Espaillat Pledges Support for HEROES Act
Last Friday, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) announced support for the House Democrats’ Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
The HEROES Act provides Americans with an additional $3 trillion in coronavirus relief. It includes provisions for another round of stimulus checks, the suspension of payments for federal student loans until September, and $100 billion in rental assistance.
“Our communities, workers and families urgently need more relief to weather the coronavirus crisis,” said Espaillat. “Many of our frontline heroes are even at risk of losing their jobs as they risk their lives to care for us. We must come together to pass the Heroes Act to protect New Yorkers and families in my district and ensure all our frontline heroes have the support they need to continue to save lives and keep our communities safe and healthy.”
The act passed the House later that day in a close 208-199 vote.
Velázquez Presses HHS to Explain Remdesivir Distribution
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) is pressing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on their distribution of “remdesivir”, a drug that has shown promise in treating COVID-19.
In a letter to the Secretary of HSS, Velázquez expressed concern about how the agency is prioritizing distribution. Previously, the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center had been denied the drug, despite being a coronavirus hotspot.
“From the outset, the Trump Administration’s response to the pandemic has been characterized by incompetence and cronyism,” said Velázquez. “Now, we’re hearing some hospitals in coronavirus hotspots, often minority communities, were denied access to this vital drug. We need a fuller accounting from HHS on how this drug is being distributed and to be sure HHS is sending doses directly to hospitals that need it most.”
Read the full letter here.
De Blasio Announces Partnership with CityMD
Yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that the City will be partnering with CityMD to boost its testing capacity.
CityMD will now be offering walk-in diagnostic tests in conjunction with doctor visits at locations citywide. The tests will be free to patients, regardless of insurance coverage.
With this new partnership, the City has increased its testing capacity to 20,000 patients per day.
“Widespread testing remains our best defense against the virus,” said de Blasio. “We are building a massive apparatus to test and trace every case of COVID-19 – bringing us one step closer to safely reopening our city.”
Stringer Hails New York’s Rejection of Williams Pipeline
City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) released a statement following news that the City has cancelled its plans for the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement Pipeline.
The Williams Pipeline, first proposed three years ago, would have carried fracked natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York City. Last Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) officially blocked the project from moving forward.
“I am so proud to have stood alongside a dedicated coalition of climate champions who stood up against this pipeline and demanded an end to the fossil fuel industrial complex,” said Stringer. “Today we celebrate, but tomorrow we get back to fighting for the urgent action that our climate crisis demands. We need to put an end to the unchecked expansion of fracked gas infrastructure that will lock in emissions for years to come, whether it is billions of dollars in investments in our natural gas network, the expansion of liquified natural gas facilities, or doubling down on pipeline infrastructure. We need to build on this momentum and ensure New York City keeps leading the world to a greener future for all.”
