MEEKS JOINS HOUSE DEMS URGING USDA FUND NOVEMBER SNAP BENEFITS:
U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) joined 213 House Democrats in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to use contingency reserve dollars to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the shutdown. SNAP funding is set to lapse on November 1, putting 42 million individuals at risk of experiencing hunger.
“Families across the country rely on SNAP to keep food on the table. Now, because of the Republican shutdown, hardworking Americans face uncertainty about whether they’ll be able to afford food next month,” Rep. Meeks said. “It’s simply unacceptable. A lapse in SNAP benefits would hurt people in every community, regardless of their party affiliation.”
There is enough funding in the SNAP contingency reserve to cover nearly two-thirds of the amount needed for a full month of benefits. As such, the Members also advocate for USDA to use statutory transfer authority or any other legal means to supplement shortfalls the contingency reserve cannot cover.
The Members wrote in the letter:
“A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country. As the largest food assistance program in the United States, SNAP serves 42 million people. That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans.”
ROOSEVELT DEMOCRATIC CLUB ENDORSEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT:
“At our organizational meeting the membership of the Roosevelt Democratic Club on October 24, 2025, voted unanimously to endorse Andrew Cuomo for Mayor of the City of New York.” Club President Rosa Sanchez stated, “Now more than ever Andrew Cuomo is the leader NYC needs. We need his experience, we need his proven track record, we need his strength, and we need him to make Roosevelt Avenue and our entire community safe!”
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT NAMED BEST U.S. AIRPORT FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR BY FORBES:
Survey of 9,000 Travel Advisors and Hospitality Experts by Forbes Travel Guide Continues to Recognize LaGuardia Airport’s Transformation from Worst to Best in Nation.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced LaGuardia Airport’s selection as the best airport in the United States for the second consecutive year by Forbes Travel Guide, which released its Verified Air Travel Awards today. Decided by an invitation-only panel of 9,000 luxury travel advisors and hospitality experts, the award recognizes airlines and airports committed to providing the world’s best travel experiences. Today’s recognition is the latest in a long list of accolades given to LaGuardia throughout the course of the airport’s historic $8 billion transformation from what was once the nation’s worst airport into what is now its best.
“We’re delighted to celebrate LaGuardia’s second consecutive win as best U.S. airport, a testament to the impact of the public-private partnership behind its remarkable transformation. We applaud LaGuardia Gateway Partners, Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for their vision,” said Forbes Travel Guide CEO Hermann Elger. “We look forward to seeing that same ambition shapes the future of JFK through upcoming redevelopment, setting a new standard for air travel excellence in New York and beyond.”
PHEFFER AMATO’S HISTORIC LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER:
New York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato celebrated the three-year anniversary of the enactment of her nation-leading legislation, A.8537 (2022), which guarantees insurance coverage for all forms of post-mastectomy surgery. Specifically, the Assemblywoman’s bill fully mandates insurance coverage for Aesthetic Flat Closure, a choice women can make to obtain a flat chest wall instead of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. With the enactment of Pheffer Amato’s legislation, New York became the first State in the country to provide women with the legal right to be able to decide their post-mastectomy outcome, and mandate that insurance pay for it.
Before Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato’s legislation, reconstructive surgery or breast implants were covered by insurance, but the option to have Aesthetic Flat Closure, or “go flat,” was not. The decision to “go flat” had been deemed “cosmetic” by insurance companies. This led to women being forced to have unwanted breast reconstructive surgery or left with pockets/flaps of skin on their chest – as a flat chest wall was not covered by insurance. Pheffer Amato’s law changed that policy and now ensures that women in New York have all post-mastectomy surgery options covered by insurance.
“This bill impacts women,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato. She added, “Three years later and this coverage is outlined in every insurance booklet in New York State, and available to every woman in New York State. This work has ensured that a woman can choose how she wants her post-mastectomy body to look! We all know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer, and this law ensures that women don’t just survive, but thrive, and feel good about their own bodies. The legislation we passed pays tribute to those who didn’t have a choice, and now celebrates all the women who do.”
