Rose Introduces Bill to Increase Transparency in Executive Branch
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) and U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) introduced the Transparency in Executive Branch Officials’ Finances Act Wednesday as part of their continued efforts to root out corruption in Washington by requiring additional accountability and transparency measures for political appointees and direct family members of the President and Vice President.
“In order to regain the trust of the American people and root out corruption in Washington, we need real transparency and accountability,” Rose said. “The American people are sick and tired of seeing the family members of federal officials in both parties get rich from foreign business and connections. And while that’s not illegal, the American people have the right to know. This will bring much-needed sunlight to the D.C. swamp.”
Rose and Porter’s Transparency in Executive Branch Officials’ Finances Act would expand the existing financial disclosure requirement for all political appointees, such that all appointees, the President, and the Vice President would need to disclose any positions they or any members of their extended families hold with foreign-owned businesses, any intellectual property they own that is protected or enforced by a foreign country, and whether any members of their families have stakes in companies that engage in significant foreign business dealings.
Additionally, to provide the American people full faith that the President, Vice President, and political appointees do not have foreign holdings or income, the legislation would require the President and Vice President to disclose their tax returns for the previous five taxable years and prohibit political appointees from accepting payments from foreign entities.
Lander Reminds Students of Opportunities to Get Involved
City Council Member Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) shared three opportunities for young people to get involved in efforts to build more equitable schools and a healthier environment.
Integrate NYC is organizing a middle school youth council to bring students across District 15 together to talk about their visions for integrated, inclusive and equitable schools. You can hear the students talk about their work together in WNYC’s coverage of the first middle school youth council meeting last month.
These students (and their parents and educators) who are working hard to build inclusive and diverse school communities are core to making the District 15 Diversity Plan a success. If you are a parent, teacher, or friend of a middle schooler who might be interested in joining the Youth Council, you can send them to RSVP here.
The Gowanus Green Team, a paid part-time 3-month environmental stewardship program for current high school sophomores living in and around the Gowanus neighborhood, is recruiting for their 2020 cohort. Throughout the three month program, apprentices will engage in topics such as Gowanus Canal history and ecology, stormwater management, urban forestry, environmental justice, waste management, urban design, and horticulture.
The Gowanus Green Team program, funded in part by my office, is a great learning and employment opportunity for high school sophomores interested in environmental work and careers. There is a preference for low-income youth of color, especially those residing in Gowanus and NYCHA, but everyone is encouraged to apply. Application information can be found here.
This week, young people all around the city are mobilizing for another big action to bring urgency to the climate crisis. This week the United Nations are meeting in Madrid to discuss commitments to reducing emissions and youth all around the world are taking action.
Gather from 12 p.m.- 3 p.m., this Friday, Dec. 6 in Foley Square. To join a local group, RSVP here.
Cornegy Hosts Second Community Baby Shower for New and Expecting Mothers
City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. (D-Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) will host the Second Community Baby Shower in Brooklyn. This event is another effort by Cornegy to support families in the area, and ensure mothers
have access to the resources and support they need to raise happy and healthy families.
Cornegy has an impressive record of legislative and policy victories that include expanding access to lactation resources and spaces, gifted and talented and educational programming, and mental health resources. This event highlights how important community is in rearing a family.
Vendors and resource providers in attendance will include: Healthy Start Brooklyn, By My Side Birth Support Program, Excellence Baby Academy, Fresh Vibes Market, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bed-Stuy WIC Office, Little Essentials
The community baby shower will be held from 11:00 a.m.- 1 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 6 at Restoration Plaza Multi-Purpose Room, 1368 Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy.
U.S. Reps. Clarke and Rose Pass Legislation to End Scam Robocalls
U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, Brownsville Sheepshead Bay) and U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) passed legislation to end one-ring scams in the House of Representatives Wednesday as part of the TRACED Act (S. 151) to stop bad robocalls.
“The jig is up for con artists who have time and time again deceived the American people into answering fraudulent calls that then puts our constituents on the hook for outrageous charges on their phone bills,” Clarke said. “I am proud to have my bill, the ‘Ending One-Ring Scams Act,’ included in the recently-passed TRACED Act to ensure that the American people are protected from these harmful scams.”
When consumers call back a missed robocall call (often unaware it’s a robocall), robocallers can collect fees from cell phone carriers. These incurred fees trickle down to consumers on their cell phone bills. RepYouMail estimates that there were nearly 48 billion robocalls in 2018, a 64 percent increase since 2016. First Orion predicts that 44.6 percent of all calls to mobile phones made in 2019 will be scams.
“Not only are robocalls a pain and nuisance, these low-life scammers prey on seniors and seek to rip us off every single day,” Rose said. “I’m proud to say that by passing this and sending it to the President’s desk to be signed into law, illegal robocallers are being put on notice. This is yet another example of Congress putting aside partisanship and getting something done that will have a real impact on the lives of Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites.”
Clarke’s legislation (H.R. 3264) ensures the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiates a proceeding to protect the called consumers from one-ring scams, considers how it can work with Federal and State law enforcement agencies to address the issue and work with governments of foreign countries.
The bill requires the FCC to consult with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to educate consumers on how to avoid one-ring scams, and publish a report on the status of its work for Congress. The law aims to incentivize voice service providers to stop calls made to perpetrate one-ring scams.
