Rep. Maloney started her career as an ESL *English as a Second Language) teacher in East Harlem. When her program was cut, her colleagues elected her as their advocate to restore funding - and she succeeded, setting an example that has extended throughout her career, first working with the NYC Department of Education and then as a legislative staffer in Albany. After gaining that experience, in 1982 she ran a long-shot challenge to an incumbent City Council Member in a district that spanned East Harlem, South Bronx, Manhattan Valley, and Carnegie Hill - and she won an improbably upset.
Congresswoman Maloney believes that transformative and progressive policies in police reform and criminal justice are integral to our nation as we move towards a more perfect union.
Throughout her career as an elected official, both in Congress and on New York’s City Council, she has fought for and supported critical pieces of legislation that would address antiquated criminal justice and policing laws. With people all across the country protesting and marching to condemn police violence, demand justice, and declare unequivocally that Black Lives Matter, Congress must do more than decry police brutality, racial profiling, and the excessive use of force – it must act.
Work as Chair of the Oversight Committee
As Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Congresswoman Maloney is working to hold the Trump Administration accountable for its actions. This includes investigations into the deployment of federal troops and law enforcement officers in cities including Washington, DC and Portland, OR and the use of facial recognition and cell phone data to track protestors.
Selected Current Legislative Efforts
The Congresswoman is supporting transformative legislation on the state and federal level to increase police accountability and enact needed changes to our criminal justice system. This includes, but is not limited to, key pieces of legislation listed below.
George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020
The bill, led by Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Karen Bass, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, and Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, is a comprehensive legislative package that includes provisions from other stand-alone bill that I am also cosponsoring. This bill contains reforms pertaining to qualified immunity, transparency mandates, no knock warrant restrictions, and police training, among other changes. The bill was passed by the House on June 25, 2020 by a bipartisan vote of 236-181. You can read a full summary of the bill here.
H.R.7143 - To repeal the military surplus program under title 10, United States Code
This bill, sponsored by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez would eliminate the program that allows for the transfer of military-grade weapons and equipment to local and state police forces. This “1033” program was created in the early 1990s, and has since sent rifles, armored personnel carriers, and other instruments of war to our communities, militarizing police forces across the nation. There is no justification for using instruments of war on our own citizens.
H.R.4408 - Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2019
Introduced by Democratic Caucus Chair Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, H.R. 4408 will bar the use of chokeholds by law enforcement officers and amend/clarify current existing law to make the practice a criminal offense.
H.R. 1636 - The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act of 2019
This proposal from Congresswoman Frederica Wilson would create a bipartisan commission to study societal issues and other challenges that specifically affect Black males and recommend solutions. It’s senate companion, S. 2163, was passed by both the House and Senate in July 2020.
H.R. 4359 – Support Police Accountability by Raising Standard for Use of Excessive Force (PEACE) Act
The PEACE Act, introduced by Congressmen Lacy Clay and Ro Khanna, would mandate that law enforcement’s use of force be a last resort. This proposal requires officers to first exhaust de-escalation techniques and restricts the use of deadly force unless needed to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the officer or others.
Caucus on Black Women and Girls Resolution Memorializing Black Women Victims of Police Brutality
Too often, Black women victims of police brutality are overlooked. In addition to recognizing this wrong, this resolution states that any legislation passed by the House to remedy racial inequality in our country, especially in the criminal justice system, must also address concerns for Black women. The resolution also calls for the creation of a commission to study the status of black women and girls, including the social and systemic barriers they uniquely face and the remedies and reforms that we must enact to create more fair and equal treatment. You can read the full resolution here.
H.R. 1684: Journalist Protection Act
We’ve all seen the assaults and attacks on journalists around the country (and world) under the Trump Administration, most recently during peaceful protests. This bill, authored by Congressman Eric Swalwell, would make the assault of a journalist a federal crime.
Stop Using Military Force Against Civilians Act
Sponsored by Congressman David Cicilline, this bill would limit Presidential authority to deploy the Armed Forces to states so that our troops are not used as a vehicle to harm civilians or end lawful protests.
Limitations on the Insurrection Act Including Mechanisms for Invoking its Termination (LIMIT) Act
During the recent peaceful protests against police brutality and systemic racism, President Trump made the troubling suggestion that he would invoke the Insurrection Act, a move that would activate the military against U.S. citizens.
This bill, introduced by Congressman Anthony Brown, would prevent a President’s abuse of the Insurrection Act.
Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act
Led by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, this bill would hold federal law enforcement agencies accountable for the failure to provide medical care to those in their custody who need it. The bill also mandates training for officers to effectively respond to medical distress and directs the inspectors general of each agency that employs federal officers to refer violations of the law to the DOJ for prosecution.
H.R. 7191, Workforce Justice Act
In 2019, Congresswoman Maloney able to follow through on former Chairman Elijah Cummings’s Fair Chance Act by getting it signed into law by including it in the NDAA. This law “bans the box” for federal agencies and contractors. The Workforce Justice Act, led by Congressman Trone, builds on this progress by requiring states to ban private employers from asking about the criminal history of a job applicant prior to the extension of a conditional offer of employment. If states do not institute this new policy within 3 years, they would become ineligible for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG).
H.R. 4339, End Racial Profiling Act of 2019
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s proposal would create a ban on racial profiling, enforceable by declaratory or injunctive relief. The bill also mandates training on racial profiling issues be part of all Federal law enforcement training and the collection of data on all routine or spontaneous investigatory activities that is to be submitted through a standardized form to the Department of Justice. Additionally, the bill authorizes the DOJ to provide grants for the development and implementation of best policing practices, such as early warning systems, technology integration, and other management protocols that discourage profiling. It also increases transparency and accountable by requiring the Attorney General to provide periodic reports assessing any ongoing discriminatory profiling practices.
Right to Protect Real Objectors Taking Exception to Systemic Transgressions (PROTEST) Act
This bill, introduced by Congresswoman Alma Adams, will protect Americans who are exercising their right to protest from overly hostile conduct from law enforcement. It criminalizes the use of riot control agents, including tear gas, without a clear, audible warning given beforehand and a reasonable amount of time to disperse. Troops are banned from deploying tear gas and chemical agents against enemies in war, and yet we are still using it here at home - that is unacceptable and must end.
Protect our Protestors Act
This legislation, led by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, would criminalize police violence against those exercising their constitutional rights to peacefully protest. As we have seen during the protests in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmed Arbery police have used overly aggressive and violent tactics to disperse those protesting these very tactics. This bill will ensure that any officer who kills or causes bodily harm to those peacefully protesting are held responsible and charged with federal crimes.
H.R. 2835; Deterring Undue Enforcement by Protecting Rights From Excessive Searches and Seizures Act of 2019
This bipartisan bill, led by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, seeks to combat the excessive seizure of personal property by the police, which disproportionately is carried out against people of color during the implementing of policies like Stop and Frisk. This bill would limit federal law enforcement’s ability to monetize these stops by preventing the seizure of personal property and therefore disincentivize officers from making these stops in the first place.
Letter: Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding concerns around white supremacist involvement in law enforcement
Led by Congressman Norma Torres, this letter to the DOJ and FBI requests that they open an investigation into the involvement of white supremacists in law enforcement and calls for the release of the full contents of the 2006 assessment entitled, “White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement” to the public, for an updated assessment on white supremacist infiltration in law enforcement, and a report on the actions DOJ and the FBI have taken to address concerns regarding white supremacist presence in law enforcement. You can read the full letter here.
Highlighted Legislative History:
Local Efforts
Congresswoman Maloney is supporting various local proposals to address these issues at home.
NYS: End Police Secrecy - Repeal 50-a (A2513-O’Donnell/S3695-Bailey)
These measures from Assemblymember Daniel J. O’Donnell and State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey would repeal 50-a, a statute that has been abused to decrease transparency and hide police misconduct. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Police must be accountable to the communities they serve.
Repeal Walking While Trans Ban (A00654-Paulin /S02253-Hoylman)
These measures from Assemblymember Paulin and Senator Hoylman would repeal New York’s loitering for the purposes of prostitution law, or “walking while trans ban,” which essentially allows law enforcement to stop-and-frisk trans women of color. The law is unevenly and discriminatorily applied, and its repeal is necessary to protect against harmful arrests.
Investigating New York Police Department Misconduct
Congresswoman Maloney is supporting New York State Attorney General Leticia James’s investigation of NYPD’s misconduct against peaceful protesters. She vehemently opposes NYPD’s use of violence, and was appalled to see the very protestors speaking out against police violence, fall victim to it.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul is collecting information from U.S. Citizens who may need assistance returning to the United States due to the security situation in Afghanistan. The information collected in this form will only be used by the U.S. Embassy for the purpose of facilitating return travel to the United States: U.S Embassy Kabul - Form
P-2: if you or someone you know worked as a contractor with media, NGOs, etc. Check to see if you're eligible: https://www.state.gov/u-s-refugee-admissions-program-priority-2-designation-for-afghan-nationals/
If you are eligible, you may apply through the link here: https://www.wrapsnet.org/siv-iraqi-syrian-afghan-p2/
Additional resources for New Yorkers here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/state-new-york-programs-and-services-locality
As we shelter in place here in New York, I am working hard to bring resources home to our city and state and make sure that every New Yorker has the support they need to stay safe and healthy. For a list of vaccination sites in NY-12, click here.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
As Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, I am conducting oversight of our nation’s preparedness for, and response to, the outbreak. The Committee’s top priority is the health and safety of the American people.
On March 11 and 12, I held a hearing to examine the Trump Administration’s preparedness for and initial response to the COVID-19 crisis. During this hearing, Dr. Fauci testified that Americans should expect “more cases and things will get worse than they are right now.” It was after this hearing that the NBA cancelled its season, that the NCAA cancelled March Madness, and that numerous other businesses began to shut down. Many refer to this testimony and hearing as a turning point.
You can read more about the Committee’s work here.
Forward Thinking: Affordable & Available Testing, Treatment, and Immunization
Keeping Medication and Vaccines Affordable
On April 2, I called on all members of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to commit to setting affordable prices for any medications that are or may be used to prevent or treat coronavirus, including vaccines. In order to end the ongoing coronavirus crisis, every American—regardless of income or insurance status—must be able to afford any drug that is effective in preventing or treating the virus. It would be irresponsible and a danger to our entire nation to prevent any American from obtaining treatment because of the costs they may face. You can read my full letter to PhRMA here and more about my work on healthcare in general here.
Getting the FDA to Change Its Discriminatory Blood Donation Policy
On April 1, I joined with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately revise its policy of turning away blood donations from gay and bisexual men in light of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the nation’s blood supply. The following day, the FDA did just that. While shortening the deferral period for gay and bisexual men is a good first step, it is critical that FDA move toward assessing potential donors by individual risk, rather than blanket deferral. A policy that fails to do this perpetuates stigma and falls short of ensuring that every person who can safely donate blood in the United States has the opportunity to do so.
On May 7, I was joined by Representatives Jamie Raskin, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Katie Porter, and Deb Haaland in urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow men who have sex with men (MSM) and who have recovered from coronavirus to safely donate plasma in support of treatment research efforts. Shortening the MSM deferral period was a good first step. However, FDA’s policy continues to exclude gay and bisexual men who can safely donate blood and blood products—including those who have recovered from coronavirus and can safely donate plasma to support treatment research efforts.
You read the April 1 letter here and the May 7 letter here.
FEMA Major Disaster Declaration
On Friday March 20, I hosted a telephone briefing for the Oversight Committee with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter T. Gaynor on the Administration’s preparation for, and response to, the coronavirus crisis. During this briefing, when I pressed the director about a Major Disaster Declaration for New York State, he noted that this declaration was “imminent.” In the midst of a public health epidemic, this Major Disaster Declaration brought NYS one step closer to unlocking billions of dollars in direct aid for services and medical supplies that would save lives and protect public health. Read more here.
Legislation Introduced:
Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act
Modeled after the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), this new fund created by the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act would provide compensation for injuries to any individual, or their families, who are deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform services and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. On September 11th, it was the firefighters and officers who ran into the burning buildings to save lives. Today, it is hospital workers – nurses, doctors, EMS, janitorial staff, pharmacists, technicians, and all essential workers. We owe them more than applause at 7pm. In this fight against the Coronavirus, it is the first responders, retail workers, transit workers, grocery store clerks, delivery workers, janitorial staff, sanitation workers, mail carriers, hospitality workers, and federal, state and local employees who are on the frontlines, walking in to the fire every day as they risk their health to make sure we are safe, fed, and healthy. You can read more about this bill here.
Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act
Frontline health workers are delivering care to the sickest patients and putting their own safety at great risk in order to keep doing their jobs, and in return, I believe that we have an obligation to ensure that they are relieved of the debt they incurred to train for this critical work – in graduate degree programs or other professional certification. Health care workers are worrying about their own health and how it will affect their families. They should not have to worry about their financial security after the crisis has passed. That is a burden that we can lift right now. And this bill will do that by forgiving public and private loans associated with their professional education. It will help take care of the people taking care of all of us. You can read more about this bill here.
Stop Overdraft Profiteering During COVID-19 Emergency Act
In late April, I joined with Congressman David Cicilline to introduce the Stop Overdraft Profiteering During COVID-19 Emergency Act to prohibit banks from collecting overdraft fees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill builds on my Overdraft Protection Act of 2019. You can read more about my bill with Rep. Cicilline here and the Overdraft Protection Act of 2019 here.
Pandemic Risk Insurance Act
The coronavirus crisis has caused unprecedented damage to our economy, forcing businesses across the nation to close their doors. While business interruption insurance typically compensates business owners when they need to shut down due to exigent circumstances – like a tornado ripping through Main Street – those policies explicitly exclude pandemics. That is why I am sponsoring the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act, a forward-looking solution that would provide a federal backstop for business interruption insurance that includes coverage for pandemics. This will help relieve some of the economic losses that businesses are suffering, and will protect businesses and our economy from future pandemics.
My bill would require insurance companies to offer business interruption insurance policies — including event cancellation — that include pandemics, and would create a Pandemic Risk Reinsurance Program that will share this burden between insurance companies and the federal government to ensure there is enough funding to cover losses caused by any future pandemics.
Protections for Renters
I am a proud cosponsor of:
I support State Senator Gianaris’s effort to expand the eviction moratorium to a 90-day moratorium on all commercial and residential rent payments as we come to grips with the economic impact of this pandemic. This would track similar emergency proposals enacted by the Governor to allow homeowners to delay mortgage payments for up to 90 days. I also support Assemblyman Joe Lentol and State Senator Brian Kavanaugh’s work to create a rental assistance voucher program for anyone who has been economically impacted by this crisis. I am committed to getting New York State the federal aid it needs to implement these necessary programs.
Standing Up for NYCHA Residents
On April 7, I led members of the New York City Delegation in urging New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman and CEO Gregory Russ to improve the agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, specifically addressing concerns brought forward by NYCHA residents regarding proper cleaning and sanitation and communication with residents. You can read our full letter to the Chairman here.
On April 21, Governor Cuomo announced expanded health care services and testing for NYCHA residents. You can read more here.
Protections for Homeowners
On March 18, 106 Members of Congress joined me in calling for an immediate, nationwide moratorium on all foreclosures and evictions from properties owned, insured, or overseen by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) in light of the developing coronavirus epidemic. All told, these agencies account for more than 63% of all mortgages originated in the United States. This request was granted by the relevant agencies.
Supporting New York City & State Needs
In early March, I led a bipartisan group of New York Delegation members in requesting much needed funding for the MTA in any upcoming relief packages. We were successful in securing much of this funding. You can read our initial request here.
On March 25, I led the entire bipartisan New York State House Delegation in urging Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to send 20,000 ventilators to New York State from the national stockpile. You can read the full request here.
I am also a cosponsor of H.Res.906 a resolution calling on the President to use his authority on the Defense Production Act for the production of medical supplies to meet the critical need and demand during the coronavirus crisis.
Fighting for the Postal Service
In addition to my work as Oversight Chair to support the Postal Service, I joined with my colleagues Representatives Peter King (R-NY), Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Mark Amodei (R-NV) to create the Postal Preservation Caucus. I also led, with Congressman Peter King, a bipartisan New York Delegation request to House and Senate leadership to provide immediate help to the Postal Service. You can read more about the Postal Preservation Caucus here and the letter I led with Rep. King here.
Supporting Non-Profits
New York’s museums provide 61,000 jobs and generate $5.4 billion in annual revenue. This is not an industry we can afford to lose – culturally or financially. Therefore, I led, with Congressman Nadler, New York delegation members in a request to House leadership to include funding to support nonprofit cultural and arts institutions. We were successful in securing key funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. You can read the initial request here.
In a follow up to this initial request, Rep. Nadler and I led a second request on April 28 to House leadership, asking them to provide additional assistance to the country’s museums, libraries, and cultural institutions in the next coronavirus recovery package. The nation’s arts and cultural sector accounts for approximately 4.5% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). You can read this request here.
On April 22, fourteen of my New York Delegation colleagues joined me in urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to expand eligibility parameters of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) so that nonprofits and cultural institutions, regardless of size, can participate in this program. You can read more about this effort here.
Bringing Home New Yorkers Stuck Abroad
Closed borders, movement restrictions, cancelled flights, and mandatory quarantines due to coronavirus severely hindered travel and left many Americans stranded outside of the United States. My office worked with the State Department to bring home more than 65 constituents stuck abroad due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Working to Protect Incarcerated Individuals and Immigrant Detainees
In early May, I joined Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Karen Bass (D-CA) in urging House and Senate leadership to address the needs of incarcerated individuals, returning citizens and those who work in correctional facilities in further relief packages. You can read the full letter here.
In addition to my work with the Oversight Committee in demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the Administration’s treatment of migrant detainees during the coronavirus crisis and urging the release of nonviolent detainee, I am cosponsoring Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s (D-WA) Federal Immigrant Release for Safety and Security (FIRST) Act. This bill would prevent the unnecessary spread of COVID-19 in immigration detention by ensuring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the advisory of public health experts and reduces the population of individuals in immigrant detention facilities.
Other Efforts
In early April, I joined with Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-IA) in urging the Trump Administration to immediately suspend all tariffs on medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE). You can read our full letter to the Administration here.
In late April, I joined with a bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging House leadership to include an increase in funding in the CARES package for programs that mitigate suicide risks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read the full letter here.
In early May, I joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Tammy Baldwin (D-CI) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) on a bicameral letter addressing the need for LGBTQ data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter calls on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fulfill its commitment to its Healthy People 2020 objectives by collection data on sexual orientation and gender identity. You can read the full letter here.
House-Passed Coronavirus Response Packages
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
I was proud to support and vote for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, our second COVID-19 response package, to provide paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and free coronavirus testing to everyone who needs it, to enhance unemployment insurance, to strengthen food security initiatives, and to increase funding for the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). Read more here.
The CARES Act
This package was not perfect - far from it - but it was necessary and essential to get done. This bill included more than $40 billion for New York – not just for the state and city, but directly to our hospitals and healthcare workers, and to our small businesses, particularly and uniquely for employee retention. This was also the package which included the initial direct payments (stimulus checks) for individuals and families and significantly more resources for those who have been laid off or furloughed because of this crisis. Read more about the bill here and my statement for the Congressional Record here.
Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
This bill was a far cry from the insufficient Republican proposal that did not help our hospitals and health workers and left behind many of our most vulnerable small businesses. I am proud of the work done by Congressional Democrats to make this bill a bipartisan deal that follows the path set by the bipartisan CARES Act. You can read more about the bill here and watch and read my full floor speech here.
The Heroes Act
I am very proud that so many priorities of the Committee on Oversight and Reform were included in this bill including funding to ensure that the Postal Service can continue serving the American people through this crisis. In addition, this bill recognizes that Congress has a constitutional responsibility to help ensure a fair and accurate Census and extends key deadlines as a result of the coronavirus crisis while enhancing congressional oversight of Census operations. Also, in response to the Administration fighting oversight tooth and nail, this bill includes protections to promote the independence of Inspectors General and help them hold agencies accountable.
In addition to these Committee victories, this bill will provide $100 billion in total relief to New York State – emergency aid that is desperately needed by the state that is on the frontline of our national fight against coronavirus, with more than $17 billion directly for New York City. The bill also includes critical support for renters, which is especially important in New York; for people who have lost their jobs, the Federal government will pay their rent for them with a $100 billion fund.
While the vaccination process is underway, every New Yorker should continue to follow NYC’s prevention guidance and do your part to stop the spread. Congresswoman Maloney believes that vaccines are safe, effective, and absolutely essential for public health by preventing the suffering and costs of infectious diseases, and has been continually supportive of programs and legislation that would ensure people have access to vaccines both at home and abroad. She has and continues to work with her colleagues to combat misinformation about vaccines and encourages all families to follow the guidance of their doctors.
Getting Your Vaccine
All New Yorkers New Yorkers 12 and older for walk-in vaccinations at state and city run mass vaccination sites on a first come first serve basis. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses, with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. 
You can also use vaccinefinder.org to find out where you can get your shot.
As Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Congresswoman Maloney is working to make sure that any COVID-19 vaccine is developed safely and readily available for everyone nationwide.
Getting Tested
To find the testing site closest to you, click here, text “COVID TEST” to 855-48, or call 212-COVID19. (212-268-4319).
 
Additional Resources
NYC Health's COVID-19 Vaccines Information Hub: Stay up to date about what we know — and what we are still learning — about the vaccines.
NYC's COVID-19 Vaccine Data: Find out how many doses have been reserved, delivered and administered in the city.
Measles Outbreak in NYC
Highlighted Legislative History:
Millions of Americans, including military personnel and civilians, live and work across the world. Although they live overseas, many of these U.S. citizens continue to vote and pay taxes in the United States Whether or not they work for American businesses overseas, they help increase exports of American goods and services because they traditionally buy American goods, sell American goods, and create business opportunities for U.S. companies and workers. Their role in strengthening the U.S. economy, creating jobs in the United States, and extending American influence around the globe is vital to the well-being of our nation.
In the 110th Congress Congresswoman Maloney cofounded the Americans Abroad Caucus, which she now co-chairs with Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Dina Titus (D-NV). The purpose of this bi-partisan caucus is to provide a forum for discussion of the issues that are important to overseas Americans including citizenship, census, voting, banking access, and taxation.
A full list of current members can be found here.
Select Highlights
From 2001 – 2090: The World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
The September 11, 2001 attacks on our country exposed thousands of people to a toxic cocktail at the World Trade Center (WTC), Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash sites.
Following the attack, Congresswoman Maloney began working to establish and fund the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program, which would later develop into the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), and ensuring compensation for first responders and survivors, by reactivating and restructuring the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).
Before these efforts were solidified into law through the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which was signed into law by President Obama on January 2, 2011, Congresswoman Maloney introduced various pieces of legislation and fought for funding each year to provide the health monitoring and compensation these heroes deserve. The 2010 law authorized and funded the WTCHP and VCF through October 2016.
The World Trade Center Health Program was permanently extended, and an additional $4.6 billion was provided to fully fund the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 which was signed into law on December 18, 2015. This authorized the VCF through 2020.
In October of 2018, the Special Master first indicated that she expected the VCF to face a funding shortfall. The Congresswoman immediately introduced HR 7062: Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act to fully fund and make permanent the VCF, the bill did not pass before the end of the 115th Congress.
In February of 2019, the Special Master of the VCF announced that the program would need to start awarding less money to first responders, survivors, and their families in order to make the fund last until 2020.
On February 25, Congresswoman Maloney reintroduced the Never Forget the Heroes Act, HR1327 in the 116th Congress.
On June 11, 2019, the House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on the legislation and then unanimously passed the bill out of committee the very next day.
On July 8, 2019, just five days after NYPD Detective Luis Alvarez’s funeral, the bill’s name was changed to Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.
On July 15, 2019, the House of Representatives passed HR1327 by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 402-12.
On July 23, the bill passed the Senate on a 97-2 vote.
On July 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi held an enrollment ceremony where she signed the bill to send to the President's desk.
It was signed into law on July 29.
Both the World Trade Center Health Program and September 11th Victim Compensation are effectively permanent, with the WTCHP authorized to operate until 2090 and the VCF until 2092.
More details on the Zadroga Act are available here:
Resources for the sick and injured:
Congresswoman Maloney is the proud author and sponsor of the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, which was signed by President Obama on April 29, 2016. The law establishes a commemorative coin program at the U.S. Mint that has the potential to raise an estimated $8.5 million in private funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the highest rated breast cancer organization in the U.S.
Coins went on sale on March 15, 2018 and were sold through December 31, 2018.
This commemorative three-coin program includes the first coin the U.S. Mint will issue in “pink gold,” a unique formula created especially in recognition of the color most closely associated with the fight against breast cancer. The Mint will also produce silver and clad coins with the design unveiled this past October. Surcharges from the coin sales will benefit BCRF to support breast cancer research and cover the costs of the program, no taxpayer dollars will be used. BCRF is the top rated breast cancer research organization in the country, with an A+ rating from Charity Watch and 4 out of 4 stars from Charity Navigator.
Throughout her career Congresswoman Maloney has been a strong supporter of campaign finance reform. She believes those with money should not have greater influence over elections than the average American voter. That is why she is deeply concerned about the Supreme Court’s rulings in Citizens United and McCutcheon, which rolled back important reforms that reigned in the influence of money in politics. In Congress, she is committed to enacting new legislation to reform our campaigns and empower everyday Americans to participate in the political process.
Select Highlights:
Government By the People Act: Congresswoman Maloney is a cosponsor of the Government By the People Act, which would create a fund to match small-dollar contributions to reduce the impact of large donors and Super PACs. This bill provides enhanced matching funds in the final 60 days of a general election for candidates in high cost races, and offers small donors a $25 tax credit to encourage political participation. Thanks to Citizens United and other harmful, recent Supreme Court decisions, many of our country’s campaign finance reforms have been repealed. Congresswoman Maloney believes Congress should act to limit the impact of large campaign donors and help preserve the integrity of our elections.
Opposed to Citizens United Decision: In the famous 2010 Supreme Court case, Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court struck down limits to independent expenditures in federal elections. The decision to allow unlimited independent spending, particularly corporate spending, in campaigns led to the rise of Super PACs, committees that can raise and spend huge sums of money with limited disclosure requirements. Congresswoman Maloney is strongly opposed to this ruling and supports efforts to reverse it. That is why she has cosponsored a resolution in Congress that would amend the Constitution to overturn the Citizens United decision and limit corporate campaign expenditures. Congresswoman Maloney believes the American people have a right to participate in their own government without buying their way in. The Citizens United decision gives big-money special interests undue influence in federal elections over the average American voter.
DISCLOSE Act: In the famous Citizens United Supreme Court case, the court struck down the bank on corporate expenditures in federal elections, but upheld disclosure requirements for groups making independent expenditures in federal elections. To address this issue, Congresswoman Maloney cosponsored the DISCLOSE ACT, which would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and other entities, and for other purposes. The American public deserves to know where these immense campaign contributions are coming from. The Congresswoman remains committed to the transparency of the electoral process despite the ruling in Citizens United, and will continue to work with her colleagues on constructive reforms to our campaign finance system.
McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002: Congresswoman Maloney supported the landmark Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. This bill, signed into law on March 27, 2002, limited the influence of big-money interests in federal elections. The law reduced soft-money lending and massive independent expenditures on political campaigns. It also strengthened disclosure laws to make it easier to find out who is funding political campaigns. Unfortunately, many key provisions in the McCain-Feingold law were overturned by the Supreme Court in the 2010 Citizens United decision.
As the former Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census, Congresswoman Maloney knows the importance of the census and other federal data programs. She fought to ensure that the 2000 and 2010 Census would be fair and accurate, and is working to ensure the 2020 census will be as well. The importance of accurate data cannot be minimized. Decennial census data is used to ensure fair representation and the fair distribution of federal funds. In addition, Congresswoman Maloney is working to defend the American Community Survey and Economic Census and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), which are among the most detailed and important surveys used by the public and private sectors.
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Preserved the SIPP during the Bush administration to ensure fair and thorough census data gathering: Congresswoman Maloney and her fellow colleagues, along with more than 440 social scientists, successfully urged the Bush administration to abandon its plans to eradicate the SIPP in 2007.
Former ranking member on Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census: As the former ranking member of the Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census, Congresswoman Maloney fought to ensure that the 2000 and 2010 Census would be fair and accurate.
Cofounder and Chair of the Census Caucus: Congresswoman Maloney believes Congress needs to play an active role in maintaining accurate data collection for the national censuses. That is why she was a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Census Caucus.
On May 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law landmark credit card reform legislation that Congresswoman Maloney authored. This legislation, Public Law 111-24, ended the most abusive practices of the credit card industry and leveled the playing field between cardholders and credit card companies.
Her work on the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights started in 2007, when she convened the major credit card companies and consumer groups for a roundtable discussion on how to provide better consumer protections. Following this roundtable, she released a series of gold-standard principles that formed the foundation for this legislation. Over the next two years, seven hearings were held in the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee that Congresswoman Maloney chaired in the 110th Congress.
The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights first passed the House of Representatives in September of 2008, but was not considered in the Senate before the close of the 110th Congress. In 2009, at the beginning of the 111th Congress, the Congresswoman reintroduced this legislation along with Chairman Barney Frank and the new Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, Luis Gutierrez.
On April 30, 2009, the House passed this legislation with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 357-70. The Senate took up the bill and passed it, with amendments, by a vote of 90-5 on May 19, 2009. The following day, the House of Representatives agreed with the amendments added by the Senate and sent the bill to the President.
Studies on the CARD ACT:
Findings from the first official CFPB report on the impacts of the CARD Act, from October, 2013, suggested the regulations have saved credit card holders billions of dollars and improved the consumer experience.
A study by the Government Accountability Office from February, 2014, suggested the CARD Act has led credit card companies to significantly curtail their marketing of credit cards to college students.
A study from August, 2014, estimated that the provisions in the CARD Act saved consumers $11.9 billion per year. See a summary of the study here and the full study here.
A study by the CFPB from December, 2015, showed the CARD Act has increased access to credit, lowered costs, and saved consumers $16 billion.
Congresswoman Maloney believes that it is our duty as a society to ensure that the nearly 1 in 5 Americans living with a disability have the protections and resources necessary to be self-sufficient, contributing members of their communities. Throughout her career she has worked to secure those rights for Americans with disabilities, from cosponsoring the Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 to backing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security policies that would assist Americans with disabilities.
As a member of the Bipartisan Disability Caucus, Congresswoman Maloney is keenly aware of how legislation disparately affects Americans living with disabilities. Her voting record strongly supports initiatives that advance Americans living with disabilities, including strengthening the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, and ensuring affordable housing programs.
Congresswoman Maloney is committed to making sure the economy works for everyone. Congress must ensure that the middle class and working families share in economic growth. America can strengthen its workforce and economy by investing in infrastructure, education, clean energy, and research and development, as well as promoting stronger workplace protections, more family-friendly leave policies, affordable childcare, a higher minimum wage, and support for small businesses.
Joint Economic Committee
The Joint Economic Committee was established by the Employment Act of 1946, the same legislation that created the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. The committee evaluates current economic conditions and makes economic policy recommendations to Congress. The committee holds hearings to discuss these current conditions and effects of government policy on the economy. It also frequently releases reports on different aspects of the economy, including employment, economic challenges, inequality, the export-import bank, and equal pay.
In the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Maloney was named the first woman Chair of the Joint Economic Committee. She currently serves as Ranking Member, the highest ranking Democrat, on this bicameral Congressional Committee.
For more on the Joint Economic Committee click here.
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In 2016, Phase I of the Second Avenue Subway will open, thanks to $1.3 billion in federal funds secured by Congresswoman Maloney. The new line will ease congestion on the Lexington Avenue line and provide the East Side with another sorely-needed link to Midtown. Construction of Phase I created 16,000 jobs and paves the way for new residential and commercial development on 2nd Avenue.
East Side Access, to connect LIRR to Grand Central Station, will help the nearly half of the service’s riders with destinations on the East Side. Congresswoman Maloney helped win over $2.6 billion in federal funding to make this important new link a reality.
In 2014 Congresswoman Maloney helped secure $670 million in federal funding for the reconstruction of the Kosciuszko Bridge—the largest single project in the history of the NY State Department of Transportation. This project is creating over 14,000 jobs during construction, and will help continue important economic growth in Brooklyn and Queens by upgrading the most-travelled bridge between these two boroughs.
Decades after the Equal Pay Act, women still earn less than men, even when they hold the same job. That’s why Congresswoman Maloney is leading the push to achieve equal pay. As the first woman to chair the Joint Economic Committee, she’s worked to highlight the important contributions of women to our economy, and to the livelihood of American families. Read about these efforts here.
As a former educator, Congresswoman Maloney understands the importance of a quality education. She is a strong advocate for college affordability, investing in K-12 schools, and providing early childhood education for all families. She also is a national leader in the fight to prevent sexual assault on college campuses.
School investments: Throughout her career, Congresswoman Maloney has advocated for strong federal investment in schools, including Title I funds to help schools that serve low-income students and School Improvement Grants to turn around low-performing schools.
Early childhood education programs: Congresswoman Maloney has introduced the Prepare All Kids Act to promote the development of early-childhood education programs to make sure that all children arrive at Kindergarten prepared to learn. Today all students in New York City are eligible for pre-kindergarten at the age of four thanks to the efforts of the City and State governments. Congresswoman Maloney believes universal pre-k should be available to all students nationwide.
Affordable higher education: Congresswoman Maloney understands that one of the most effective ways we can ensure a strong future and address inequality is by making higher education widely accessible. She is an advocate of the Pell Grant, a government grant for college tuition, and other initiatives to provide all students with the chance at a college education. The Congresswoman has also cosponsored the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act. This legislation would allow federal and private student loan borrowers to refinance their existing student loans to lower interest rates, similar to those that are currently available to new student loan borrowers, thereby saving students and families thousands of dollars.
Campus safety: Every day, women across American college campuses face sexual assaults. Congresswoman Maloney believes it is everyone’s job to advocate for making college campuses safer for women. She introduced the Campus SAVE Act and the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, two bipartisan bills intended to achieve this goal and challenge universities to create safer environments.
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Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has been an advocate for national energy policies that increase energy independence, protect the environment, and use natural resources responsibly. Development of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures are critical to meeting these goals, as well as developing policies for clean water and sustainable energy.
Global Warming and Clean Energy: As a nation, America must revolutionize energy policy, combat climate change, and create millions of clean energy jobs. As a member of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Caucus, as well as the Safe Climate Caucus, Congresswoman Maloney understands that investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives is key to combating global warming. For many years, she has fought to increase support for the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy budget, the Energy Star program, and the Energy Weatherization Assistance Program.
Public Lands & the Northern Rockies Ecosystem: Since her first election to Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has fought to ensure that public lands are conserved for the public good and preserved for future generations. She is the sponsor of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, which will protect the beautiful and fragile bioregion known as the Wild Rockies. Considered radical when first introduced because it was based on science rather than political boundaries, this visionary legislation has long been supported by environmentalists and business interests from the Northern Rockies region who recognize the value of preserving the area's natural beauty.
Fracking: At a time of record high gas prices and volatility in fuel sources, finding alternatives and achieving greater energy independence is of the utmost importance. The country’s future energy policy must be sustainable and must not harm America’s public and environmental health. Congresswoman Maloney remains deeply concerned with the environmental and public health consequences of the natural gas extraction technique known as “fracking”, and supports the ban on fracking in New York State. Congresswoman Maloney has written to federal regulators with concerns about watershed safety, natural gas reserve estimates, and gas leases on government mortgaged properties, and has urged her colleagues on the relevant House Committees of jurisdiction to hold hearings on these issues.
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Financial Services is a key industry for the New York City economy and one of the biggest job creators in the region. As the senior New York Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, Congresswoman Maloney believes one of her chief tasks is to maintain the preeminence of New York City as the world’s financial center. Since coming to Congress, she has advocated for modernization of financial services regulation, state-of-the-art consumer protection and vigilant oversight of the safety-and-soundness of the banking sector. She is committed to defending the health of our financial institutions so that they can lead our economic recovery.
Congresswoman Maloney serves as a member of two subcommittees. She is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises and also serves on the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Safety and Soundness: As a representative for the market center of the world, Congresswoman Maloney takes her responsibility of financial services regulation very seriously. She believes there is a need for the financial services sector to comply with regulation that protects the consumer and prevents market instability. At the same time, she is careful to make sure this regulation does not inadvertently burden small companies and our economy. With landmark legislation like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Congress significantly improved corporate governance. America must continue to work to restore investor confidence and strengthen its markets.
Basel Capital Standards: As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, Congresswoman Maloney has been a key player in the Basel Accords, which set new international risk-based capital and liquidity standards for all internationally active banks and all domestic institutions. Read More
Housing Finance Reform: One of Congresswoman Maloney’s top priorities in Congress is ensuring every resident of the 12th Congressional district has housing that they can reasonably afford. She hosted a series of Housing Roundtables with residents, business leaders and City and State elected officials to discuss the current state of housing. She is fighting for New Yorkers in Congress and with federal officials to ensure housing options that work for all New Yorkers are available. Whether representing first time homebuyers, hardworking families ready to expand their home base, one income parents struggling to keep a roof over their heads, or elderly residents searching for housing with essential services for seniors, she has and will continue to advocate for affordable housing options for New Yorkers at every stage of life. Read More
Equifax Breach: The Equifax data breach affected roughly 143 million American consumers and compromised sensitive personal information that criminals could use to steal consumers’ identity for years to come. Congresswoman Maloney believes Equifax violated federal law by failing to take simple but critical steps to prevent the data breach from happening in the first place and she is dedicated to holding Equifax accountable and preventing similar security breaches in future. Read More
Bangladesh Bank Heist: In March of 2016, $81 million was stolen from the Bangladesh central bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Congresswoman Maloney, then Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and GSEs, as well as a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, demanded answers from the New York Fed as the world tried to make sense of what happened and how. In May of 2016, the Congresswoman kept up the pressure for reforms by requesting that the three U.S. bank regulators — the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — review the Bangladesh Bank heist and take steps to ensure that both U.S. banks and SWIFT (the international money-transferring system) have cybersecurity controls in place to guard against similar cyber-attacks. Both the NY Fed and SWIFT made reforms to their security protocols after the Congresswoman's inquiries. Read More
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Dodd-Frank Act: In 2009 President Obama called for major reforms as the U.S. desperately tried to climb from the depths of the financial crisis, and we've achieved the vast majority of his goals. Congresswoman Maloney took a leadership role on enacting financial reform legislation as a conferee to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This landmark legislation helped restore the economy and continues to protect Americans from unscrupulous behavior by improving transparency and accountability. It helped provide market stability so that more than 12 million private sector jobs could be created. The unemployment rate was cut in half, and our economy continues to grow in part because of the reforms she put in place. Read More
Sarbanes Oxley Act: In 2002, Congress passed the Sarbanes Oxley Act, a series of corrective measures made in response to several major corporate and accounting scandals in the early 2000s. Major scandals such as Enron shook investor confidence and required congressional response. Congresswoman Maloney supported this legislation and continues to work to strengthen our markets and protect consumers while allowing our financial system to support economic growth.
Housing Trust Fund: In July 2014 Congresswoman Maloney, along with Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), wrote to Director Mel Watt of the Federal Housing Finance Agency urging him to fund the Housing Trust Fund and Capital Magnet Fund. In December 2014 Director Watt directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin setting aside and allocating funds to the Housing Trust Fund. This provided a dedicated source of revenue for the construction and preservation of affordable housing for extremely low-income families.
Financial Institution Examination Fairness and Reform Act: Congresswoman Maloney is the lead Democrat, along with Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, of a bill addressing bank examination standards which ensures that financial institutions have an appropriate outlet for their concerns about examinations. She had heard many reports from institutions in her district that there was a disconnect between policy coming out of Washington and the conduct of examinations in the field. The bill Congresswoman Maloney introduced is designed to expose many of those concerns and attempts to close the gap between Washington and field examiners.
Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA): In the aftermath of the 9/11 disaster, Congresswoman Maloney was a strong supporter of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which provided a federal backstop so that terrorism insurance would continue to be available in high-risk areas such as New York City. Everyone knows that a major terrorist attack would be devastating not only for our citizens and our country, but also for our economy. This is why reauthorizing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act is so essential to our country’s continued economic well-being. Based on the evidence to date, she believes that the private sector still will not offer adequate coverage to support economic development in high risk areas. To most effectively encourage the market to develop long-term solutions we need to continue TRIA as a federal backstop, not only for the short term, but also for a mid-to-long-term time frame. That is why Congresswoman Maloney voted for the successful reauthorization of TRIA in both 2007 and 2015.
TARP Data Disclosure: Congresswoman Maloney introduced H.R. 1242 in March 2009 because she had read report after report about questionable spending by financial institutions, whose funds were unable to be tracked after receiving taxpayer dollars through the TARP program. The TARP Accountability and Disclosure Act will increase oversight and ensure transparency in the spending of the $700 billion Congress approved in the fall of 2008. We can and must use the technological tools that are available in this day and age to get a complete, real time picture of how TARP funds are being spent. Read More
The world is truly a global community, and Congresswoman Maloney is proud that her district is home to a diverse population of thousands of people whose ancestries trace back to all parts of the world. The Congresswoman believes that America should continue to strengthen its relations with other nations politically, economically, culturally, and socially.
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Hellenic Caucus: Congresswoman Maloney represents one of the largest Greek populations in the world, outside of Cyprus and Greece. As a supporter of strong U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus, the Congresswoman is the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. The Caucus serves to bring a renewed congressional focus on key diplomatic, military, and human rights issues in this critical part of the world. The members of the Caucus introduce legislation, arrange briefings on current events, and disseminate information to interested parties. The topics on which the Caucus focuses include U.S. aid to Greece and Cyprus, the conflict on Cyprus, U.S. relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and developments in the Aegean. For more information, click here.
Korean Issues: In summer 2017, Congresswoman Maloney, along with five of her colleagues from the House and Senate, went on an official 9-day Congressional Delegation trip to Hawaii, Japan, South Korea, and China to discuss the threat posed by North Korea. On the trip, she met with U.S. military leaders, senior Japanese trade and defense officials, North Korean defectors, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Upon return, she joined Reps. Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Mike Gallagher (WI-08) to introduce the Leverage to Enhance Effective Diplomacy Act of 2017, which would impose strict sanctions on any entity doing business with North Korea and block those entities from the United States financial system. Congresswoman Maloney supports aggressive diplomatic efforts and tougher sanctions to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear threat.
Armenian Genocide: As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Congresswoman Maloney works with her colleagues and the Armenian community to strengthen relations between the United States and Armenia. Additionally, Congresswoman Maloney has fought in Congress to have America officially recognize the Armenian genocide, especially considering its 100th anniversary in 2015.
Human Rights: Millions of innocent civilians have died or have been displaced because of the conflicts and human rights violations in countries such as Burma, Mexico and Sudan. As a fierce defender of human rights, Congresswoman Maloney has joined many of her colleagues in efforts to combat human rights violations throughout the world.
Qatar Affairs: As co-chair of the Qatari-American Caucus, Congresswoman Maloney worked to bring the Weill Cornell Medical Campus to Qatar.
South Asian Affairs: The South Asian community is a vibrant part of New York City’s diverse population. Congresswoman Maloney spearheaded efforts in Congress to support a Diwali Stamp, introducing legislation in the 113th and 114th Congresses. Celebrated by millions of Americans, Diwali was the only major holiday which had not been recognized by the United States Postal Service. Congresswoman Maloney celebrated the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Diwali Stamp at the Consulate General of India in New York on October 5, 2016. In 2010, Congresswoman Maloney successfully overturned a rule which prevented Sikh men with beards and turbans from serving in the army. She helped lead eight of her colleagues in calling on the Department of Defense to make an exception to uniform rules so Sikh-Americans could serve their country while preserving their right to freedom of religion. In March 2016, Congresswoman Maloney was the first member of Congress to request an investigation into the theft of $81 million from the Bangladesh Central Bank account at the New York Federal Reserve, pressing the banking regulators in letters and hearings to ensure that banks have adequate Cyber controls and are complying with system requirements.
Boko Haram: Since Boko Haram’s capture of 267 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria in 2014, Congresswoman Maloney has supported the effort to #BringBackOurGirls, and supports international efforts to help eradicate the terrorist and anti-American organization, Boko Haram.Gun violence continues to plague communities across the country. Too many Americans are gunned down in cities and towns every day and mass shootings like those at Sandy Hook, Pulse Nightclub, Charleston, Las Vegas, and Sutherland Springs are all too common. These horrifying incidents serve as reminders that Congress needs to fight for common sense policies to make Americans safer.
Congresswoman Maloney has long supported sensible gun safety reforms, starting with support of The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, named for President Reagan’s press secretary, Jim Brady, who suffered grievous injuries in the assassination attempt on the President. That law provides for background checks for most handgun purchases, and has stopped thousands of dangerous individuals from buying firearms.
Since that historic act, Congresswoman Maloney has pushed several key bills to crack down on gun violence by making gun trafficking illegal, allowing federal public health agencies to conduct research into gun safety, closing the gun show loophole, and supporting innovative “smart gun” technology. She has also cosponsored legislation to require universal background checks, limit the number of rounds within magazine clips, and renew the expired assault weapons ban.
Bills Introduced by Rep. Maloney to Improve Gun Safety and Reduce Gun Violence:
GUN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION ACT
For years, federal law enforcement has asked Congress for better tools to go after gun traffickers and people who buy guns for those who are prohibited from buying guns on their own, also known as “straw purchasers”. Under this bill, gun trafficking will now be a federal felony offense and straw purchasers would face much stiffer penalties.
GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE CLOSING ACT
Currently, people who buy guns at gun shows are not subject to background checks. This bill would close this loophole and subject all gun purchasers to the background check requirements already in place at gun stores.
FIREARM RISK PROTECTION ACT
We need to incentivize responsible gun ownership. This bill would require gun owners to purchase liability insurance, which will help to ensure they use and store their guns responsibly.
GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH
Currently, federal public health researchers are prohibited from studying gun violence. Gun violence is a national epidemic and we need to study its root causes so we can come up with realistic, workable solutions. This bill will allow our federal researchers to do just that.
THE NICS REVIEW ACT
This commonsense bill will make it less likely that guns get into the wrong hands. It would require that the FBI keep all National Instant Background Check System (NICS) records for 90 days after giving gun purchasing approval so that the FBI and ATF have the time they need to review background check records. This simple change would make it more difficult for dangerous individuals to skirt the law and the safeguards we’ve put in place.
HANDGUN TRIGGER SAFETY ACT
This bill would promote the development of new “smart gun” technology that only allows an authorized user to fire a gun. It would also mandate that all newly manufactured handguns use this technology within five years, and that existing handguns be retrofitted with this technology within ten years.
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM ACT
This bill makes it more difficult for those with severe mental illness to purchase a firearm by requiring the Social Security Administration to report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System disability recipients unable to manage their benefits due to a mental health condition. This was originally a rule proposed by President Obama but was repealed by President Trump and Republicans last year.
Select Additional Policies Supported by Rep. Maloney:
BANNING BUMP STOCKS
Rep. Maloney is a co-sponsor of a bill that would prohibit the sale of bump stocks, which allow non-automatic weapons to fire like one.
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Nearly 90% of Americans support universal background checks, and so does Rep. Maloney. She believes that background checks should be conducted on all gun sales.
BANNING HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES
Sixty-five percent of Americans support banning high-capacity magazines because no gun owner needs that much ammunition at one time. Rep. Maloney supports banning these massacre magazines.
NO FLY NO BUY
Rep. Maloney believes that if an individual is on the “No Fly List,” they should also be prohibited from purchasing a firearm. That’s why she supports the “No Fly, No Buy” bill.
ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
Rep. Maloney voted for the Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 and has supported its reauthorization since it expired in 2004.
Congresswoman Maloney understands that the health of her constituents and all American citizens has to be prioritized for the country to grow and thrive.
Affordable Care Act and Health Care: All American citizens deserve to have access to good and affordable health care. Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, millions more Americans are able to secure affordable, quality and accessible health care. Signed into law in 2010, Americans of all ages are already seeing expanded health insurance coverage and cost savings. Congresswoman Maloney is a proud supporter of this historic law that makes for a healthier America and strengthens the country’s economic security. Read more.
Funding for the National Institutes of Health: The National Institutes of Health is responsible for cutting edge research to develop novel, innovative, and ground-breaking medicine and technology that can cure diseases like Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries and organ failure. Congresswoman Maloney is a strong supporter of federal funding for NIH research to allow researchers at NIH to continue their life-saving work.
Parkinson’s Disease: Parkinson’s disease is one of the many diseases Congresswoman Maloney hopes will reap the benefits of federally funded medical research. The Congresswoman has worked hard to combat Parkinson’s disease by fighting for federal funding to support research on the disease, as well as by increasing public awareness about the challenges faced by millions of Americans suffering from Parkinson’s. Read More.
Skin Cancer Prevention: In 2007, Congresswoman Maloney introduced the Tanning Accountability and Notification (TAN) Act, which required the Food and Drug Administration to determine whether the current labeling of indoor tanning beds provides sufficient information about the risks associated with indoor tanning. Read more.
Vaccines: Congresswoman Maloney believes that vaccines are safe, effective, and absolutely essential for public health by preventing the suffering and costs of infectious diseases, and has been continually supportive of programs and legislation that would ensure people have access to vaccines both at home and abroad. She has and continues to work with her colleagues to combat misinformation about vaccines and encourages all families to follow the guidance of their doctors.
Nobody knows the importance of homeland security better than New Yorkers. Congresswoman Maloney is working to ensure New York is prepared for, and working to prevent, future terrorist attacks. This includes making sure the Department of Homeland Security is adequately funded and that these funds are invested in areas based on risk and vulnerability, first responders are well trained, equipped, and cared for, and major terrorist targets like New York City are prepared and protected.
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Every year, thousands of men, women and children around the world are trafficked into the United States to be sold for commercial sex and labor. Human trafficking is the fastest growing and the third-largest criminal activity in the world. This exploitation of young women, men, and children is a tragic human rights offense. As a co-chair and cofounder of the Human Trafficking Caucus, Congresswoman Maloney is working to end this terrible crime, both in New York and internationally.
Taking care of survivors: Congresswoman Maloney was the lead House Democratic Cosponsor of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA), which was signed into law on May 29, 2015. Congresswoman Maloney has met and worked with many survivors of human trafficking who escaped their captors and pimps, but then have nowhere to turn to for support. These men and women often end up homeless, which can facilitate a return to prostitution or exploitation. The JVTA creates a “Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund” within the Treasury Department to support critically needed services for victims, such as training law enforcement to rescue victims, prosecute human traffickers, and restore the lives of victims.