A 2023 report from the Society of Surgical Oncology said that roughly 62.5% of women who have a mastectomy have sought to opt-out of breast reconstruction and go for the Aesthetic Flat Closure option. In addition, a 2021 report with Annals of Surgical Oncology cited that nearly 74% of women who had Aesthetic Flat Closure were satisfied with their decision.
SENATOR ADDABBO HOSTS PODCAST FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH:
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. hosted a special podcast in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, aiming to shed light on the impact of the disease, advances in treatment, and the resilience of those affected. In this episode, Senator Addabbo’s guests were Dr. Rosa Nouvini, Medical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Medisys Cancer Center, and Racquel Chariah a breast cancer survivor and the CEO & Founder of Let Your Light So Shine.
“Breast cancer touches families across our state in countless ways, and it is only through conversation, education, and compassionate care that we can turn awareness into action,” Senator Addabbo said. “By elevating the voices of clinicians and survivors, we hope to empower New Yorkers to seek screening, support loved ones, and advocate for policies that improve prevention, treatment, and survivorship.”
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer among women in the United States, but it has seen a reduction of 44% percent since 1989 due to improvements in technology and early detection, Addabbo said, citing information from American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2024-2025 report. Breast cancer screenings for women age 40 and older are critically important, Dr. Nouvini noted, because when women detect their breast cancer early before symptoms develop, there is a chance for a cure. “That’s what we want,” Nouvini said. “We want to extend your life as much as possible, if you are diagnosed with cancer.”
“It is a highly stressful, highly upsetting and highly confusing time, when one is diagnosed with cancer,” Dr. Nouvini continued. “It’s important that in your initial visit with your doctor that you have someone you trust with you.” That support person can take notes and help you absorb all the information that you may miss during this trying time.
Dr. Nouvini said the most important questions to ask are: What kind of breast cancer do I have? Because treatment varies depending on the type of cancer, and there are many different types of treatment. It is also important to know what stage of cancer a patient has, and they can range from one through four, because that affects the prognosis, meaning the length of life. It’s also important to know the side effects of treatment and how to address those side effects.
Racquel Chariah is a breast cancer survivor and the CEO & Founder of Let Your Light So Shine, which is a non-profit providing customized consulting and coaching services to nonprofit organizations and leaders in underserved areas, helping them overcome challenges in business practices to achieve success, sustainability, and social impacts. In her journey as a breast cancer survivor, Chariah said she was helped by her Christian faith, support from her family, and her strong will to live. She was diagnosed at the age of 40, just when she felt the healthiest she had been in her life. Suddenly she discovered a lump in her breast.
“Something felt a little strange,” she said, “and I got checked and biopsied and underwent all of the traditional tests.” She described going to the doctor with her husband when she was diagnosed and how her physician went over her plan of care. Chariah said even though she was shocked to have breast cancer she knew that she had a strong support system, and she would get through it. “I was young,” Chariah said. “I had three small children and every single day I was waking up and asking God to give me someone to help. Ok, I’m in this situation, but give me someone to help. So, every day I was in school as a PTA president. I never missed a meeting. I never missed a day of school, and I supported the community. By me doing that it really made cancer feel small and everything else bigger. Of course, it was a difficult period in my life, but my focus was on others.”
The complete podcast is available to view on Senator Addabbo’s YouTube channel at the following link https://youtu.be/6syRofJJNT0
HEVESI ON CUTS:
Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi said, “These cuts to our health care, food assistance, and energy programs are not abstract numbers — they are intentional decisions to harm children, families, and people from every corner of our state. If we’ve learned anything from the collective demonstrations across the country, it’s that Americans won’t be fooled by this administration, its lies, or repeated failures to live up to its promises. I encourage every New Yorker to visit this new website and see how far-reaching these impacts truly are — and I thank Governor Hochul for her continued leadership, as well as Speaker Heastie for ensuring the Legislature stands united.”
