House Passes Velázquez’s Export Proposal
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed Representative Nydia Velázquez’s (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) bill to help companies in Puerto Rico export their products.
Velázquez’s bill, the Office of Territorial Exporting Act, passed as part of H.R. 4863, the House’s larger bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Since 2015, the Export-Import Bank has provided only a small fraction of financing to businesses on the island. The new bill will create a new office to ensure that exporting businesses can access financial assistance that the Bank offers.
“Following Hurricane Maria and decades of neglect, Puerto Rico is still struggling to get its economy back on its feet,” said Velázquez. “This legislation will promote exports from Puerto Rico and ensure businesses there fully utilize the Export-Import Bank’s assistance.”
Maloney, Thompson Call for Emergency Review of Wolf, Cuccinelli Appointments
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) wrote a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro yesterday, calling on him to investigate the Trump Administration’s appointments of Chad Wolf and Ken Cuccinelli.
Recently, President Donald Trump (R) appointed Chad Wolf and Ken Cuccinelli as Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, respectively. The letter expresses concern that the appointments of both of these individuals may have been illegitimate.
“Recently released documents suggest that the installation of Mr. Wolf as the Acting Secretary may violate the law, as Mr. McAleenan may not have been lawfully serving as Acting Secretary,” reads the letter. “If so, numerous actions taken by both Mr. McAleenan and Mr. Wolf may be invalid, including Mr. Wolf’s designation Wednesday of Ken Cuccinelli as Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Secretary. This designation is the latest attempt to install Mr. Cuccinelli in a senior leadership position at the Department of Homeland Security when the Administration knows that the Senate would not confirm him to that—or any other—position.”
Read the full letter here.
Johnson, Glick to Host Ribbon Cutting for New Historic Street Lighting
Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) and Assembly Member Deborah Glick (D-East Village, West Village) will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new historic street lighting in the West Village.
Earlier this year, Johnson’s office successfully funded the installation of new street lighting on Seventh Avenue South and West 11th and 12th Streets. He and Glick will be joined by the NYC Department of Transportation, Community Board 2, the Seventh Avenue South Alliance and the West 12th Street Block Association as they cut the ribbon on the new lighting.
The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. at McCarthy Square.
Rodriguez to Rally for Drivers’ Rights at City Hall
Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights, Inwood) will be holding a press conference at City Hall today to advocate for the rights of livery drivers.
The press conference will come before a Transportation Committee hearing on saving the livery and corporate black car services sector. Rodriguez will by joined by the NYC Coalition of Livery Drivers and the Livery Base Owners Association.
The event will take place today at 12 p.m. on the steps of City Hall.
