Dear Community Members of NY-14,
As negotiations for the infrastructure package continue, it is becoming increasingly clear that many conservatives have no interest in serving communities that need the most support. House Democrats are committed to making sure that we pass a reconciliation bill and a families plan that expands childcare, that lowers the cost of Medicare, and that supports families in the economy. Democrats welcome Republican collaboration where there is agreement, but this doesn’t mean that President Biden should be limited by Republican policies, particularly when we have a House majority, 50 Democratic senators, and the White House. I’m hopeful that the White House and Senate and House leadership will move forward with a package of bills that will meet the moment we’re in.
I also wanted to share a big win with you all: thanks to the continued advocacy of community members, the Federal Aviation Administration recently announced that it has paused the LGA AirTrain project. This wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of several local groups, and is a welcome reminder to us all about the collective power of community.
In other welcome news, the IRS will begin issuing Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments of up to $300/month on July 15th! Ninety-percent of children in our district will qualify. Most families don’t need to take any action to receive the Advanced Child Tax Credit payments, as long as they have submitted their 2019 or 2020 tax return. However, if you don’t usually file a tax return, you can submit your information to receive the payment here. Children must have a Social Security Number (SSN) to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. Parents are not required to have a SSN, but they must have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to claim the CTC for their eligible children. DACA recipients are eligible for the CTC so long as the children being claimed in the household have a valid SSN. DACA recipients who are dependents of ITIN filers can also be claimed for the CTC because they have valid SSNs. For frequently asked questions about the Child Tax Credit, click here.
This June, we’re also holding space for Gun Violence Awareness Month. Last week, we held our monthly town hall with Representative Jamaal Bowman to discuss public health approaches to community safety. Considering that gun violence continues to persist, we highlighted some programs that effectively reduce such violence in our communities, like Jacobi Hospital’s Stand Up to Violence (SUV) program. SUV addresses youth violence in the Bronx by deploying outreach workers to respond to shootings to prevent retaliation and to assist family members of those who have been injured or killed. Representative Jamaal Bowman and I have requested an additional $400k for the program that would allow them to expand their mental health facilities. You can watch the town hall to learn more in English here (and in Spanish, Bangla, Mandarin, and Nepali).
Next week, I’ll be back in the district for some exciting events in the community. More soon.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions or if we can be of any other assistance. You can reach our office by sending a message HERE or by calling 718-662-5970. We’ve included below what we hope are some relevant updates.
In service,
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez