Crowley Criticizes Congressional Republicans For Letting Health Care Programs Expire
Key health care programs lost their funding yesterday and Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, Sunnyside) blamed Republican gridlock.
Among the programs losing funding is the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which cares for 9 million kids, according to Crowley.
“This is unacceptable. Ensuring that children, who would otherwise have no access to comprehensive health care, have the guarantee of coverage should be a bipartisan issue,” Crowley said in a statement. “Extending this critical program must be a top priority when Congress returns to Washington.”
The Community Health Center also lost funding yesterday. That program supports 1,400 health centers across the country and serves 2.2 million New Yorkers, according to Crowley.
“These centers bring health care to communities lacking regular access to doctors, specialists, and clinics,” Crowley said. “It is a stunning failure from congressional Republicans that this program was allowed to expire and must be reauthorized immediately.”
Crowley called on Republicans to extend funding for these programs and the many others that expired yesterday.
“Republicans must commit to bringing the reauthorization legislation for these two critical programs, along with other expiring programs, including the Special Diabetes Program, the Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project, the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Payment Program, and the National Health Service Corps, to the House and Senate floors immediately.”
Dromm Hosts Jackson Heights Street Co-Naming Ceremony For Deceased Principal
City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst) was joined by State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights, Corona) in celebrating Dr. Dolores Beckham late last week by naming 34th Avenue and 80th Street “Dr. Dolores Beckham Way.”
Beckham, who died on October 5, 2016, was the beloved principal at the Joseph Pulitzer School, IS 145, for 17 years. The ceremony took place outside her residence, where she lived for 20 years, and the school.
“Dr. Dolores Beckham was a Jackson Heights icon,” Dromm said. “She was an exemplary educator. Thanks to her visionary leadership, IS 145’s dual language program became one of the best in the city and served as a model for other schools. Dr. Beckham’s hard work and dedication took IS 145 to new heights, and I am pleased to host this co-naming in her honor.”
Koo And Katz Open State-Of-The-Art Playground In Flushing
P.S. 120 in Flushing will enjoy a brand new green playground this week thanks to a grant from Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and City Council Member Peter Koo (D-Flushing, Murray Hill).
The new space, which was ceremoniously opened late last week, features a turf field, a running track, gazebo, basketball hoops, and an outdoor classroom. It is unique in that it was designed by and for the students of P.S. 120.
“We are pleased to cut the ribbon on much anticipated upgrades to P.S. 120Q’s new, state-of-the-art playground,” said Katz. “Mayor de Blasio, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Councilmember Peter Koo, the New York Road Runners and the Trust for Public Land deserve to be commended for their efforts to make the transformation of this playground into a reality for the families of Flushing.”
“This new playground will make sure our kids are given the best space possible to stay active, healthy, and that they are challenged both inside and outside the classroom,” said Koo. “What makes this playground especially unique is that its design came from the hearts and minds of PS 120’s own students and faculty. I’m very proud to have contributed $235,000 in funding to this project so that our kids can have the best infrastructure possible to help them achieve a world class education.”
