Issue Position: Working Americans

Issue Position

Working families are central to communities of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Lower East Side. Representative Velázquez recognizes this and has worked to support them by strengthening health care, increasing educational opportunities, and ensuring that the environment is free from pollutants.

Representative Velázquez has fought to expand access to health care for all individuals. Soaring health care costs are hurting New York's families and communities where access to preventive services and affordable care is needed. This is why she cast her vote in support of the Affordable Care Act. Doing so has meant nearly 3 million Medicare beneficiaries are now receiving preventive services, like cancer screenings, without paying out of pocket costs and over 230,000 residents in New York saved an average of $695 on the cost of prescription drugs by closing the Medicare donut hole. In addition, over 300,000 district residents have more affordable coverage and more health providers to choose from through increased access to primary care doctors. Finally, a new Office of Minority Health was established to focus on disease prevention by conducting more studies for reducing and eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities.

But her work on the health care front does not stop there. Over $30 million has been invested in New York's community health centers where 27 percent of patients are African American and 35 percent are Latino. This investment has helped to serve more patients and create new jobs. Representative Velázquez also introduced H.R. 3291, the "Healthy Foods for Healthy Living Act," which would enable community based organizations such as schools, day care centers, and food banks to expand their stock of fresh fruit and vegetables.

As a vocal proponent of environmental justice, she sponsored the Community and Environmental Equity Act, which aims to protect minority and low-income communities from being exposed to hazardous or pollution-producing facilities. In the local community, Representative Velázquez has also spearheaded efforts to clean up Superfund sites. In 2000 she helped bring the Army Corps of Engineers into the Gowanus Canal, and partnered with the City and EPA on a restoration study, which is now bringing federal resources to clean up the waterway.

With a 97 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters, she remains a steadfast proponent of clean air and water. She has recently cast votes against legislation that would have effectively reduced statutory environmental protections. As a long-time supporter of efforts to reduce sources of urban air pollution, Representative Velázquez has voted against delaying clean pollution control standards for mercury and airborne toxins. She also remains committed to the Endangered Species Act and ensuring that all animals, from family pets to exotic animals, are cared for in a safe manner.

She also been a champion for increasing educational and work experience opportunities for at-risk and disadvantaged youth and young adults. To do so, she has introduced H.R. 3114, the Civic Justice Corps Act, which would support these individuals through the establishment of community-based organizational programs.

In the area of education, she has supported efforts to modernize and renovate public schools, including early learning facilities, to make them healthy, safe, high-performing, and technologically up-to-date. She also has voted for lowering student loan interest rates and supported funding for: a new Predominantly Black Serving Institution program, a new graduate Hispanic Serving Institution program, and year-round Pell grants. Changes such as these can help working families make the dream of college become a reality.

Representative Velázquez has remained a consistent opponent of efforts to siphon funding away from public schools and towards private charter schools. She believes that working families are best served by efforts to strengthen the public education system, which serves all students, regardless of race, income, or religion.

Her hard work and consistent support for health care, environmental justice, and education has enhanced the quality of life for millions of New York's working families. She remains committed to these goals and will work tirelessly to further them in the future.

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