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January 27, 2022
Dear Brooklynites 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 this vital 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.
If you'd like to reach me to share your thoughts or concerns on the issues impacting our community, 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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2023 Tax Season
Please note, the IRS is now accepting and processing 2022 tax returns. Taxpayers have until April 18 to file their taxes this year, but some taxpayers living overseas and disaster victims may have later filing deadlines. To avoid refund delays, the IRS encourages taxpayers to file their tax return electronically with direct deposit instead of submitting a paper tax return. Please note, although taxpayers may file their returns beginning Jan. 23, the IRS cannot issue refunds involving the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit before mid-February.
Low Interest Small Business Loans for NYC Entrepreneurs
If you’re a NYC-based business, the NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund is a trusted, affordable way for you to invest in your business or refinance your existing high interest rate debt. No minimum credit score required, and no application fees. Apply here.
Student Loan Deferment Extension
On August 24th, President Biden extended the student debt moratorium to December 31st, 2022 and forgave $10,000 in student loans for people who make <$125,000 a year, (Up to $20,000) for Pell Grant recipients, effectively wiping away the debt of 20 millions Americans overnight. Please stay tuned for updates from my office, as applications for debt relief are set to be released in the coming weeks!
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.
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.
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.
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CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 118TH CONGRESS
My dear Brooklynites, at long last and after extensive debate and spectacle, we’ve arrived in the 118th Congress! Though House Democrats will be in the minority for the 118th Congress, I have no doubt that, guided by the singular and profound vision of our distinguished Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries – the first Black Leader in our Congress’ history – we will persist as the stalwart champions of putting people over politics. From fighting to diminish the disparities harming our communities, to advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, to enhancing our nation’s critical cybersecurity defenses, House Democrats will continue to stand united and ready to work on behalf of the American people. Know this: it has been the privilege of my life to represent the good people of Brooklyn in Congress, and I intend to fight as fully and fiercely as I ever have as I enter my 9th term representing this special community
CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION’S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BORDER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
As the daughter of immigrants and a woman who has dedicated her life towards securing their fair and equitable access to the American dream, I have long pursued reform in a desperately out-of-date immigration system. Unfortunately, the recently announced reforms from President Biden and his administration fail to deliver the change migrant communities deserve and have prayed for. Moreover, these insufficient solutions have permitted the cruel and oppressive legacy of the Trump-era Title 42 policy to persist. I am far from alone in finding that tragic fact unacceptable. This harmful policy has for years disproportionately impacted Black migrants and created life-threatening conditions for immigrants seeking refuge at our borders. It has denied them due process entitled to them by law and the opportunity provided to them by America. The time has come for reform that is centered in equity and moral responsibility, so we may compassionately and safely welcome new Americans to our country – in accordance with this country’s founding principles. But let me be clear: our nation owes these individuals and families more than the apologies and empty words they are so tragically accustomed to. They deserve our promise for a better, more accepting, more loving future. They deserve an America to call home. And I intend for them to have both. I urge President Biden to re-evaluate his administration’s decision
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