Meng Secures Provisions In Reauthorization Of Violence Against Women Act
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park) yesterday secured several measures in the reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which passed the House this week..
VAWA is a 1994 law that seeks to protect women from violence and abuse including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Meng’s provisions, which are designed to assist women in federal prison, include the following:
- Ensuring that parenting classes are made available to prisoners with limited English proficiency
- Directing the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to develop tools that communicate parenting program availability and eligibility criteria to each BOP employee and each pregnant inmate to ensure that all incarcerated women understand the resources available to them
- Ensuring that cultural competency training is included in trauma screening trainings for correctional officers, and all BOP employees including instructors and health care professionals
“The passage of VAWA is critical to our continued efforts to combat violence and abuse against women and I am proud to have voted for it,” said Meng. “I’m also proud to have secured several provisions in the bill that would improve our criminal justice system by ensuring needed resources for women. These resources would also help women re-enter society once they are released from prison. I thank my colleagues for supporting these measures and look forward to VAWA now passing the Senate.”
Van Bramer Hosts 10th Annual Open House
City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside) has announced the lineup for his 10th Annual Spring Open House at his district office.
“We will be celebrating the arrival of spring and honoring incredible women who lead in our community! This event will also give you the chance to see my Sunnyside District Office, meet my staff, and mingle with other members of our community,” wrote Van Bramer in his newsletter.
This year, Van Bramer will be honoring:
Diane Adlam, Program Director of the Woodside Cornerstone
Diana Dumitru, Co-President of P.S. 150Q PTA
Eileen Reilly, Executive Director of the Maspeth Town Hall
Community Center
Madhuri Kommareddi, Distinguished Leader in Public Affairs & Financial Services
Nuala O’Doherty, Queens Community Organizer & Education Advocate
Dr. Sara Angel Guerrero-Rippberger, Deputy Director of Education & Community Engagement at the Museum of the Moving Image
The event is slated for 2-4 p.m., this Saturday, April 13 at Van Bramer’s District Office, 47-01 Queens Boulevard, Suite 205 in Sunnyside. Please RSVP by contacting Nishath Azad at NAzad@council.nyc.gov or 718-383-9566 ext. 1.
Addabbo Looks To Highlight Constituents Stories For Autism Awareness Month
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways), in honor of Autism Awareness Month, wants to hear what autism means to constituents and their families.
Interested parties are encouraged to email the Senator a photo of themselves with a brief description of the photograph by Wednesday, April 10, and he will highlight your story on his Senate webpage and at a location in the district later this month.
“Autism is a disorder that affects approximately 1 in 59 children in the United States, and each of those people has a unique story to be told,” Addabbo said. “Autism affects each person differently, giving them a distinct set of strengths, but also individual challenges they face each day. If we can shine a spotlight on some of our local residents with autism, we can showcase their abilities as well as the struggles they face, and we can end the stigma around autism and learn more about this disorder and our neighbors.”
Please send all photos and stories to addabbo@nysenate.gov.
