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May 13, 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 my bi-weekly update on the work I champion in Congress. As we head towards summer and away from the hardships of recent years, I believe it is important to reflect on how far we've come. Every day, our economy continues to grow with new, decent paying jobs keeping more and more Americans and their families safe and secure. Every day, we further depart from our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, which will protect our planet and our communities far into the future. Every day, Democrats are fighting to bring this nation the progress it so fundamentally deserves.
Yes, you can certainly say Democrats are Delivering. But please know, we cannot do it alone. Your support and civic participation is paramount in securing the investments and federal dollars we need to improve our communities. Together, and thanks to the on-going support of passionate individuals such as yourself, we will continue to bring tangible, meaningful change to our Brooklyn district.
You can contact my office via email at clarke.house.gov/contact/email/. Or, if you prefer 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
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Shirley Chisholm Walking Tour In Crown Heights
Prom Dress Drive And Giveaway
Workforce Opportunities Day
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Repair Grants For Homeowners
What You Need-To-Know About Passport Services
Applying for a passport can be a challenging and stressful experience. To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, I recommend planning ahead and applying early. As of April, the current processing times following a passport application are as follows:
- Routine Service: 8 to 11 weeks
- Expedited Service: 5 to 7 weeks
Please note, processing times begin the day Passport Services receives the application at a passport agency or center, not the day the application is mailed or submitted.
To check the status of your passport application, please visit: passportstatus.state.gov with the following information:
- Last name on application
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number (Last Four Digits)
For more detailed information, please click here.
Home Help For Heroes Program
NYC's Summer Student Program
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Free At-Home Test Kits
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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.
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.
Student Loan Deferment Extension
The Biden Administration recently announced that its deferment period on student loan repayments has been extended to August 31st, 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.
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Casework
Cases Open: My staff is always hard at work assisting our constituents. As of today, we have a total of 581 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 75 cases from constituents. That means 75 separate issues our neighbors in the 9th District brought to my attention, were resolved.
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Sponsored Legislation: In the past two weeks, I introduced the following bill to the House of Representatives:
H.R. 7739 - Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2022
In my beloved Brooklyn and too many communities across this nation, the security of affordable housing has become entirely out-of-reach to those who rely on it. For the communities of color most impacted by these inequities, we cannot afford to do nothing while they suffer under the unaffordability of safety. The simple measures within the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act won’t only lower income caps and rent prices and significantly increase the supply of affordable housing – they will keep our communities’ most vulnerable groups safe in homes that won’t bankrupt them. This bill is a fundamental step in our fight against housing insecurity, and I am proud to have introduced it
Co-Sponsored Legislation: Over the past two weeks, I lent my support and commitment to the following bills:
H.R.7709 - Displaced Afghan Women and Girls Education Act
When so many Afghan women and girls were forced to leave everything behind they have ever known, it is our humanitarian obligation to give them every opportunity and resource to not only live but to thrive in our country. This legislation will support those who fled Afghanistan by helping them access elementary, secondary, and higher education in the United States
H.R.7697 - Affordable CO-OP Act
This legislation would expand federal support for affordable housing cooperatives to make homeownership more accessible for people who have been historically exploited by a real estate industry prioritizing profits over people. Limited equity cooperative housing is a type of affordable housing that allows residents to communally own their own property, have a stake in decision-making, and sell units at a price that maintains affordability for future residents. This bill would unlock more federal funds to develop and convert properties into limited equity cooperatives, and ensure that cooperative residents have access to funds for resilience improvements, community programming, and other support they need to thrive.
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CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON DRAFT OPINION TO OVERTURN ROE v. WADE
Rejecting Roe v. Wade 50 years later amounts to an all out assault on women’s reproductive rights and freedoms, and it is a political act by an extreme and hostile Supreme Court. Fifty years ago it was established that every woman has the right to the control of her body, a right that already existed for every man. And yet, here we are again facing another egregious wrong with this draft opinion from Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., seeking to make an argument for stripping away women’s reproductive rights. I will not stand for this blatant political attack on women. Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and it’s clear we must strengthen our resolve to fiercely protect every woman’s right to choose their health care and make reproductive decisions. In 1916, Planned Parenthood was a revolutionary idea that started in my district in Brownsville, Brooklyn where the country’s first birth control clinic opened. New Yorkers have a long and proud history of protecting and upholding women’s reproductive rights. It is critical that we end the filibuster and make the Women’s Health Protection Act law. Today, more so than ever, it is incumbent upon elected officials at every level of government to ferociously protect a woman’s right to choose.
CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
Across the country and around the world, nurses are crucial cornerstones of society. Nurses are on the front lines of providing the critical care patients receive, and their noble profession helps us all form the bonds of community. On this National Nurses Week, it is essential we show our nurses the appreciation and deference they deserve and have earned, especially when the world bore witness to their incredible resilience and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up with two proud, passionate, lifelong nurses as my aunts, I developed more than an unshakeable fondness for these invaluable healers, but a deep gratitude for their dedication to people in need of care. To each and every one of America’s nurses, hear this: You are the eyes, ears, and the hands that nurture. We will never forget your sacrifices, nor your resolve to heal the sick. Your passion is a universal humanity that will always inspire us to confront and overcome any hardships on our horizon. From hospitals to nursing facilities and everywhere there is a need for medical professionals, you are there delivering a high standard of care. And for that, you are my heroes. Full stop. And though you are too often unsung heroes, know that I will always uplift you with gratitude and praises. On this National Nurses Week, I thank you for your selfless service and for making a difference in the health care of others.
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