February 18, 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 for the bi-weekly update on the work I champion in Congress. Always remember, I cannot do it alone. Your support is paramount in securing the investments and federal dollars we need to better our community. Together, with the on-going 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 Brooklyn office at 718-287-1142, or my D.C. office at 202-225-6231. 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

New Congressional Map

Following the 2020 Census, our new Congressional map for New York's 9th District has arrived. While most of you will see no change, many of my current constituents will be represented by a different congressmember come the 118th Congress in early 2023. Please review the new map below, and feel free to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.

Free At-Home Test Kits

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 16th, we have a total of 530 active cases, which we diligently work towards resolving. These cases can involve anything from trouble securing hard-earned social security checks to difficulties attaining a passport. If you have an issue you are struggling with that you believe we can help resolve, please do not hesitate to reach out to my Brooklyn office.

Cases Closed: In recent weeks, my staff closed 33 cases from constituents. That means 33 separate issues our neighbors in the 9th District brought to my attention, were resolved. 

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

H.R. 6615 - Safer Heat Act of 2022
Only weeks ago, tragedy struck the heart of the Bronx when a defective space heater led to a fire that killed 17 members of our New York family and seriously injured dozens more. This horrible incident, like so many others caused by space heaters every year, could have been prevented if proper safety standards had simply been put in place. Unfortunately, the current standards around space heaters are only voluntary guidelines that manufacturers can choose to ignore. This must be changed. Our Safer Heat Act will ensure that common-sense safety standards are a requirement, not a recommendation, so that we can keep our families safe and prevent these tragic fires from happening again.

H.R. 6698 - Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act of 2022

This legislation, the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act, would repeal the federal requirement that state Medicaid programs go after families and estates for repayment of Medicaid long-term care services. When current federal law requires that state Medicaid programs seek repayment of Medicaid long-term care benefits from the families of the deceased, I believe that a fundamental flaw exists that must be fixed. Too many families have faced the cruelty of the current policy following the death of a loved one, and that cannot continue.

H.R. 6654 - CASC Act

The Climate Adaptation Science Centers Act permanently authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey’s National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, meaning the scientists most involved and connected to our communities will have the resources they need to bring about much-needed climate change in our homes and nation. When these critical centers become permanent, we will have gained another necessary resource in our fight against the climate crisis.

H.R. 6683 - ACTION for National Service Act

With many complicated crises intersecting in America today, we need to focus our efforts on the most effective and efficient solutions. The ACTION for National Service does just that; By addressing the student debt crisis through increasing the education participants receive for their service in national and community service opportunities, as well as creating a Civilian Climate Corps, this legislation would enhance access to these service opportunities, lower student debt, create a more engaged citizenry, and address national priorities in education, infrastructure, health care, disaster relief, and poverty.

H.R. 6662 - EVs for All Act

As we continue to work to overcome climate change, we must ensure the underserved communities facing the worst of the climate crisis are not excluded from any solutions. This legislation enables disadvantaged individuals and families in communities around the country to be included in the ongoing electric vehicle transformation by helping public housing authorities and local governments invest in electric vehicles (EV), EV charging stations, community education and outreach, and other services and incentives to provide access to EVs for public housing residents.

• Engadget: House Democrats urge IRS to halt facial recognition plans
• Public: DeLauro, Clyburn, Meeks, Clarke, Torres Introduce Legislation To Honor Constance Baker Motley
  

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