He also said, “Our federal government, under Republican party control, has decided to cut SNAP benefits for 3 million New Yorkers. At this exact same moment, I want to express my gratitude to Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Deborah Glick and all of my colleagues for fighting annually to increase the New York State Environmental Protection Fund. That yearly fight pays off today for New Yorkers in need with this announcement of EPF funded emergency food relief for nearly 100 non-profit food pantries and soup kitchens as well as emergency food relief equipment grants.”
COUNCILMEMBER SANDRA UNG ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS:
Councilmember Sandra Ung this week visited PS 20 and PS 24 in Flushing to announce funding for capital improvements she was able to secure in the Fiscal Year 2026 city budget. During Family Day at PS 20 on Wednesday morning, Councilmember Ung announced a $450,000 allocation for the school, $350,000 of which will be used to fund a cooling project. The remaining $100,000 will be for technology upgrades in the classrooms.
Thursday evening, Councilmember Ung visited PS 24 for the school’s Diwali celebration. During the event, the Councilmember announced that she secured $516,000 for gym and security upgrades at the school, as well as the installation of new cameras.
In the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, Councilmember Ung was able to secure nearly $3 million for capital improvement at schools in her district. Since taking office in 2022, the Councilmember has allocated over $19.5 million for capital projects at schools in District 20.
“These may seem like simple infrastructure improvements, but they’re really about creating a safer, healthier, and more welcoming learning environment,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung. “This funding means upgraded technology, enhanced safety, and improvements to gymnasiums, auditoriums, and other spaces that support the holistic development of our students. When we invest in our schools, we are investing in our children, who are the future leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow. Every dollar spent improving their educational experience is a dollar invested in a brighter future for our community and city.”
In addition to PS 20 and PS 24, Councilmember Ung also supported the following school projects in the FY26 budget :
• $500,000 for auditorium renovations at PS 20;
• $500,000 for a hydroponics lab at P177;
• $200,000 to improve the gym at PS 163;
• $125,000 for technology upgrades at PS 244;
• $100,000 for new outdoor digital signage and a school beautification project at PS 120;
• $198,000 for technology upgrades and equipment replacement at PS 162;
• $400,000 for a new podcast studio and black box theater at Francis Lewis High School; and
• $775,000 for a cooling project and STEM upgrades at Flushing High School.
“Since taking office in 2022, I’ve prioritized the needs of our schools, allocating $19.5 million for capital projects to enhance the educational experience and expand opportunities for students,” said Councilmember Ung. “The schools in our district are among the most sought-after and successful in New York City, and that success is no accident. It’s the result of the hard work and dedication of our teachers and faculty, the support and advocacy of our parents, and, most importantly, the efforts and achievements of our students.”
MAYOR ADAMS CANCELS NEARLY $135 MILLION IN MEDICAL DEBT FOR WORKING-CLASS NEW YORKERS:
Pioneering Program Launched by Mayor Adams Cancels Medical Debt for Over 75,000 New Yorkers in Partnership with Undue Medical Debt. When Done, New York City’s Investment Will Provide $2 Billion in Relief for up to 500,000 New Yorkers, Becoming Largest Municipal Medical Debt Relief Program in Nation. City Opens Eight Financial Empowerment Centers, Making More Financial Services Accessible to More New Yorkers.
Last year, Mayor Adams launched a pioneering program that — through an $18 million investment by the city over three years — will relieve some or all of the medical debt for 500,000 working-class New Yorkers on a one-time basis, totaling over $2 billion in eliminated debt. In addition, Mayor Adams today celebrated the opening of eight new ‘NYC Financial Empowerment Centers’ run by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) at select NYC Health + Hospitals locations across the health system to help New Yorkers better plan and avoid going into medical debt in the future. This announcement continues to fulfill two more key commitments made during Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address, to relieve $2 billion of New Yorkers’ medical debt and embed additional financial counselors in New York City hospitals — providing more New Yorkers with access to vital personalized financial guidance.
