The Serrano Report, Vol. IX, #3
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Joins Pierluisi to Address Unequal Treatment of Puerto Rico
On Thursday, Congressman Serrano joined Congressman Pierluisi and several other members of Congress to introduce a bill to ensure that Puerto Rico and other territories are treated the same as the 50 states with respect to Medicare payments. Currently, when a hospital treats a Medicare patient in Puerto Rico the rate of reimbursement by the federal government is lower than it is in any other part of the nation. This bill would change the formula for payments to make it the same in Puerto Rico as it is everywhere else in the country.
Under current law, it is estimated that Puerto Rico’s hospitals are losing out on approximately $24 million a year, a number that Serrano and his colleagues find unacceptable. “We must make every effort to ensure that Puerto Rico gets fair and equal treatment from the federal government,” said Serrano. “There is no good reason that a hospital in Puerto Rico should receive less than a hospital in any of the 50 states. Our nation’s laws should not discriminate against Puerto Rico, and I applaud Mr. Pierluisi for tackling one of the most glaring problems of legal inequality.”
In the Bronx
Serranos Host Black History Month Event
Last Friday, Congressman José E. Serrano and State Senator José M. Serrano celebrated Black History Month by honoring four local leaders who have helped improve the Bronx in a variety of ways. The Serranos hold an event each year to recognize Black History Month, and this year they honored Bronx County District Attorney Robert T. Johnson, New York City Community Garden's Coalition President Karen Washington, Bronx Council on the Arts Executive Director Deirdre A. Scott, and Assemblymember and Bronx Democratic County Committee Chairman Carl E. Heastie. Each of the honorees addressed the assembled crowd and received a Congressional Record Statement and a New York State Senate Proclamation in his or her honor recognizing their good work.
"It was wonderful to have so many people turn out for this great celebration," said Congressman Serrano after the event. "Each of our honorees has done so much to help and improve the Bronx and the rest of our city. I am really pleased that we had this opportunity to honor them."
State Senator Serrano (far left) and Congressman Serrano (far right) with the honorees (from left to right), District Attorney Robert Johnson, Deirdre Scott, Karen Washington, and Assemblymember Carl Heastie
Serrano Swears in New Bronx Chamber of Commerce
On Monday, Congressman Serrano helped to swear in the new Board of Directors for the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, which was founded in 1894 and has worked since that time to improve the environment for businesses throughout the borough. Serrano was joined at the event by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Leonard Caro, and other business and community leaders from the Bronx. "The Bronx Chamber of Commerce has been doing a tremendous job of supporting and revitalizing economic activity in our borough," said Serrano. "These have been tough economic times, but hopefully we are now headed towards an increase in jobs and better economic growth here in the Bronx and across the country. I want to thank Lenny Caro and the other members of the Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to make the Bronx a better place to live and work."
Serrano talks with Mayor Bloomberg at the Chamber of Commerce event
Grant
Legal Assistance for Victims Grant
Deadline: March 26, 2012
The Department of Justice's Office on Violence against Women recently announced the availability of grants to provide legal assistance to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The goal of the funding, available under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program, is to improve representation of victims and may be used either to pay directly for legal representation for victims or to help train lawyers who represent such victims. Law school clinics, domestic violence victims’ programs and shelters, bar associations, rape crisis centers and other sexual assault services programs, private nonprofit entities, Indian Tribal governments and Tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.
For more information about this grant please read the full announcement (PDF).
For more information about other federal grants please visit grants.gov.