The Serrano Report, Vol. VIII, #26

On Capitol Hill

Serrano Welcomes End of US Military Involvement in Iraq

At the end of last week, Congressman Serrano expressed his relief at President Obama’s announcement that the final American troops will be coming home from Iraq by the end of the year. Serrano voted against the war initially, warned about the problems the U.S. would face, spoke out against policies that furthered the war, and repeatedly called for the troops to come home.

“As I think back on the Iraq War, I can only express sadness about the lives lost and the people whose lives were shattered by the choice made in 2003 by then President Bush to invade,” said Serrano. “I believe that history will show that our troops served nobly, but that our nation’s political leaders let them down. It was a war of choice based on false pretenses. It never should have happened.

“Because of this conflict, we now have hundreds of thousands of new veterans.  We in Congress must stand ready to support all our returning troops, especially those who came home wounded. It is the least that these heroes deserve.

“Today’s announcement is the best news we’ve had about Iraq since the war began in 2003. President Obama has fulfilled his campaign promise to withdraw our troops from Iraq, and he deserves credit for his stance on this war from the beginning. I hope now he will turn his attention to withdrawing our troops from Afghanistan and ending that futile struggle as well.

“As we move forward I hope that our nation will never again be drawn into an unjustified war like Iraq and will listen to skeptics of the use of force. We must never again waste our most precious asset in world affairs—our credibility as a force for democracy and self-determination.

“We also cannot forget to support the Iraqi people in the years ahead. Their transition to a strong and fair democracy will continue to be challenging and we must be willing to support their efforts. After nearly nine years of occupation and conflict, we at least owe them this. I hope to read soon about Peace Corps missions to cities in Iraq, rather than the Marine Corps missions of the past years.

“Our nation made a mistake in invading and occupying Iraq. We must learn from these mistakes. I have great faith in the American people and know that this will be the case. We cannot afford for it not to be.”

Serrano Meets with LSC President

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano met with James Sandman, the President of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), about funding issues for fiscal year 2012. The LSC promotes equal access to our nation’s justice system for all Americans by providing legal aid to low-income Americans. Serrano vowed to fight to increase funding for this vital program, which House Republicans have proposed significantly cutting. Serrano serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee which funds the LSC.

Serrano speaking with James Sandman, the President of the Legal Services Corporation

Serrano Meets with Judge Gibbons

On Tuesday, Congressman Serrano met with Federal Court of Appeals Judge Julia Gibbons to discuss the Federal Judiciary’s budget request for fiscal year 2012. Judge Gibbons serves as the Chair of the Judicial Conference’s Budget Committee, which helps formulate the budget for the Federal Judiciary. Serrano is the Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Third Branch.

Serrano meeting with Judge Julia Gibbons

In the Bronx

New Report on Asthma and Hispanics Points to Environmental, Societal Triggers

Congressman Serrano expressed his ongoing concern about the high rates of asthma in Hispanic communities across the nation as a new report was released by the American Lung Association this week. The report, entitled Luchando Por El Aire: The Burden of Asthma on Hispanics, presents “an overview of research into the complex biological, environmental, political and cultural factors that increase the burden of asthma on Hispanics.” Serrano’s district in the Bronx suffers from extremely high rates of asthma and presents many of the factors that the new report highlighted. 

“This important new report confirms many theories that we have been working on in fighting asthma in the Bronx—and helps us to continue to work on them with the assurance that we are headed in the right direction,” said Serrano. “We know that poor air quality and lack of access to health care services can be a devastating combination to populations that are predisposed to asthma. Our efforts to clean the air, and ensure health care for all people will help to bring down the unacceptably high rates of asthma in our community.”

The report found that nationwide “compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics with asthma are less likely to be in the care of a regular doctor or clinic; less likely to be prescribed appropriate medicines; less likely to have access to specialized care; and more likely to end up being treated in the emergency department or hospitalized in a crisis.” It also found that “Hispanics are 165 percent more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of particulate matter pollution, and 51 percent more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone compared to non-Hispanic whites.”

“The findings of the report are only shocking if you have not been paying attention to the asthma crisis in our community,” added Serrano. “We know that environmental injustice exacerbates underlying health problems and so yet again we are right in our call for the burden of environmental contamination to be lifted from the Bronx. Our community has absorbed more than its fair share of the unwanted activities in our City and yet we find we continue to have to fight against new pollutant sources and to get old ones retired and remediated.”