About New York City’s Medical Debt Relief Program
Medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States, disproportionately affecting uninsured, under-insured, and low-income households. The city has partnered with Undue Medical Debt, a national New York City-based nonprofit specializing in buying and ultimately wiping out medical debt to acquire debt portfolios from health care providers and hospitals across New York City, as well as from collection agencies.
There is no application process for New York City’s one-time debt relief program, which is the largest municipal initiative of its kind in the country. Instead, Undue Medical Debt will purchase bundled, qualifying medical debt portfolios from providers, like hospitals and commercial debt buyers, to then abolish that debt at pennies on the dollar. Debt relief recipients will then be notified that their debt has been bought by a third party and erased, with no strings attached. Recipients owe nothing on the debt and face no tax penalty. New Yorkers who fit one of the two eligibility criteria will qualify for the debt relief if their debt has been acquired: 1) having an annual household income at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Line or 2) having medical debt equal to 5 percent or more of their anSee nual household income..
About New York City’s Financial Empowerment Program
NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services to help New Yorkers reach their financial goals. The Financial Empowerment Centers can help New Yorkers learn how to create action plans and take small but meaningful steps to manage their money, establish or improve their credit, set up a spending plan, open a safe and affordable bank account, contact their lenders about debt, including student loans and medical debt, develop a strategy to reduce debt or lower payments, and more.
Since the start of the Adams administration, DCWP’s Financial Empowerment Centers have helped tens of thousands of New Yorkers improve their credit, reduce their debt by more than $45.1 million, and increase their savings by $5.1 million through free one-on-one financial counseling services. There are over 40 centers across the five boroughs with services available in 11 languages. New Yorkers 18 and older can visit DCWP’s Financial Counseling webpage or call 311 and say “financial counseling” to schedule an appointment or for more information.
ADDABBO HOSTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH EVENT:
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. hosted a free community event focused on education, prevention, and connecting survivors with essential resources. The event, held on October 15, 2025, at the Ozone Park Jewish Center, brought together community members, advocates, and local leaders to look at prevention strategies and available support.
“Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that touches individuals and families in every neighborhood,” Addabbo said. “This month, we come together to break the silence, share vital resources, and remind survivors that they are not alone.”
The program was presented with the assistance of the Ozone Tudor Civic Association. Attendees heard from guest speakers representing Safe Horizon and the NYPD Domestic Violence Unit, who led discussions and answered questions focused on prevention and survivor support. Community members were encouraged to participate in this essential conversation.
Officers Justin Thompson and Thomas Ruppel of the 106th Precinct Domestic Violence Unit spoke about how domestic violence can start as verbal disputes and escalate to physical violence. They emphasized the importance of calling the police when someone feels in danger. The 106th Precinct serves a diverse, largely residential community and handles many domestic violence-related calls, the officers said. They stressed proactive engagement to prevent escalation and protect victims.
“We want to intervene before things escalate to a point where someone’s safety is jeopardized,” said Officer Ruppel. “We follow up on verbal disputes and violations such as harassment, even if there are no injuries.”
Thompson noted that harassment can be documented even without arrests, so a victim can use a domestic incident report to pursue protective orders in family court. Limited protection orders: allow contact in some cases, potentially within the same household, but prohibit crimes against the protected person. Full stay-away orders: prohibit all contact, including contact through third parties. In some cases, assaults can be charged as misdemeanor assault, potentially elevating to felony criminal contempt if a protective order exists and is violated.
An audience member asked whether neighbors should call the police if they hear concerning behavior. Officers encouraged vigilant reporting. Officer Ruppel recounted a case where a neighbor’s call helped rescue a woman who was bound and gagged in a bathroom. She had no means to contact authorities herself, and the timely call allowed officers to enter legally and intervene.
