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Dear neighbor, 

Happy Monday! As always, I hope this message finds you in good spirits, safe and healthy. Our community has been dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida for a couple weeks now - if you are in search of more resources please click here or contact my office at bowman.casework@mail.house.gov. 

 We have been in office for more than nine months now getting work done for you and our community. Today, I am happy to provide you with an update on some of what our office has worked on throughout this past summer. Spend some time catching up on all things NY-16, share our work with another neighbor, and as always please let us know how we can continue serving you. 

Our District Office is Open and Mobile 

This summer our office spent every available opportunity in the community meeting with constituents and community members. We hosted mobile constituent service hours at local subway stations and in high traffic areas. Please call our office to recommend a location in your neighborhood and stay tuned for future pop ups! 

Gun Hill (2)(5) Train: Mobile Constituent Services

Yonkers Mobile Constituent Services

Congressman on Your Corner: 

Continuous engagement with neighbors such as yourself allows our office to stay informed with current and pressing issues while also working to address the district’s needs. I enjoy touring the district meeting the residents of NY-16. 

Career Fair

A priority of mine has been helping people find work that helps them thrive and support themselves and their families. In July our office hosted a Career and Resource Fair in Co-Op City with over 30 employers and 300 community members in attendance. Many individuals were able to obtain jobs after attending this event and our office looks forward to creating more spaces such as this to assist in getting constituents employed. 

Back-To-School: 

This month, families with school-aged children are also navigating back to school and what that looks like for our students. In June, I held a roundtable on schools to hear from students,teachers, and unions about what makes a great teacher. U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Chancellor Meisha Porter from the NYC Department of Education and other education leaders joined me at Mercy College to gain a better understanding of what makes a great teacher and we can support our teachers to best serve students, especially during this difficult time.  

We’ve also been working to support our immigrant neighbors, who make up a significant portion of our district. In July, I visited Laredo, Texas, to visit federal facilities, local shelters and meet with local advocates and service providers about the need for federal immigration reform. In this border community, immigration issues have direct federal ties that permeate throughout the country and especially in our district. After touring a Customs and Border Patrol Holding facility, the Port of Entry, and meeting with the Laredo Immigrant Alliance and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) I convened advocates and community leaders in our district to share my observations and seek their input. 

Legislative Update

In July, I was proud to introduce the Green New Deal for Public Schools along with 32 original cosponsors. If enacted, this bill would invest $1.43 trillion over 10 years in public schools and infrastructure to combat climate change while supporting students and their families holistically. To learn more click here. 

 One of the biggest discussions this summer for every Congressional office has been about appropriations and how our government should continue spending its money. I submitted six amendments to the FY22 appropriations bill which would increase budgets for the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, Library of Congress, Development Assistance Fund to the Caribbean, Nita M Lowey Partnership for Peace Act,  Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation and the Minority Business Development Agency. If approved, these amendments would allow Congress to spend more money on local resources to support our neighbors both in the District and in the Caribbean.  

More funds are also needed at a local level here in our district. I requested federal funding from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee for Community Project Funding. The 10 projects I submitted requests for would bring us closer to affordable housing, making healthcare a human right, rebuilding our infrastructure and providing necessary social services. These projects which totaled more than $5.4 million were passed by the House. To learn more about each please click here.

I am also excited to have secured $17.1 million in funding about transportation and infrastructure needs in NY-16 in the 2021 INVEST in America Act. For too long, our communities have suffered from federal disinvestment and neglect. These investments in sidewalk repairs, transportation improvements, and a transformation of the abandoned Putnam rail line will keep our communities safe and accessible, connecting residents with their jobs, their families, and one another 

We also spent some time in August recognizing the importance of hip hop on cultures throughout the world. I joined Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer in passing a resolution to designate August 11, 2021 as “Hip Hop Celebration Day,” August 2021 as “Hip Hop Recognition Month,” and November 2021 as “Hip Hop History Month.” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) also joined as an original co-sponsor of the resolution in the House. To learn more click here. 

As the pandemic continues, impending evictions and housing instability is a concern for many. I joined Rep. Cori Bush in a protest on the Capitol steps to call on the White House and CDC to extend the federal eviction moratorium. Though we were successful in that fight, the Supreme Court unfortunately struck down the extension, but we are continuing our advocacy for safe housing for all. I joined many of my colleagues in calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to extend the eviction moratorium which she has extended until January 15, 2022. If you need assistance with rent please click here. 

Votes 

This summer Congress was also in session and we worked to pass more necessary legislation for the people. To read more about each vote that occurred and for a record on how I voted please click here. 

Constituent Services

Our office continues supporting neighbors by working on casework to meet the needs of those in our district. Year to date my office has assisted more than 1,700 constituents and answered more than 5,500 constituent calls. We continue to serve you!

If you need help with a federal agency please complete this form - HERE or email Bowman.Casework@mail.house.gov

Resources 

• FEMA

• If you were impacted by this storm, more federal resources are now available to help. To apply for assistance, you can visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired). Si necesita ayuda en español, visita https://www.fema.gov/es. You can also download the FEMA app to submit your application for disaster assistance. 

• CTC 

• The expanded and improved Child Tax Credit will help 124,000 children in our district -- nearly 75% of kids in our community which includes yours. Eligible families can receive money paid in installments with half disbursed during next year’s tax season. For more information visit https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal

• Broadband 

• The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible families can receive $50/month discount on  broadband service and associated equipment rentals in addition to a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.

• Learn more at: https://getemergencybroadband.org/  

• Rental Relief 

• To learn more about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program for tenants and landlord visit: https://bowman.house.gov/emergency-rental-assistance-program

• If you are between the ages 17 and 23 and interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy for the military, Navy, Air Force or Marines please contact my office to learn more about applying. More info available here: https://bowman.house.gov/military-academy-nominations

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to one of my offices for any questions and/or concerns. Contact information for each office can be found below. Please also look for more updates from our office in subsequent newsletters which will also cover the Congressman’s work for the rest of September.