The Serrano Report, Volume XI, #19
On Capitol Hill
Serrano Opposes Border Supplemental, Changes to DACA
Today, Congressman Serrano spoke out against Republican attempts to pass a woefully underfunded bill to address the humanitarian crisis on the border, and to roll back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“Shame on the Republican Party for attempting to force through harmful changes to our immigration law instead of adequately addressing this humanitarian crisis,” said Congressman José E. Serrano. “We need an urgent and comprehensive response to the crisis at the border, and the supplemental legislation fails in that regard. By cutting the President's request by more than $3 billion, this proposal ensures we will have to address these same problems just two months from now.
"I am also particularly troubled by what the majority chose to remove from the funding bill. The bill does not provide the resources needed to house, care for, and provide assistance to the unaccompanied minors crossing our borders. For instance, within the Department of Justice, there is no funding in the bill to expand the Legal Orientation Program to help adults and guardians of children in the immigration system understand the adjudication process. Additionally, there is no funding to help provide legal representation to children in immigration proceedings, many of whom may have legitimate claims to stay in this country that they are currently unaware of. There are many more troubling omissions throughout this bill.
"Even worse, however, are the extremely harmful efforts to change our immigration laws during this emergency. This includes an effort to roll back the successful and much needed DACA program, as well as an effort change a law meant to protect trafficking victims. It is astounding to me that instead of attempting to help immigrants, the Republicans are once again attempting to drive people who contribute so much to this country back into the shadows. I would note that Republicans have spent most of the past two years avoiding any discussion of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) in the House of Representatives, and they are yet again avoiding the issue. Had we enacted CIR, we would already have the resources in place to address this crisis. Instead of a piecemeal debate of small, hurtful changes to our immigration law, the fact of the matter is that we need to address immigration reform in a comprehensive manner. This crisis just underscores that need."
Serrano Introduces Legislation to Reform USPS Sale of Historic Properties
Yesterday, Congressman Serrano introduced legislation that will reform the way the Postal Service goes about selling their properties, and implement expert recommendations to protect historic post offices that are on the National Register of Historic Places.
"The Postal Service currently sells their properties in a process that is not open, transparent, or consistent with their obligations under the law," said Congressman José E. Serrano. "In some cases, their actions endanger historic artwork and buildings. This legislation ends these problematic practices and creates protections that will ensure that the public is informed when the Postal Service attempts to sell property in their areas, and that historic public properties are protected if sold into the private sector."
The legislation mandates several reforms to the way the Postal Service sells properties, including:
- Requiring increased public notice of potential sales and closures, and new public meeting requirements.
- Giving federal, state, and local governments the right of first refusal on the sale of any postal property.
- Banning potential conflicts of interest in the sales process.
- Putting a moratorium on the sale of historic post offices until the requirements of the bill are put in place.
- Mandating that the Postal Service may not consider the sale, or enter into any agreement to sell, of a historic postal property without engaging in a Section 106 historic preservation analysis.
- Requiring that a federal preservation officer be consulted before any decisions to sell a historic postal facility are made.
- Developing training procedures at the USPS to ensure that Postal Service employees are trained on the requirements that go along with the potential sale of historic postal facility.
- Creating a USPS policy to allow leasing as an alternative to selling historic postal facilities.
- Creating a model historic property covenant in order to ensure that historic facilities are protected if sold.
- Rolling back a problematic rule that would allow the Postal Service to skirt NEPA regulations.
"Just three months ago, the Postal Service received two reports that provided them with numerous common sense reforms to protect historic post offices. Unfortunately, the Postal Service has summarily rejected many of these recommendations. This bill will codify most of the suggested changes to USPS historic preservation policies, and ensure that no more historic buildings are sold unless they conform with these increased protections. The Postal Service has a duty to act responsibly when they decide to sell postal properties, and unfortunately, we have seen far too many cases where they have not done so. This bill will change that, and will make certain that the Postal Service operates in a transparent and accountable manner going forward."
Serrano Votes to Improve Veterans’ Access to Healthcare
On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano voted in favor of the conference report for H.R. 3230, the Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act. The bill puts in place many reforms to improve veterans' timely access to quality healthcare. The agreement allows veterans to obtain care at non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities if they live more than 40 miles away from a VA clinic or cannot get an appointment at a VA hospital within thirty days. In addition, the agreement gives authority to the VA to hire more doctors and nurses in order to reduce wait times, and authorizes leases for the opening of 27 new VA health facilities.
In addition to increasing access to healthcare, the agreement also increases accountability at the VA by authorizing the VA Secretary to fire or demote Senior Executive Service employees based on misconduct or unsatisfactory performance. Finally, the agreement also provides $10 billion to pay for healthcare at non-VA facilities and $5 billion for the hiring of more doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The conference report passed the House by a 420-5 vote and the Senate by a 91-3 vote.
Serrano Meets with NYC Students
On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano met with high school students from New York City who are a part of the Close Up Foundation. The foundation works in collaboration with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) R2L NextGen Program to provide students with the opportunity to come to Washington, DC to learn about their federal government and meet Members of Congress. “It is always a pleasure to meet hard-working students from New York City,” said Congressman Serrano. “I enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with these students and explain the work I do here in Congress. I am proud to have these students represent the Bronx and New York City.”
Serrano was pleased to welcome and congratulate a student from New York's 15th Congressional District, Kiara Rodriguez, who attends the Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists.
Serrano with Nicolas Wulff, Hillary Rivero, Felix Hernandez, Kiara Rodriguez, Cesar Nuñez, and Enedina Maya
Grant Announcement
Fair Housing Initiative Program
Deadline: August 25, 2014
The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) provides funding to fair housing organizations and other non-profits that assist individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination. Currently FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations through competitive grants under three initiatives to carry out enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices and inform individuals of their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. The Initiatives are: the Fair Housing Organization Initiative, Private Enforcement Initiative and the Education and Outreach Initiative. HUD will award grants/cooperative agreements under each of these program initiatives.
Please follow this link for more information: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail/nofa14/fhip. For more information about 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.