The Serrano Report, Vol. X, #4

On Capitol Hill

Serrano Defends Voting Rights Act

As the Supreme Court met this week to hear a case on the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Congressman Serrano said the law remains "deeply important" and "clearly constitutional." Serrano called the case against the landmark civil rights law out of touch with the realities of voting in America.

"I am confident the Supreme Court will agree with those of us in Congress who reauthorized the Voting Rights Act in 2006. Back then, we found that there is still a deep and abiding need for monitoring of fair voting access in certain areas of the nation, including in the Bronx,” said Congressman Serrano. “Congress extended this law with a great deal of thought, input, and scrutiny. We felt then, and continue to believe, that without this law many people would see serious infringement on their constitutional right to free and unfettered access to voting. Thus far the courts who have heard this legal challenge have stated that Congress acted properly under the 14th and 15th Amendments, and upheld the VRA.  I believe that they saw the important constitutional imperative that Congress has to ensure voting access.

"The Voting Rights Act has been our most successful pieces of civil rights legislation, but sadly, there are still places in our nation where the right to vote is not assured without intervention. I deeply wish that the VRA was unnecessary, but because of the problems that have been documented, we must continue to provide proactive protection for voting access. Voting is a fundamental right in our democracy and we must do everything in our power to protect it. Section 5 of the VRA does just that and deserves to stand."

Serrano with Congressman and Civil Rights icon John Lewis in front of the Supreme Court

Serrano Calls for Sequester Remedy

As the government faced the prospect of devastating mandatory cuts this week, Congressman Serrano called on Republicans in Congress to negotiate a compromise to avoid the sequester. However, Congress was unable to come to an agreement and the cuts will go into effect today. Serrano laid out some of the effects the cuts would have on New York State if the sequester continues forward and called them "unwise" and "deeply damaging."

"The dire consequences of the sequester mechanism were enacted to bring about a reasonable deficit reduction compromise,” said Congressman Serrano. “President Obama only agreed to the cuts in an effort to push a more balanced solution to deficit reduction, and to counter the Republicans’ refusal to raise the debt ceiling which was holding the economy hostage at the time.

"Time and again Democrats, led by President Obama, have offered balanced, reasonable deficit reduction plans only to see Republicans refuse to compromise. The other side has offered nothing but unpalatable and severe cuts. And now we see the same attitude as we face a series of unwise reductions that will hamstring our economy and harm our working families. The time has come for Republicans of courage to stare down the extremists in their ranks and begin a good faith negotiation which leads to a balanced deficit reduction package.

"I voted against the sequester for a variety reasons, but mostly because of the dire consequences that I saw in the spending cuts that it proposed for social services. Then, as now, I worried for the working families who count on a functioning government that helps them in a variety of ways. Now I’ve seen the effects that the cuts will have on New York State alone, and I must say that it will severely impact communities from the one I represent in the Bronx to those far Upstate. It is a terrible public policy and must be undone."

Read more about the impact on New York

Serrano Applauds Passage of Violence Against Women Act

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed S. 47, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 286-138.  Congressman Serrano voted in favor of the legislation, which extended and expanded protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Serrano also voted against a Republican alternative, which would have excluded important programs for immigrant and LGBT communities.

"This legislation provides the resources to prevent and respond to domestic violence and other crimes against women," said Serrano. "It also expands these protections to particularly vulnerable populations like immigrant, LGBT, and native communities.

“This bill is a vital tool for law enforcement, the courts, service providers,  and for our society as a whole. Our communities are only as safe as we make them, and tolerating violence in any form against our sisters, our neighbors, our aunts or any woman is not acceptable. I was proud to vote for this legislation today.”

The bill has already passed the Senate, and now moves on to the President for his signature.

In the Bronx

Serrano Joins YMCA to Fight Diabetes

Last week, Congressman Serrano joined NYC Councilmember Annabel Palma and representatives from the YMCA at the Glebe Senior Center to announce the expansion of an innovative Diabetes Prevention Program. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program currently operates city-wide and has recently expanded to include Medicare recipients, making it accessible to thousands of seniors in the area.

Congressman Serrano lauded the YMCA’s efforts in preventative health programming: "I'm pleased to join the YMCA in their efforts to provide seniors with the services needed to deal with this very serious health issue. There needs to be emphasis on healthcare prevention programs in our community. Education and awareness are crucial aspects of preventing diabetes, and I am thrilled to see such important work being done on a disease that affects so many people in our community."

Serrano at the diabetes event with Jack Lund, CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York (second from left), Sharlene Brown, Executive Director of the Bronx YMCA (in front of the banner), Councilmember Annabel Palma (to the right of the banner), and Eliezer Rodriguez, Chairman of the Board of Managers for the Bronx YMCA (far right)

Grant

Grant to Help Reduce Violence

Deadline: April 22, 2013

The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention recently announced the availability of funding to help reduce violence in communities around the country. This program encourages the replication of successful multi-disciplinary, community-wide approaches to reducing violence. State, territorial, and local governments are encouraged to apply.

Please view the announcement (PDF) on the OJJDP's website for more information.

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