Clarke’s Amendment Protecting Immigrants Gets Passed
U.S. Rep Yvette D. Clarke’s (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) last week saw her amendment regulating the Department of Defense’s (DOD) involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), get passed in the House.
Clarke offered this amendment as a response to the crisis at the border. The amendment prohibits the use of DOD equipment, personnel, and facilities to house or construct housing for any foreign nationals who are in custody of ICE.
“There is an emergency at our Southern border on the account of our bigoted President who has directed Border Patrol agents to house migrants in dangerous and unsafe conditions. We must not allow the Department of Defense to play a role in the dehumanization of our migrant community and is why I included my amendment in the NDAA,” said Clarke.
The NDAA also prevents the use of money for a border wall, prohibits federal funds from being used for any military action against Iran without Congressional authorization, prohibits new transfers into the Guantánamo Bay detention facility, and restricts U.S. assistance of Saudi campaign in Yemen.
Rose’s Bipartisan Fentanyl Sanctions Act Passes House
U.S. Rep Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island), Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) announced last week that the House of Representatives passed their bipartisan Fentanyl Sanctions Act as part of the annual defense bill.
The bipartisan bill, which was included as an amendment to the House and Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), would apply pressure on the Chinese government to honor their commitment to make all fentanyl illegal and provide the United States with more tools and resources to go after illicit traffickers in China, Mexico, and other countries. The legislation will now head to conference committee where both chambers will iron out differences before sending the legislation to the President’s desk for signature.
Specifically, the legislation would require imposition of sanctions on drug manufacturers in China who knowingly provide synthetic opioids to traffickers, transnational criminal organizations like those in Mexico who mix fentanyl with other drugs and traffic them into the U.S. and financial institutions that assist such entities. Waivers would be provided for countries that take sufficient action to implement and enforce regulations on synthetic opioid production.
“Fentanyl and fentanyl-laced heroin is the leading cause of overdoses which is why it’s critical we stop it at the source—and the fact is China is the leading producer of illicit fentanyl and they need to be held accountable,” Rose said. “I’m proud to see that when it comes to protecting our children and communities from deadly fentanyl, politics and partisanship are tossed by the wayside. Getting this passed through in both the House and Senate versions of the defense bill put us in a strong position to get this to the President’s desk and signed into law.”
Adams, Mosley Mourn Death of Figueroa
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Assemblyman Walter Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy) on Friday mourned the death of 32BJ SEIU President Hector Figueroa.
Figueroa died unexpectedly Thursday night. He was 57 years old. Figueroa guided policy positions of the country’s largest building services union with over 175,000 members. Figueroa headed the union since 2012 and is credited with growing its ranks by more than 50,000 members.
“Héctor Figueroa was a giant who contributed immeasurably to our city, state, and country. He was a fierce advocate for the workers he represented and a true champion for all working New Yorkers. During his time at the helm of 32BJ SEIU, he made Brooklyn and New York City fairer and more equitable for working families,” said Adams.
“Héctor was more than a labor leader; he was a trusted friend. Deputy Borough President Lewis-Martin and I send our deepest condolences to his entire family and our brothers and sisters in labor. Let us honor his memory by continuing his mission of fighting for those who have not traditionally had an equal voice, for ensuring everyone can live and work in our society with dignity and respect,” he added.
Mosley called Figueroa was a staunch advocate for hard-working families in New York and across the country.
“He strived to further policies that helped his membership and benefited workers no matter where they called home. I’m proud to have stood by him to accomplish so many of those goals and to have called him a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the members of 32BJ during this difficult time,” said Mosley.
Schumer Takes Grubhub To Task for “Fake” Fees
U. S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is demanding that Grubhub, the nation’s largest food-ordering platform, look into bogus fees and fake websites,on its App.
Schumer is also asking the federal Small Business Administration to provide a full report to Congress on the situation and urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to be ‘at the ready’ to act. Further, Schumer wants the feds to find a way to force the company, not the customers or restaurants, to eat any loss.
Schumer also says Grubhub needs to be more transparent with restaurants and their customers regarding their fee structure and prospecting methods in general. The New York City Hospitality Alliance and the New York State Restaurant Association, along with local restaurant owners joined his call.
“Bogus fees of any kind add up fast—a dollar or two here and there—and before you know it, a big company like Grubhub has millions of dollars they really never earned,” said Schumer. “So, today, I am putting in my own order at Grubhub and asking them to eat any fees they wrongfully charged restaurants or even customers. The bottom line is that the company must take a hard look at their fee structure and prospecting algorithm which they have blamed, in part, for this mess and make a real effort to fix the problem while fully cooperating with the feds. Bogus fees aren’t just a burden to our local restaurants, but it is the everyday New Yorker who can wind up eating the cost when the restaurant they love has no choice but to serve up the added fees on their menu in the form of increased price.”
