Nydia Velázquez
DCorruption and grift run rampant in the Trump administration while the DOJ is weaponized against his political enemies. @Ilhan has long been a target of far-right extremists because she is a proud immigrant woman who refuses to back down or be silenced. I stand with Ilhan.
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced a House resolution recognizing World Contraception Day and calling for expanded access to contraception and reproductive health care in the United States and around the world. “Access to contraception is fundamental to giving people the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, families, and futures,” said Rep. Velázquez. “Yet millions of people still face barriers to getting the care and information they need. On World Contraception Day, we are reaffirming that contraception is essential health care and that everyone deserves affordable, reliable access to it. I am proud to join Congresswoman Grijalva in continuing this fight for reproductive freedom at home and around the world.” “Everyone deserves access to contraception and the freedom to make decisions about their own health and future,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Too many people still face barriers to the care they need, especially in communities that have been underserved for far too long. On World Contraception Day, we’re standing up for affordable, accessible reproductive health care for everyone.” The resolution highlights persistent barriers to contraceptive access in the United States and globally. An estimated 218 million women in economically developing countries have an unmet need for modern contraception. In the United States, one-third of adult women who have attempted to obtain prescription contraception have reported barriers to access, while more than 19 million women of reproductive age who need publicly funded contraception live in areas without reasonable access to a health center offering the full range of contraceptive methods. The resolution also recognizes longstanding racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in reproductive health care and the barriers faced by communities of color, Native people, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living in areas with limited access to reproductive health providers. Among other provisions, the resolution calls on Congress and the administration to expand access to free or affordable contraception, ensure access to medically accurate information and comprehensive insurance coverage, address contraceptive deserts and reproductive health disparities, and expand access and coverage for over-the-counter birth control and other forms of contraception. The resolution further recognizes the broader benefits of contraceptive access, including allowing people to plan and space pregnancies and pursue their educational, career, and life goals. ###
Every day that ICE thugs roam our streets, innocent lives are put at risk. A child was reportedly in the car when ICE agents opened fire today in Marble Hill. We are still learning the details of this shooting, but it's clear that ICE has no place in our communities. ABOLISH ICE.
Three years ago, Hamas killed 1,200 people, including 43 Americans, and took hundreds hostage in a horrific act of terrorism. Today, we remember the lives stolen, the families broken apart, and the survivors who continue to live with that pain every day. We must also continue fighting the global scourge of antisemitism wherever it takes root. In the three years since October 7, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. We cannot look away from the genocide and immense human suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people. We mourn every innocent life lost and recommit ourselves to a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, freedom, dignity, and security.
A proud day in Bushwick celebrating José Alvarado, NBA champion and a true son of Brooklyn. Today, Knickerbocker Avenue was ceremonially co-named “Alvarado Avenue” in his honor. ¡Felicidades, José! Brooklyn loves you. 🧡💙🇵🇷 https://t.co/TgJYRPNKzA
My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Mesias Lojano after this horrific loss. I’m grateful to the courageous New Yorkers who sprang into action and helped police apprehend the suspect. https://t.co/NUbNBHxN4B
Since 2019, I have seen @AOC grow as a powerful legislator, while never forgetting who she is or what she is fighting for. I feel comfortable retiring this year, knowing leaders like Ocasio-Cortez are here to change the status quo. https://t.co/jFlb8tMHll
Sending people to countries where they have no ties and may face torture or other human rights abuses is barbaric. The Trump administration must end its cruel third-country deportation policy and respect basic human rights.
I've dedicated my career to taking on BK political machines that put insiders first & working people last. I'm thrilled that we are finally ushering in real reform to the Kings County Democratic Party. It's been a long fight, but a new day is coming. https://t.co/sWPqZsfaJ8
I’m heartbroken by the loss of Leighton Brown, a NYCHA worker killed during Saturday’s storm. He was known at Cypress Hills as someone who always showed up and helped his neighbors. I'm thinking of his family, coworkers, and all those mourning his loss. https://t.co/7mxSrjL2TQ
Proud to join lawmakers from 13 countries across the Western Hemisphere in calling for an end to these barbaric strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific. More than 200 people have been killed. There must be accountability, and these attacks must end. https://t.co/zvFiWu9Rin
Wishing a meaningful Yom Kippur to all who are observing in New York City and around the world. May this be a time of reflection, prayer, and renewal. G’mar Chatima Tovah.
Nine years ago today, Hurricane María made landfall near my hometown of Yabucoa. Thousands of lives were lost, and Puerto Rico was forever changed. Nine years later, the island has still not fully recovered. Today, we remember those we lost and recommit ourselves to the work of building a stronger, more resilient Puerto Rico.
Honored to receive CHCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award last night alongside so many friends, colleagues and members of my CHC family. We’ve come a long way in building Latino political power, and I know the next generation is ready to carry that work forward. ¡Pa’lante, siempre! https://t.co/SYLSijalE4
WASHINGTON —Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) reintroduced the Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana, or CLAIM Act, legislation that would shield insurers from federal criminal prosecution and protect brokers, agents, and insurers from civil liability when they serve businesses in the state-legal cannabis industry. “Because of the conflict between federal and state law, insurers are still hesitant to write policies for cannabis businesses,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “That means thousands of legal small businesses are operating without a safety net. One fire or one storm could wipe out everything an owner has built, with no way to recover. The CLAIM Act fixes this by giving these entrepreneurs access to the same basic insurance protections every other legal business takes for granted.” “Businesses operating legally under state law should be free to purchase insurance, and insurers should be free to serve them,” said Rep. Davidson. “The federal government should not use regulation to interfere with lawful commerce or override decisions made by the states. The CLAIM Act removes that federal interference and protects the freedom of insurers and their customers to do business." The CLAIM Act is endorsed by a broad coalition of insurance industry organizations, including the American Land Title Association, American Council of Life Insurers, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, Reinsurance Association of America, and Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association. The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to study the barriers facing women and minority entrepreneurs seeking to enter the cannabis industry and identify ways to expand access to this growing market. The text of the bill can be found here. ###
Wishing a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year to the Jewish community in NY-07 and around the world. I wish you a year of peace, justice, and renewal. Shanah Tovah!
As any New Yorker will tell you, 9/11 is ingrained into our lives forever. We remember where we were that morning and the shock and grief will never fully go away. Twenty-five years later, we remember the nearly 3,000 innocent people whose lives were stolen. Each one was someone's father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, or child. Many were our neighbors in Brooklyn and Queens. We remember the first responders who rushed into those buildings to save others, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. And we remember that our obligation to them did not end that day. Honoring them with words alone has never been enough. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, New Yorkers came together. We comforted one another, we helped strangers, and we rebuilt. That spirit is what carried us through, and it must guide us still. We will never forget.
I will never forget Gloria Steinem's endorsement during my first campaign for Congress. She was a trailblazer who saw what women could be before the country did. As others try to pull women's rights backward, we will carry her spirit forward. Rest in power.
Pierre Damas Bel was 20 years old, an honors student with plans for medical school. He did everything right. This administration took his TPS anyway and ICE put a monitor on his ankle. He was humiliated and bullied for it. Now he is dead. This is what these policies cost. My prayers are with his family.
WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) wrote to Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDOH) Secretary Dr. Víctor M. Ramos Otero demanding answers about the Department’s abrupt decision to change the administration of the Culebra Center for Diagnosis and Treatment (CDT), the only facility providing hospital services to the island municipality’s residents. The Mennonite Health System has notified PRDOH that it will cease operating the CDT on August 31. Velázquez is requesting a response by that same day. “For the people of Culebra, this marked the first time they were receiving this range of services, which any U.S. citizen would consider basic, in their own municipality without having to undertake a 17-mile round trip to Puerto Rico’s mainland,” Velázquez wrote. “Now, the Department’s refusal to reach an agreement with the Mennonite Health System is putting this accessibility at risk.” Before 2019, medical care on Culebra was severely limited. The CDT’s roof was made of galvanized zinc, forcing medical staff to evacuate the building as Hurricane María approached and to treat patients outside the facility during and after the storm. Culebra had also gone without a pharmacy since 2010. Following the hurricane, efforts led by the Foundation for a Better Puerto Rico funded the renovation of the facility, including a new concrete roof, and supported a significant expansion of services provided by the Mennonite Health System. A pharmacy and laboratory were created. Residents began receiving primary care, preventive medicine, physical examinations, laboratory services, early detection screenings, vaccinations, family planning, health certificates, and school physicals in their own municipality. In her letter, Velázquez points to a series of public statements from Department officials that conflict with one another and with the documentary record, including claims that the Mennonite Health System chose not to continue, even though the organization submitted a proposal on August 18 to continue services through June 2031 and noted that no active contract has existed since December 31, 2024. The letter also raises concerns about the timeline facing residents. The Department’s own Request for Proposals, issued August 24, keeps submissions open until September 23, a gap that could leave Culebra without a designated operator for months after the Mennonite Health System’s departure. Velázquez is asking the Secretary to answer how the Department will honor the position taken by Culebra residents at an emergency assembly to keep the current operator, whether residents should expect any reduction or termination of current services, what compensation range the Department considers appropriate for an administrator serving a remote island municipality, whether the Department identified any contractual breaches by the current administrator, why it opened a competitive procurement rather than reaching an agreement, and what specific measures will guarantee uninterrupted care during the transition. Read the full letter here. ###
The Trump administration told us they were going after the "worst of the worst." That was a lie. More than 3 in 4 people ICE arrested in New York City last month had no criminal record. This makes no one safer. It only rips apart lives and families. https://t.co/uytL2nnCSO
We all saw what happened at Delaney Hall. @RepLaMonica was doing her job trying to conduct oversight of the terrible conditions there. Criminalizing oversight is how authoritarians operate. Every member of Congress should be alarmed. I stand with Rep. McIver.
If you are trying to reach someone: Looking for family in Nepal: 1-888-407-4747 from the US or Canada. Looking for family in China: 011-86-10-8531 4000 from the US.
My heart breaks for the victims of the flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border, and for the New Yorkers waiting on word about family half a world away. To our Nepali and Tibetan neighbors you are not in this alone. My office is here to assist. https://t.co/glkI8cqCeY
In six days, Culebra loses the operator of its only health center. No one has explained why, and the search for a replacement doesn't close until September 23. That gap threatens to disrupt care at the center for months. I'm demanding answers from the Puerto Rico Department of Health before August 31.