Lawmakers React To Senate’s Vote Allowing States To Withhold Funding To Planned Parenthood
U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led several elected officials in denouncing Vice President Mike Pence rare tie-breaking Senate vote on a resolution to withhold federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
“The resolution would overturn a federal regulation that prohibits states from discriminating against family planning health care providers and denying them federal funding. Family planning health centers provide primary, preventive, and reproductive health care services to millions of American women,” said Gillibrand.
“This bill would permit discrimination against family planning health care providers, who provide primary, preventive, and reproductive health care services to millions of women across the country. It would allow states to take away federal funding from family planning clinics, and make it much harder for millions of American women to meet with their health care providers and access basic care. And I am struggling to understand why, amid all of the problems we have to solve here in this country and around the world, why this Congress seems to have such a singular fixation on controlling women’s access to basic health care. This legislation is so far out of touch with the actual needs of our constituents,” said Gillibrand on the Senate floor.
KCP will post the full video of Gillibrand’s remarks on the issue later today.
Governor Andrew Cuomo called the vote “repugnant.”
“By advancing this measure, Vice President Pence and Republicans in Congress turned their backs on millions of women across the country and jeopardized their freedom, health, and future. New York will not let the federal government’s backward mentality stand in the way of women receiving the critical health services they are entitled to by law. New York will continue to be a champion for women and ensure that their rights are protected from ignorant and reckless decisions in Washington,” he said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the GOP’s anti-woman agenda couldn’t be clearer and Vice President Pence has crowned himself its leader.
“Fresh off of yesterday’s meeting on women’s issues, Vice President Pence cast a tie-breaking vote to allow the Senate to gut funding for women’s healthcare and Planned Parenthood. New York City stands with women and will safeguard the breast exams, cancer screenings, birth control and family planning they need, while proactively pushing back against the Republican anti-woman agenda,” he said.
Nadler Announces More Than $1.1 million In NEH Funding
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-Western Brooklyn, Manhattan) NY-10) yesterday announced more than $1.1 million in federal funding, provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), for 9 New York institutions and individuals, including New York University, the CUNY Research Foundation, and the New York Historical Society.
The funding will support a range of projects in New York which make important contributions to the city’s history and culture and include publications, exhibitions, and productions that make the humanities more accessible to the public.
“I am very proud of these brilliant individuals and organizations. They have helped New York City become a world renowned center for arts and culture,” said Nadler. “However, the NEH faces a serious threat to its funding in President Trump’s latest budget. The president has proposed completely eliminating all funding for the NEH, jeopardizing thousands of programs that have enriched and shaped millions of American lives. We cannot allow this to happen. Not only will defunding these vital programs have an enormous impact on our society, but will irrevocably harm the ability of future generations to understand current American culture. As a country, it is imperative we continue to provide robust funding to the artists, museums, and cultural organizations that preserve and protect our cultural heritage while expanding the boundaries of human knowledge ever further.”
The National Endowment for the Humanities, created by Congress in 1965, supports “scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future.” The NEH funds research and education in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by awarding highly competitive grants to institutions, organizations and individuals across the United States.
Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at www.neh.gov.
Cumbo Calls On De Blasio To Repurpose Crown Heights Building As Low-Income Housing
City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) today will stand with residents and local elected officials to urge Mayor Bill de Blasio to repurpose 267 Rogers Avenue as permanent, low-income housing.
“From Fort Greene to Crown Heights, the residents of the 35th Council District have been displaced in record numbers due to rising rents and gentrification. We are calling on the Mayor to reform the city’s approach to end homelessness by fixing the flawed system that has left thousands of families languishing for months and years in dilapidated shelters,” said Cumbo.
The city has slated the new apartment building for the site to house 132 homeless families – one of three homeless sites recently cited for Crown Heights.
A rally and press conference is slated for 11 a.m., today, March 31 at 267 Rogers Avenue in Crown Heights.