The senator also recognized Ms. Elizabeth DeJesus, a domestic violence survivor and Founder of Cottontail Corner in Richmond Hill, which provides programs for children and assists domestic violence survivors and their families.
Carolina Sanchez, Safe Horizon Queens Manager of the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP), and Rayon Chan, Safe Horizon Victim Advocate at the 106th Precinct, discussed free resources for domestic violence victims, including information about victims’ rights, home visits to follow up on verbal disputes, confidentiality guarantees, counseling and temporary shelter, referrals to community organizations like Rising Ground.
Victims of domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN 88788. Safe Horizon operates the NYC Hotline, a 24/7, 365 day a year number for anyone who has experienced domestic or intimate partner violence, crime, abuse, or sexual assault at 800-621-4673 (HOPE).
ADDABBO INVITES CONSTITUENTS TO SHARE OPINIONS ON IBX:
Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. is inviting constituents to provide feedback on the Interborough Express (IBX) through a survey available at the link below. Responses will be shared with the MTA.
Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeaMluKAer4LYvDJ8TG_j2YpJEA2JeRQA4KctoaYY4he2ww/viewform?pli=1
Constituents can also email the MTA with questions or concerns at IBXoutreach@mtacd.org.
“The IBX represents a major strategic investment in our transportation network, tying together communities across Brooklyn and Queens,” Addabbo said. “It also brings possible negative effects to the impacted communities which need to be addressed. That is why it is essential that residents have a seat at the table and voice their opinions as the proposal moves forward.”
The senator believes that the IBX project requires community participation because it represents a vital transportation network expansion that connects Brooklyn and Queens through 17 subway links. The project requires resident participation because their input will determine the project’s future development. The scheduled time frame to start construction is 2028, with service to begin in the early 2030s.
The IBX aims to create a dedicated right-of-way that will link 17 subway connections through existing freight lines. The project aims to achieve end- to-end travel times of 32 minutes by implementing light rail service which operates under the same fare system as OMNY. The project’s estimated cost reaches $5.5 billion while the MTA has already received $61 million for planning and proposes $2.75 billion for the budget. The project does not have a scheduled completion date because designers are currently working on the design phase.
The proposed transit corridor passes through an area that contains 900,000 residents and 260,000 workers and 228,256 housing units within a 0.5- mile radius. The New York Building Congress predicts that corridor upzoning will create between 42,666 and 100,200 additional housing units based on the extent of zoning changes.
The MTA will perform an environmental impact assessment to handle noise-related issues during the project development. The new infrastructure will generate less noise than current rail systems, but ongoing assessments will determine the necessary mitigation strategies.
The project designers plan to use most of the existing right-of-way for construction while initial studies show that property acquisition needs will be lower than typical large infrastructure projects. The project requires some land acquisition of properties.
If you have thoughts or questions, please participate in the survey or contact the MTA at the email above. Your input will help shape how the IBX evolves as planning progresses.
HOCHUL STEPS IN TO PROTECT CRITICAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD:
Republicans in Washington Stripped Funding for Planned Parenthood Clinics Across Nation. Governor Secures State Funding To Ensure New Yorkers Have Access to the Care They Need.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State will protect access to reproductive health care services despite Washington Republicans’ targeted attacks against Planned Parenthood health centers and the services they provide. Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans voted to end Medicaid patients’ ability to seek care at Planned Parenthood, threatening Planned Parenthood’s ability to operate in New York and compromising New Yorkers’ access to health care services, including contraception, abortion, STI and HIV prevention, prenatal and menopausal care, mental health services, and preventive care like wellness visits and cancer screenings.
“Washington Republicans have shown time and again that they’ll stop at nothing to undermine women’s health care and restrict access to reproductive rights,” Governor Hochul said. “In the face of Congressional Republicans voting to defund Planned Parenthood, I’ve directed the state to fund these vital services, protecting access to health care that thousands of New Yorkers rely on. I will always stand up for reproductive rights and the health care that New Yorkers deserve.”
Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services in New York State via five affiliate organizations, including Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. This network of affiliates currently operates 47 health centers that serve over 200,000 patients each year. This includes 100,000 Medicaid patients, totaling over $35 million in annual Gross Medicaid revenue.
Over 60 percent of Planned Parenthood health centers are in rural or medically underserved areas, and these centers are often the only option available to New Yorkers living in these rural areas. They are a critical source of affordable health care to Medicaid and non-Medicaid recipients.
What Washington Republicans Voted To Do:
•H.R. 1, enacted into law on July 4, includes a one-year prohibition on federal Medicaid funding for organizations that provide abortions and that received $800,000 or more in federal Medicaid funds in 2023.
•H.R. 1 classified these organizations as “prohibited entities.” Planned Parenthood’s five affiliates in New York are the only providers in the state that meet the definition of a “prohibited entity.”
•Prior to the passage of H.R. 1, Medicaid claims submitted by Planned Parenthood were reimbursed with a combination of federal and State dollars, though no federal dollars are used to reimburse abortion services.
•Now that they are deemed a “prohibited entity” under H.R. 1, Planned Parenthood is no longer eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds for any of the services they provide.
Governor Hochul is protecting access to reproductive health care for all New Yorkers by allocating state funds to cover lost federal funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates in New York.
Governor Hochul continues to reaffirm her commitment to keeping reproductive resources safe and accessible in New York State. The Governor has made historic investments to expand reproductive freedom for New Yorkers, including increasing funding for abortion care providers, signing legislation to protect New York doctors and securing $25 million annually to fund abortion health care services through the New York State Abortion Access Program.
Additional guidance for providers can be found on the Department of Health website on the “Medicaid Guidance to New York State Planned Parenthood Providers and Payors” page.
GILLIBRAND RELEASES REPORT HIGHLIGHTING AMERICA’S OVERRELIANCE ON FOREIGN-MADE GENERIC DRUGS:
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rick Scott (R-FL)—-ranking member and chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, respectively— released an investigative report detailing America’s overreliance on foreign-manufactured generic drugs, from cancer treatments to over-the-counter painkillers. The report, titled “Protecting Seniors’Access to Essential Medications: Securing the Foreign Generic Pharmaceutical Supply Chain,” describes the need to protect American patients by increasing oversight of the generic drug supply chain, boosting domestic production of generic drugs, and investing in American biotechnology research.
“In the richest country in the world, our constituents shouldn’t have to worry about the safety and availability of the drugs they need to fight devastating diseases like cancer,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Making sure that the supply chain for generic drugs continues to be safe and reliable is essential to protect American patients, and this report is a critical first step to that end. We must increase oversight over foreign-manufactured generic drugs through improved enforcement power and a robust Food and Drug Administration (FDA) foreign inspector workforce. We must also boost domestic production of generic drugs and investments in cutting-edge biotechnology research to make sure that all Americans have access to the high-quality medications they need. Generic drugs are a critical option to keep prescription drug prices affordable, but that cannot come at the expense of quality. As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, I am committed to working on bipartisan solutions to secure the prescription drug supply chain, and I encourage the Trump administration and my colleagues in Congress to work together to heed the recommendations of this report so we can protect American patients.”
“The United States’ overreliance on foreign-made generic drugs, especially those made in adversarial nations, is a very real threat to all Americans, but especially our aging population,” said Senator Scott. “Not only have we had many recorded cases of these imported, generic drugs being contaminated and causing death and injury, if Communist China, our adversary, or India shut off the flow of these essential drugs, the U.S. would only have months of prescription drug supply, forcing us to begin rationing drugs and turning away all but the most in need within a matter of weeks! Our seniors deserve better, and this report is just the beginning as we expose this national security and public health crises and how to fix it by increasing Food and Drug Administration oversight and bringing generic drug production back to America. Congress has to work with the Trump administration and act now to make sure that Americans have safe and high-quality drugs and to secure the prescription drug supply chain.”
