The Serrano Report, Vol. VIII, #20
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Criticizes Deep Cuts to Environmental Funding
The House of Representatives is currently considering legislation, H.R. 2584, to provide funds for the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fiscal year 2012. On Monday, Congressman Serrano spoke in opposition to the bill (see video below), criticizing the deep funding cuts that would devastate many programs and agencies. He was also critical of the many destructive policy riders attached to the legislation that would restrict the EPA's ability to protect the environment and would cause harm to our land, water, and air quality.
Among the deepest cuts were those to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is crucial in helping to fund land acquisition and in protecting threatened and endangered species. The bill proposes that the fund receive $66 million for the coming year, far below the $900 million requested by the President. The EPA, whose mission is to protect the environment, also faces deep cuts, being funded at only $7.1 billion, $1.8 billion below the requested level of funding. The harmful policy riders include one that prevents New York from protecting its waters from invasive species carried in the ballast water of cargo ships, and another provision that will prevent the EPA from restricting greenhouse gas emissions.
In the Bronx
Serranos March in Bronx Dominican Parade
Last Sunday, Congressman José E. Serrano and State Senator José M. Serrano marched in the Bronx Dominican Day Parade. The parade route proceeded along the Grand Concourse where thousands of spectators came out to participate in the celebration. In addition to marching, Congressman Serrano presented a Congressional Record Statement to the parade directors Felipe Febles and Rosa Ayala during the parade breakfast hosted by Hostos Community College. In the Congressional Record Statement Congressman Serrano recognized the many contributions Dominican citizens have made to the Bronx and our country.
State Senator Serrano and Congressman Serrano at the parade
See more pictures from the parade
Grants
Medicaid Assistance for Soon to be Released Prisoners
Deadline: August 11, 2011
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Administration Division is seeking applications for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a project to assess the effects of access to Medicaid at the time of release from incarceration on reentry outcomes, including health care utilization, employment success, and recidivism. The recipient of the award will work in a partnership with the selected state’s prisons, jails, and Medicaid agency to implement and evaluate the project. This project will be conducted over a 36-month period. This cooperative agreement is a collaborative project between the National Institute of Corrections and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), U.S. Department of Health of Human Services (HHS). To be considered, applicants must demonstrate at a minimum (1) in-depth knowledge of the criminal justice and healthcare fields, (2) experience working with local jails, state prisons, and state Medicaid agencies, (3) the capacity to engage local jails, state prisons, and state Medicaid agencies participation in this project, and (4) the experience and organizational capacity to carry out the goals of this project.
For more information about this grant please visit NIC's website.
For more federal grants, please visit grants.gov.