The Serrano Report, Volume XI, #16

On Capitol Hill

Serrano Meets with NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano met with the head of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), Shola Olatoye to discuss housing priorities in New York’s 15th Congressional District.  Serrano and Chair Olatoye discussed the Section 8 program, which provides assistance to tenants and landlords; Rental Assistance Demonstration, which provides financing for at-risk public and assisted housing developments; city-wide measures to decrease homelessness;  NYCHA's recently-announced security initiative; and keeping residents in their neighborhoods.  

 

Serrano Votes for Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano supported the passage of H.R. 803,  the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  WIOA reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act, legislation that was originally passed in 1998  to provide a national workforce preparation and employment system.  WIOA maintains the existing workforce system, while also providing necessary reforms. It includes provisions that support state workforce development programs in providing critical services for adults, dislocated workers and youth through state grant programs.  WIOA also supports programs for disconnected youth and provides employment and training for Native Americans, migrant and seasonal farm workers. This reauthorization also strengthens vocational rehabilitation programs to assist in putting individuals with disabilities to work in competitive, integrated employment.  WIOA also expands the eligible pool of young people for Job Corps, raising the maximum age for those eligible from 21 to 24.  H.R. 803 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 415-6. It has passed the Senate and is awaiting President Obama’s signature.

Serrano Attends Press Conference on Unaccompanied Minors Humanitarian Crisis 

Today, Congressman Serrano, along with other Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, called for quick action to address the humanitarian crisis involving unaccompanied minors entering the United States. 

“This is a humanitarian crisis that is placing further stress on our dysfunctional immigration system,” said Congressman Serrano.  “It is a heartbreaking situation that this Congress must address immediately by passing the President’s supplemental appropriations request.  I would note that this crisis is just one more reason to pass comprehensive immigration reform, which would have given us the resources to meet the needs of these children and to treat them with respect under our laws.” 

 

 

Grant Announcement

Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations Grant

Deadline: August 13, 2014. 

The National Endowment for the Humanities is publicizing competitive planning and implementation grants tosupport museum, libraries, historic places, or other organizations in their activities.  Grants support the following formats:  exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues; interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions; and book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; and other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues. Proposed projects might include complementary components that deepen an audiences understanding of a subject: for example, a museum exhibition might be accompanied by a website, mobile app, or discussion programs. Planning grants support the early stages of project development, including consultation with scholars, refinement of humanities themes, preliminary design, testing, and audience evaluation. Implementation grants support final scholarly research and consultation, design development, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public. 

Please follow this link for the full grant announcement: http://www.neh.gov/grants/mlco.  For more information about other federal grants please visit http://www.grants.gov. 

 

 

On Social Media

Serrano Joins Instagram

Congressman Serrano has joined Instagram. Follow him at @RepJoseSerrano for behind-the-scenes pictures of him in the Bronx and on Capitol Hill.