The Serrano Report, Vol. IX, #4
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Questions AG about NYPD 'Stop and Frisk' Policies
On Tuesday during a hearing about the Department of Justice's budget, Congressman Serrano questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about investigating the New York Police Department's 'stop and frisk' policy. The policy disproportionately targets people of color, and those stopped are overwhelmingly innocent. Serrano pressed AG Holder on whether the civil rights division of the Justice Department was planning to investigate the NYPD's procedures. Holder responded that they are aware of the issue but did not have an open investigation.
“I raised the ‘stop and frisk’ issue with Attorney General Holder because there is a growing sense in our community that the policy is discriminatory in practice, and is an infringement on constitutional rights,” said Serrano. “I believe that the pattern has been clearly shown to harm in a material way the civil rights of African-Americans and Latinos in New York City, and as a result should be banned.”
“I know that AG Holder shares my commitment to civil rights. I hope that through the questions that I asked him, we will get the Department of Justice to begin to scrutinize this unfortunate policy and examine how they can help. The kids walking down the street doing nothing wrong deserve the constitutional protections that they are guaranteed, and at a certain point, only federal officials can help.”
Serrano Asks EPA to Help Clean up NYC Schools
This Wednesday, Congressman Serrano questioned EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on the subject of PCB contamination in New York City public schools during an appropriations hearing on the agency’s FY2013 budget. Congressman Serrano has been working on the issue of this toxic contamination for several years, and pointed out to Administrator Jackson that the ongoing efforts to clean out this hazard have been slow and incomplete. He sought a commitment from Ms. Jackson that the EPA would continue to work with NYC to speed up the process and ensure its integrity.
“I asked Ms. Jackson to work with me and New York City to clean this carcinogen from our schools because I know she shares my commitment to seeing our children learn in a safe environment. The plans that have been announced to get rid of these chemicals have a 10-year timeline and an incomplete remediation process. She agrees that we must move more quickly and more thoroughly to end this hazard to our childrens’ health and safety. I appreciate her dedication to helping us with the problem.”
Serrano Wins Teaming with Wildlife Award
On Wednesday night, Congressman Serrano was honored as a champion of wildlife by the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition for his work to protect and restore the environment. In particular, the coalition pointed to his efforts to preserve and expand the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program within the Department of the Interior. This program funds conservation of threatened species throughout the 50 states and the territories and has provided more than $30 million to New York State alone over the past 12 years.
“I am honored to be recognized by this great coalition, which has so many invaluable members doing vital work, including the Bronx Zoo,” Congressman Serrano said. “They said they are recognizing me for my efforts, but really they are recognizing the community that I represent, which is the inspiration and guide for all this environmental work. We are an urban community that wants to continue on behalf of strong fish and wildlife conservation funding. As I said that evening to the coalition, this funding is crucial and we must ensure it does not dry up in today's anti-spending atmosphere. In addition to their environmental impact, these grants support critical jobs and a great deal of scientific study."
Kelly Keenan Aylward from the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo and Sean Mahar from the New York Audubon Society presenting Serrano with the award
Grant
LGBT Health Grant
Deadline: May 8, 2015
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced the availability of funding to research health risks that may disproportionally affect certain segments of the LGBT community. The funding is intended to help study biological, clinical, behavioral, and social variables that may affect risk, and to look for effective preventive treatments to improve health in the LGBT community. All organizations with experience in the area are encouraged to apply.
For more information about this grant please visit the NIH website.
For more information about other federal grants please visit grants.gov.