Cornegy & Interfaith Medical Center Spotlight On How To Reduce Colon Cancer Deaths In Central Brooklyn
City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) and Interfaith Medical Center tonight will host a colon cancer awareness program for Bed Stuy and Crown Heights residents.
The community-wide effort will include the Brooklyn District Public Health Office Center for Health Equity and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner, Dr. Mary Bassett. Dr. Mohamed Mansour, Interfaith’s GI specialist will be leading the educational discussion. Education is an important first step in the fight to diminish the mortality rate of colon cancer victims.
“Our goal is simple. We want our community to live happy and healthy lives.”, said LaRay Brown, President and CEO of Interfaith Medical Center. She continues, “We don’t just want to treat you when things go wrong. We want to give people in our community the tools, the education, and the means to get ahead of health problems they could be at risk for, like colon cancer.”
Among the lecturers and program leaders, will be Lu-Shawn Thompson, the widow of District Attorney Ken Thompson. The esteemed District Attorney lost a battle to colorectal cancer in 2016 just days after announcing his illness. Her moving testimony will further highlight the importance of early screenings.
“Raising awareness for accessible health services in our communities must be brought to the forefront. Programs like this could save a life by having just one person make an appointment to get screened. That cannot be understated,” said Cornegy Jr
The rate of colon cancer in millennials is on the rise. The American Cancer Society, puts the 5-year relative survival rate of a person with colon cancer caught at Stage 1 at about 92%. Interfaith Medical Center’s program will lead the effort in Central Brooklyn to get ahead on colon cancer with screenings, early detections, and awareness.
The program is slated for between 7-9 p.m., tonight March 31 at Interfaith Medical Center, 1545 Atlantic Avenue on the Bed-Stuy/Crown Heights border.
Treyger, Coney Island Autism Angels ‘Light It Up Blue’
City Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) in partnership with the Coney Island Autism Angels (CIAA) on Sunday will hold their 4th annual Autism Awareness lighting of the iconic Coney Island parachute jump.
This event is part of the “Light It Up Blue” campaign. April is Autism Awareness month and April 2, the date of this year’s event, is actually World Autism Awareness Day. The event brings together families of autistic children and community activists and leaders who advocate for the rights of individuals with autism, while also honoring CIAA for the great work they do in our area.
“I am proud to once again work with Coney Island Autism Angels, a tremendous local organization, to ‘Light It Up Blue’ and raise awareness about autism. CIAA is a wonderful group, and this is about supporting families who deal with autism every day, yet find it in their hearts to help other families in need, whether they are dealing with autism or other challenges. For all of the fine work they do in our community, we want to be a support system for them and raise awareness about their efforts and this great cause,” said Treyger.
The event is slated for between 7-8 p.m., Sunday April 2 at the parachute jump at Steeplechase Plaza (Boardwalk and West 19th Street) in Coney Island.
St. Francis College Students Make A Difference
More than 150 St. Francis College students are volunteering to improve their community at six different sites across Brooklyn tomorrow for The Big Event.
The College’s Make a Difference Club is sponsoring The Big Event, a national movement that college students participate in to show their gratitude and desire to help others.
“As a Franciscan institution, we make it our mission to give back,” said Alissa Catalano, Club Moderator and Donor Relations Associate in the College’s Office of Development. “What better way to spend a Saturday than by spreading our Franciscan spirit throughout Brooklyn.”
Catalano participated in The Big Event when she was in college and thought it would be a perfect fit at St. Francis. The Make a Difference Club ran with the idea, lining up volunteer opportunities for park clean-ups with Brooklyn Community Services and the Red Hook Conservancy as well opportunities with Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Trinity Human Service Center and the Women’s Press Collective. The College will also host a group of children from Resurrection Brooklyn Heights for a day or sports and arts and crafts.
The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a blessing from Fr. Brian Jordan then between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the students will volunteer at the various sites. They include the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Community Services (Two Park Clean-ups), Red Hook Conservancy (Park Clean-up), Resurrection Brooklyn Heights (Children’s sports and arts day @SFC), Trinity Human Service Center and Women’s Press Collective.
