Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Newsletters [Messages From AOC]

Newsletter: Upcoming Town Hall, NYC Primary Election, & Child Tax Credit – 27MAY2021

Newsletter: Global Human Rights, Capitol Updates, & More

A Message from Rep. AOC

Dear Community Members of NY-14,

This has been a very difficult time for us as a global community and for all those concerned with human rights.

Three weeks ago, demonstrations in Colombia against anti-worker reforms turned deadly. So far, 42 have been killed and hundreds more injured by state-sanctioned violence. All people should have a fundamental right to demonstrate against their elected leaders, yet these citizens lost their lives for doing just that. There must be accountability for the long string of human rights abuses exercised by the Colombian government.

Shortly thereafter, we began to see violence escalate in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, following the eviction of Palestinians. The United States must acknowledge its role in the injustice and human rights violations of Palestinians. We have to have the courage to name our contributions. This is not about both sides. This is about an imbalance of power. I recently spoke more about the situation in Palestine and Israel on the floor. You can watch the full floor speech here.

Among the senseless killings of Colombians and Palestinians, Indians are calling desperately for international aid as COVID-19 takes countless lives in the country. We know all too well what it’s like to be the epicenter of the pandemic. I’m thankful for the countries around the world working together to provide India with the necessary supplies to end this crisis, including our own.

We spoke about this and more at our town hall this month. You can watch the full town hall here (and in Spanish here).

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 also regularly share resources and information on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @RepAOC.

In service,

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

What’s Happening at the Capitol?

We have several legislative updates for you from the past few weeks. You can read more about what’s happening at the Capitol below.

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for The Bronx and Queens

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, New York City will receive $4 billion, and the State will receive $12 billion in aid. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted in support of this bill, which will also send $275 million to The Bronx and nearly $438 million to Queens. The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds may be used for infrastructure, from expanding internet access and improving drinking water to supporting workers and small businesses who lost income due to the pandemic or whose job continues to place them at elevated risk of contracting the pandemic. You can read more about the funds here.

Passage of Debt Collection Amendment

An amendment Representative Ocasio-Cortez introduced passed the House! The amendment, which Representative Ocasio-Cortez introduced with Representatives Steve Cohen and Suzanne Bonamici, prohibits the collection of “zombie debt.” This means that predatory debt collectors would no longer be able to harass and deceive vulnerable consumers into paying expired debts.

Reintroduction of the Andrew Kearse Act

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Adriano Espaillat, and Senator Elizabeth Warren reintroduced the Andrew Kearse Act last week. The Act was introduced after the death of Bronx community member Andrew Kearse. Under this legislation, federal law enforcement officials would be criminally liable when they fail to obtain or provide medical care to individuals in their custody who are experiencing medical distress. For Mr. Kearse, and so many others, we must demand accountability.

Unveiling of an Updated EV Freedom Act

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Andy Levin reintroduced the EV Freedom Act. President Biden pledged to install 500k electric vehicle charging stations, and the EV Freedom Act will ensure that we achieve that goal. Additionally, it will create good-paying union jobs, allow us to recharge a vehicle in the same time it takes to refill a tank, and dedicate 50% of funding to frontline communities.

Black Maternal Health Committee Hearings

Representative Ocasio-Cortez participated in a committee hearing about Black Maternal Health, featuring testimonies from doctors, midwives, and constituents from NY-14. Black people have historically faced disproportionate risk of death and other adverse outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. The testimonies shared shined light on this pressing issue and highlighted legislation that has been introduced to address this problem. Congress must support and fund programs specifically to address Black maternal mortality.

Committee Hearings on January 6th Capitol Attack

At a recent committee hearing, Representative Ocasio-Cortez questioned Trump’s Secretary of Defense about the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. He struggled to provide a consistent account of the day’s events. It’s been over four months since insurrectionists attacked our nation’s Capitol. The people who were responsible for protecting us need to provide clear answers.