My friend...
Here's a quick update on what I've been working on during a busy few weeks in Washington, DC, Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn...
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Last week I introduced my first bill, H.R.1356, the Resident Toll Commuter Relief Act, legislation that would return extra revenue generated from two-way tolling to the residents of Staten Island and Brooklyn in the form of lower tolls, rebates and credits.
One year ago, my predecessor Rep. Max Rose was in a position to negotiate a fair deal for us but instead chose to let the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) pocket an extra $12 to $15 million in revenue, putting more of a toll burden on our residents.
As I said one year ago when he passed this law, the MTA would further seek to increase our tolls. They've done just that despite this extra revenue and the millions they've received in COVID-relief aid.
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My act rights the wrong of my predecessor's bad deal and returns extra revenue to the hardworking toll payers in our community. This money should go back to YOU, not into the MTA's black hole. I'm not going to stop fighting until I get your money back. |
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Watch my floor speech exposing the wasteful spending in Speaker Pelosi's $1.9 trillion so-called "relief bill."
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I also wrote to Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo asking them for a commitment to not raise income taxes and the property tax levy if they receive federal aid and use a portion of the funds to stop the toll increases and provide relief to the small businesses they shut down. So far, my calls have gone unanswered, but I’ll keep pushing.
Click HERE to read my letters.
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I've seen firsthand the damage Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio's arbitrary stay-at-home orders and closure mandates have caused. More than one in six restaurants (110,000) have permanently closed across the country, including 1,300 restaurants and bars in New York City. These closures have left more than 2.3 million food service professionals without a job, with 372,000 jobs lost in December alone.
This is why I've co-sponsored the RESTAURANTS Act, legislation that would establish a $120 billion restaurant revitalization fund, providing grants to small food service and drinking establishments. I'm proud to have led the effort to push Governor Cuomo to reopen indoor dining and will continue to do what I can to support these small businesses that were forced to shut down due to no fault of their own.
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I also cosponsored Rep. Ashley Hinson's (R-IA) Reopen Schools Act, legislation that would force the immediate reopening of in-person learning in schools across the country and take away federal relief funding specifically allocated for reopening if they do not.
In December, Congress allocated $54.3 billion in federal funds to K-12 schools to help them safely reopen and cover costs including measures to improve air quality in schools and train staff on proper sanitation practices, including $4 billion for New York State.
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I was named to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which is responsible for examining a number of issues including the use of taxpayer funds for relief programs and the economic impact of the pandemic on individuals, communities, small businesses, health care providers, States, and local government entities.
Over the past year, I’ve been at the forefront fighting to help our restaurants and small businesses recover and calling for justice for the families of loved ones lost in nursing homes. As we continue to help struggling Americans and small businesses holding on by a thread, it is imperative that relief funds are spent appropriately and actually get to the people. Congress must come together to pass tailored legislation that expands vaccine manufacturing and distribution, reopens our schools and helps get Americans back to work.
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I was named Ranking Member of the newly formed Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact, which oversees American tax dollars being sent abroad and membership in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
I intend to use this subcommittee to advocate for transparency, accountability and ethical practices within our international organizations and private-sector partners to ensure taxpayer dollars sent overseas are spent responsibly.
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In light of these accusations, I joined every member of New York's Republican delegation in sending a letter to Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson requesting the Department of Justice immediately issue subpoenas for Governor Cuomo, the Secretary to the Governor, the New York State Commissioner of Health, and their staff on all documentation and communications related to their nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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DeRosa's admission of a coverup proves what we've known all along; Governor Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) made a calculated political decision to avoid answering questions and being the subject of legal investigations. The Governor has abused his powers and instead of continuing to spread misinformation, he should immediately resign. The Department of Justice should hold Governor Cuomo and his administration accountable so justice can be served for the thousands of families who lost loved ones.
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Sadly, New York State neglected to include some areas of our community in its vaccine distribution and administration plans. Because of this, my office worked closely with Rite Aid and Walgreens pharmacies to expand the number of administration sites across Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn to ensure residents have access to a vaccine at a convenient location.
There's still more work to be done to expand access to the vaccine, but we're making steps in the right direction as more vaccine doses become available. I'll continue to other opportunities to work with our retail pharmacy partners.
Click HERE to see if you're eligible to receive a vaccine in Phase 1a or 1b.
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Malliotakis: Cuomo and de Blasio can’t have their cake and eat it, too |
As a new Member of Congress, President Biden’s current $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package puts me in a quandary. While there are many components of the bill that I support, like providing aid to restaurants and small businesses that were mandated to close and providing assistance for the unemployed, and returning taxpayer money to citizens in the form of a “stimulus” check, it is in no way tailored to the specific needs of our nation or its struggling citizens. |
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Rep. Malliotakis discusses pandemic priorities as she is appointed to COVID-19 Crisis subcommittee |
“As we look to continue to help struggling Americans and small businesses holding on by a thread, it is imperative that relief funds are spent appropriately and actually get to the people. Congress must come together to pass tailored legislation that expands vaccine manufacturing and distribution, reopens our schools and helps get Americans back to work,” Malliotakis said. |
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Rep. Malliotakis introduces first bill, aiming to lower tolls for Staten Islanders |
The borough’s new congressional representative has introduced her first bill, legislation aimed at lowering tolls for Staten Islanders using money generated through split tolling.
On Friday, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) introduced the Resident Toll Commuter Relief Act, a bill that, if passed, would require agencies like the MTA to use any additional revenue generated through split tolling to provide lower tolls or fund rebates for residents on both sides of the bridge.
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Freedom: A force to be reckoned with |
Rep. Carlos Gimenez was born in Cuba, coming to the United States with his family when he was 6 years old. The families of both Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and María Elvira Salazar fled Cuba in search of better lives and greater economic opportunity. Rep. Victoria Spartz was born in Ukraine under Soviet rule and emigrated to America solo at the age of 21. We’ve all seen the destruction caused by socialism. That’s why Americans elected us to uphold the freedom we love and to fight against the socialism that threatens it.
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Washington DC Office
417 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3371
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Staten Island Office
1911 Richmond Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 568-2870
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Brooklyn Office
7716 Third Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11209
(718) 306-1620
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