracious with your patience, as we come to terms with this announcement.

CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE STATEMENT ON MARCUS GARVEY EXONERATION PETITION DRIVE

They say Marcus Garvey came to America to turn Black people’s wishbone into a backbone. And so, today, it is upon Black people to be the backbone for Marcus Garvey by demanding the full exoneration of all the unjust charges cast against him by the U.S. government. Garvey took on the battle to help liberate Black people from the clutches of an oppressive and racist world. He was an inspirational teacher, journalist, entrepreneur and moving orator who defied the onslaught of a hostile world, to help steer the fight for Black freedom, pride, self-determination, including the pursuit of justice and equality. Marcus Garvey was the critical link in the national struggle for human rights, the Master Teacher of self love and self respect and a World Leader like no other. I was raised under the teachings of Marcus Garvey and Pan-Africanism. I was raised to believe that we must come together to do the necessary work to improve our communities. And I was raised with the Garvey commitment to social service, including an abundance of faith in God. Black people stand with a strong backbone today, as dreams of our ancestors, because of the teaching of the great Marcus Garvey. Garvey taught us to love ourselves and to honor our contributions to civilization, and reclaim our legacy as a people. It’s time to reclaim his legacy. It’s time we set the records straight and tell the truth about his legacy and love for Black people. In 1922, six years after Marcus Garvey arrived in America, America turned against him. The FBI had grown fearful of Garvey gaining influence and galvanizing ideas of Black liberation and advancement. On a politically motivated charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, he was arrested. His trial’s racist jurors and judge left no opportunity for innocence. Marcus Garvey died in 1940, a convicted criminal in the eyes of American justice, or lack thereof. Like so many innocent Black men before him, and so many innocent Black men after: American justice has been unjust. Last year, I introduced a Resolution, H.Res. 148 to highlight Garvey’s accomplishments as a human rights activist before Congress, America, and the world. This resolution exonerates Garvey of his unfounded charges and calls upon President Biden to recognize and denounce the racist smears against him and his legacy. The world deserves to know the truth about Marcus Mosiah Garvey. The world deserves to know the truth about our African American history. And the world deserves to know the truth about Black history. America must right these wrongs and restore Garvey’s legacy. And the time to do it is now.

CLARKE, ESPAILLAT LEAD MEMBERS URGING SECRETARY BLINKEN TO SUPPORT HAITI’S SAFETY, SECURITY, AND DEVELOPMENT

We ask for a whole-of-government effort to ensure Haiti receives the necessary aid to achieve lasting security, health care, and economic mobility through coordinated strategy and funding,” said the members. “As you know, the July 7th assassination of the country’s president, Jovenel Moïse, has thrown the Caribbean Island nation of 11 million into disarray. Well before this tragic incident, Haiti’s situation was volatile as the island grappled with political protests, gang violence, crushing poverty, rising COVID-19 cases, and no vaccine doses. Currently, the country’s economic situation is dire, and recently, widespread civil unrest continues to rise in Haiti due to the life-threatening shortage of fuel, food, medicine, and insecurity. While the House of Representatives passed an appropriations measure for Fiscal Year 2022 supporting dialogue in Haiti aimed at resolving the political crisis, urging stronger action against human rights abuses, and addressing the plight of pregnant Haitian women leaving their country to seek neonatal care—this dialogue must be met with funding, a comprehensive strategy, and international coordination to mitigate on the ground challenges.

• Engadget: Democratic lawmakers take another stab at AI bias legislation
• Meritalk: Senate, House Dems Offer Revamped Algorithmic Bias Bill
  

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