On September 17, Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Gillibrand held a hearing with expert witnesses highlighting the national security and public health crises caused by America’s dependence on foreign-made generic drugs and their ingredients. In a second hearing on October 8, the Aging Committee again heard from witnesses who discussed recommendations to secure America’s pharmaceutical supply chains and ensure access to high-quality, life-saving generic drugs that millions of Americans—including seniors—rely on.
GILLIBRAND DEMANDS IMMEDIATE REVERSAL OF FIRING OF WORKERS WHO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
The Trump Administration Has Fired Hundreds Of Workers Who Support Students With Disabilities. This Action Will Decrease The Quality Of Education For The 500,000+ Students With Disabilities In New York.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) blasted the Trump administration for firing the workers that support students with disabilities in New York and across the country.
“The Trump administration’s decision to fire the staff who support education for students with disabilities is reprehensible,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The administration cannot claim to care about students with disabilities and stand behind this decision. Every student in America deserves a high-quality education with the services, support, and resources they need to learn and thrive in the classroom. I implore the administration to immediately restore staffing at ED to previously held levels to help make sure all students can get the education they deserve.”
Recent reductions in force (RIFs) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) have gutted the workforce that upholds protections and educational services for students with disabilities. Earlier this month, the Trump administration fired almost 500 staff in key offices, including:
1.The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which helps states implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including by providing federal financial support and assistance to special education programs;
2.The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), which supports vocational rehabilitation programs that help people with disabilities learn the skills they need to gain employment and live independently;
3.The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which helps ensure equal access to education for students with disabilities by enforcing federal civil rights laws in schools;
4.And the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), which provides leadership, training, and financial support for special education programs.
The RIFs undermine the federal government’s ability to ensure that children with disabilities are protected within our education system under IDEA, which mandates that schools provide free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities and ensures that special education and early intervention services are available to preschool and K-12 students. In her letter, Gillibrand calls on the Trump administration to immediately reverse the RIFs and restore staffing to previous levels. This letter also rejects the proposal to move special education programs to another agency.
LAGUARDIA GATEWAY ANNOUNCES B-INSPIRED STEM GRANT PROGRAM
LaGuardia Gateway Partners and the Port Authority Invite Non-profit Organizations Supporting STEM Programming in Queens to Apply for a $15,000 Grant.
Gateway Partners (LGP), the manager and developer of LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B, is excited to announce that applications are now open for the annual B-INSPIRED STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Grant program. The initiative, launched last year in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, provides a $15,000 grant to a local nonprofit providing impactful STEM programming to the Queens community.
“LaGuardia Terminal B was built to be transformative – not just for travelers, but for the community we serve,” said Suzette Noble, CEO of LaGuardia Gateway Partners. “Through this grant, we’re proud to support local organizations that are sparking curiosity and opportunity in STEM for young people across Queens and helping build a stronger, more innovative future.”
“Through programs like the B-INSPIRED STEM Grant, we’re working with LaGuardia Gateway Partners to open doors to careers in aviation for students in Queens,” said Hersh Parekh, Port Authority Deputy Chief of Intergovernmental and Community Affairs. “We’re proud to support initiatives that inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, aviation professionals, and innovators – creating a lasting impact that extends far beyond the airport.”
Earlier this year, LGP and the Port Authority were proud to announce NYC FIRST, Inc. as the inaugural recipient of the B-INSPIRED STEM Grant. NYC FIRST, Inc, an organization dedicated to providing meaningful and joyful STEM and robotics programming citywide, employed the grant to resource its Queens-based robotics competitions, as well as teams at two Queens high schools – High School For Construction Trades, Engineering & Architecture and Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences.
—With contributions by Augusta Luger
This column was originated by John A. Toscano.
For more I on Pols, visit this week’s QGazette.com.