Explained: Congressional Priorities Through 2022

A Message from the Office of Representative Ocasio-Cortez

To Our Neighbors in NY-14,

Congress is back in Washington D.C. working to address a number of pieces of critical legislation. There are just two weeks of this congressional session left before the 117th Congress ends and new colleagues are sworn in on January 3rd. Here’s what Congress is up to:

🌈 Voting on same-sex and interracial marriage. The Respect for Marriage Act passed out of the Senate and is heading to the House for a final vote on Tuesday. This bill would codify federal protection for marriages of same-sex and interracial couples.

🗳️ Fighting for election reform. The House passed the Presidential Election Reform Act last September, and the Senate may pass a similar bill this month. If so, our House Majority ought to take swift action to ensure that we secure reforms to our electoral count system that will ensure that the vote is respected and not overruled by future rogue presidents or other leaders.

🏛️ Working to fund the government. Congress set a December 16th deadline to pass a full funding deal to keep the government running.

…just to name a few! Democrats are working to pass this legislation before Republicans take control of the House next year.

And speaking of 2023 — the new Congressional maps will take effect in the new year. If you are currently a constituent in NY-14 and will be in another district as of January 3rd, please reach out to Senators Schumer or Gillibrand for casework assistance. We will be unable to serve anyone outside of our district lines in the new term. Don’t know if you’ve been redistricted? Click here to check.

You can find more updates from our office below, including information on the latest news regarding student loan forgiveness, open enrollment, financial assistance for utility bills, and more. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you need assistance on another matter or to share your opinion on legislation. We can be reached online or by phone at 718-662-5970.

In service,

The Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

Other Updates from Our Office

The federal student loan repayment pause has been extended to June 30, 2023 to allow for the Supreme Court to rule in the case on the student debt relief program. Payments will resume 60 days after the pause ends.

If you qualify for Medicare, pick your plan for 2023 by December 7th! Generally, you’re eligible to enroll for Medicare in the three months before and after you turn 65. We encourage folks to apply for Medicare as soon as possible to avoid the lifetime penalty. Learn more about potential penalties here.

Get health care coverage for 2023! Sign up now through December 15th. This year, because of the Inflation Reduction Act that passed this summer, Americans still have access to the subsidies put in place during the pandemic.

Apply for New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) for help with your utility bill. If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help you pay for heating your home. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.

Building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their tenants. If you are a tenant without heat or hot water, contact your landlord first. If your landlord is unresponsive, file a complaint by calling 311 or TTY (212) 504-4115, or using 311ONLINE.

Get vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19 as we approach the winter months. The latest COVID-19 vaccines offer additional protection against the Omicron variant to help protect against severe outcomes from the virus. Both the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available free of charge, regardless of immigration status. Doctors predict that this flu season will be more severe than usual. Schedule a vaccine appointment here.

You may have heard about RSV — a respiratory virus that often causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Anyone can be infected, but RSV can be serious, especially in infants and older adults. There is currently no vaccine to prevent RSV, but there are several ways you can decrease your risk of getting and spreading RSV and other respiratory viruses. Learn more here.