Distressingly, Luchando Por El Aire noted that Hispanics of Puerto Rican descent, the second-largest Hispanic population in the U.S., “have higher rates of the disease than any other racial or ethnic group – twice as high as non-Hispanic whites.” Puerto Ricans, it seems, “have more underlying inflammation than other Hispanics, and respond less well to quick relief medicine.”

“Our path forward on this issue is clear: we must continue to attack the injustices that cause our community to suffer from this debilitating condition—from the environmental problems, to lack of health care access, to poverty and beyond,” Serrano concluded. “Parents in our community are suffering from a huge burden as they deal with the asthma of their children or their other loved ones. We must remove the factors that cause this condition and help those who have it to control their attacks. The situation is at a crisis level in the Hispanic community and in the Bronx in particular. I hope this new report serves as a wakeup call and a call to action.”

Serrano Applauds Grand Concourse Historic Landmarking

This week, Congressman Serrano applauded the news that the Grand Concourse in the Bronx had been designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Grand Concourse Historic District will recognize the special history of a boulevard that has the largest collection of Art Deco and Art Moderne buildings in the country.

“We’ve been working for years to highlight the special historic status of the Grand Concourse, which is the symbolic heart of the Bronx,” said Congressman Serrano. “Just last year, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Grand Concourse by passing a Congressional Resolution citing its special history and architecture.  This new designation will truly preserve and protect it for generations to come. 

“The importance of the Grand Concourse goes beyond the buildings themselves. For decades the Grand Concourse has been the launching point for the aspirations of thousands of Bronxites, and many residents of this great boulevard have gone on to make many valuable contributions to the community, the city, and the nation. The Grand Concourse remains a thriving cultural and commercial center for the Bronx.” 

During debate in the House of Representatives on his Congressional Resolution recognizing the Grand Concourse last year, Serrano highlighted the history and importance of the Grand Concourse. Over the years, Serrano has directed millions of dollars in federal funding to streetscaping and enhancement projects along the Grand Concourse, leading to a safer, more beautiful roadway to compliment the historic architecture. 

“The Grand Concourse is truly a national treasure, and the new Historic District reflects that,” added Serrano. “It is the heart of a borough that has produced some of the most legendary cultural contributions in our nation’s history. People in the Bronx look to the Grand Concourse with pride and are inspired by its grandeur and its history. I am glad that we are taking further steps to preserve that for generations to come.”

Serrano Attends WellCare Welcome Room Ribbon Cutting

Last Friday, Congressman Serrano was joined by WellCare of New York Chief Operating Officer, John Burke, City Councilmember Maria Del Carmen Arroyo, State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, Sr. and State Assemblymember Marcos Crespo at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the WellCare Welcome Room on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. This WellCare Welcome Room provides information on Medicare Advantage and other health related information for senior citizens. “I am pleased to join you in the opening of a center that helps seniors navigate our complex health benefits system to ensure they receive the services they need,” said Congressman Serrano.

The ribbon cutting

Serrano Attends Opening of Puerto Rican Library and Archives at Hunter College

Last Friday, Congressman Serrano also attended the inauguration of a new library and archives at El Centro Estudios de Puertorriqueños, which is based at Hunter College. The center, which was founded as a part of the City University of New York in 1973 and moved to its current home at Hunter College in 1983, works to improve understanding of the Puerto Rican experience in the fifty states and to preserve that history. At the opening, the Congressman was joined by Jennifer Raah, President of Hunter College, Félix Matos Rodríguez, President of Hostos Community College, New York State Secretary of State Cesar Perales, and Assembly member Roberto Ramirez. “I applaud the great work of El Centro, whose contribution to our cultural history has been invaluable,” said Serrano.

Serrano speaking at the opening of El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños

Grant

Humanities Grants

Deadline: January 11, 2012

The National Endowment for the Humanities recently announced the availability of grants for public humanities projects that improve people's understanding of American history, culture and identity. The program aims to fund projects that use a variety of formats to engage the public and may include museum exhibitions, websites, and discussions, among other approaches. Funding is available both for projects that are ready to be implemented and for those that are still in the planning stages. Non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, state, local, and tribal governments are encouraged to apply.

For more information about this grant please visit the National Endowment for the Humanities' website.

For more information about other federal grants please visit grants.gov.