Attacking the demand side: Congresswoman Maloney understands that in order to effectively prevent trafficking in the future, Congress must attack the demand side of sex trafficking. This means we must work to eliminate the demand for sex with minors, child pornography and trafficked labor.
Business transparency: Large businesses and corporations are some of the main consumers of trafficked and child labor. Congresswoman Maloney believes it is necessary for these large businesses to provide consumers information on products that are free of child labor, forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking. That is why she introduced the Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act. This legislation would make businesses with more than $100 million dollars in international receipts transparent about their labor policies, and make it necessary to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission measures they have taken to rid their supply chains of human slavery and post this information on their company websites. This way, businesses and consumers can use publicly available disclosures to avoid promoting and purchasing goods and products that are associated with these tainted supply chains.
Eradicating advertising for commercial sex: Congresswoman Maloney has called on internet sites, such as backpage.com, to shut down their adult services pages that aid in the exploitation and sexual abuse of minors. She has supported legislation that would designate funding to attack internet sites that exploit minors to have them shut down.
Catching the perpetrators: Trafficking is an extremely secretive and underground business, making it difficult to find and prosecute those responsible. Congresswoman Maloney has sponsored a bill to target conduct committed by those involved in the promotion of commercial sex acts, by enabling the IRS to prosecute sex traffickers for tax evasion and recover the profits from their crimes.
Missing Children: Congresswoman Maloney fought to pass the law that ensures every missing child is entered into the National Crime Information Center database. This policy makes certain that every step is taken to recover missing children and provide local law enforcement agencies with as much information as possible to find missing children and return them to their families.
America’s history is rooted in the strength of immigrants. New Yorkers have a special understanding of how America’s melting pot can create a rich tapestry of ethnic, cultural and religious traditions that infuse vitality into the economic and social aspects of our communities. Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has made immigration issues a priority, and she strongly believes that by protecting the rights of workers, securing the border, and modernizing our pathway to legal immigration, the hope that we can fix a broken system will become a reality. Congresswoman Maloney will continue to fight in Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship, keep families intact, create a level playing field, and improve the nation’s economy.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Congresswoman Maloney is a strong proponent for comprehensive immigration reform. That is why she was an original cosponsor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. This comprehensive immigration reform bill was a bipartisan effort to address the deep rooted immigration problems in this country. The bill includes provisions to enhance border security, protect our workers, unite families, and offer hardworking immigrants an earned pathway to citizenship. It also reforms our visa programs and our interior enforcement. While the bill passed in the Senate, it was never brought to a vote on the House floor. Congresswoman Maloney continues to support this legislation and advocate in Congress to get it passed.
Providing a Pathway to Citizenship: Many immigrants came to America with their parents at a young age and have lived here as contributing members of society for many years. We often refer to these children as “Dreamers”. Congress should work to provide these young law abiding residents a path to citizenship. That is why in 2010 Congresswoman Maloney voted for the DREAM Act, intended to establish a path to citizenship for the Dreamers. In addition, she has cosponsored many pieces of legislation that would provide immigrants a pathway to citizenship upon high school graduation by going to college or joining the military. She continues to work in Congress to ensure these immigrants have access to education and equal opportunity.
Keeping Families Together: Many families are separated when immigrant parents are deported, separating them from their children who were often born in the United States and are therefore U.S. citizens. In an attempt to implement family-based immigration policies, Congresswoman Maloney cosponsored the Reuniting Families Act, which would increase the number of visas given to immediate family members of U.S. citizens.
Improving the Nation’s Economy: Immigrants have played an important role in the growth of the United States’ economy since the foundation of the country. Congresswoman Maloney is in favor of legislation that will allow immigrants to seek high level employment. She supports immigration reform that would require immigrants to register for legal status as part of a comprehensive approach to integrate more people into the economy as workers, taxpayers, and consumers.
Throughout her Congressional career, Congresswoman Maloney has been a vocal proponent for a close relationship between the United States and Israel. Israel is a strong American ally and the only real democracy in the Middle East. Congresswoman Maloney has stood with her constituents to support Israel at rallies in her district, as well as on the floor of the House. She is committed to fighting hate in all its forms, including antisemitism, wherever and whenever is appears. Believing that we should take a proactive approach to prevent antisemitism, Congresswoman Maloney introduced the Never Again Education Act, signed into law in 2020, to provide educators with the tools they need to teach about the Holocaust.
Standing with the Jewish Community
Never Again Education Act: The Holocaust was one of the darkest points in world history. Congresswoman Maloney believes it is important that current and future generations have an opportunity to study and better understand the Holocaust so that the country and world truly never forget. She believes that by taking a proactive approach through education, we can stop antisemitism before it starts. Our children are not born with hate in their hearts, and it is up to us to ensure they never learn it. Learn more about the Never Again Education Act here.
Combatting antisemitism: Congresswoman Maloney, a member of the task force against antisemitism, is the author of the Never Again Education Act, legislation to provide educators with the tools they need to teach about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism and hate. She stands with the Jewish community in NY-12 and all across the country against all acts of antisemitism and continues to seek policy solutions to protect the Jewish community from these acts.
Additional Select Highlights
Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act: Congresswoman Maloney’s Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act was signed into law on March 25, 2005. This law opened sealed government files that had remained closed for more than 50 years after World War II, in an attempt to create more transparency for Holocaust victims or their surviving family members and hold war criminals accountable. These files showed what the United States knew about these criminals and contained details of the United States’ relationships with former war criminals from Nazi Germany and Japan.
SNCF Compensation for U.S. Holocaust Victims: In 2011, Congresswoman Maloney introduced the Holocaust Rail Justice Act. This legislation allowed Holocaust survivors and their families, who suffered death or injury while being transported to concentration camps on the national French-owned Rail line (SNCF) between 1942 and 1944, to seek justice from SNCF in U.S. courts. This important legislation sparked negotiations in 2015 between France and the U.S. State Department, which led to a historic settlement for these Holocaust victims. You can read more here.
Ensuring Nazi war criminals do not receive Social Security benefits: Dozens of known Nazi war criminals have received millions of dollars in Social Security benefits since the Holocaust from the United States. Congresswoman Maloney has championed the effort to ensure the government ends all of these payments and holds these criminals accountable for their horrific human rights violations.
Standing with Israel
Maintaining a strong US-Israel relationship: Congresswoman Maloney has always stood with her constituents in support of Israel. Israel has withstood decades of attacks from its neighbors, and yet has managed to maintain a flourishing, free and open, multi-cultural society that is at the forefront of many technological and medical breakthroughs. It is imperative that the United States maintains a strong relationship with the nation.
Facilitating a two-state solution: Congresswoman Maloney believes that the United States should use its diplomatic and development tools to encourage direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. As part of this approach, she believes that Palestinian leaders must recognize Israel as a Jewish State and end terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.
Foreign aid: Every year, Congresswoman Maloney votes in support of maintaining $3.1 billion in annual aid to Israel. In the summer of 2014, Congresswoman Maloney also supported increased funding for the Iron Dome.
It is important for any civil society to maintain an effective, responsive and well-managed legal system that protects people's rights and safety. Despite some progress, the U.S. still has much work to do to address systemic problems within our justice system. The federal government must do its part to not only safeguard our communities, but to make sure our justice system is even-handed and responsive to the needs of all Americans.
Select Highlight
Reducing the National Rape Kit Backlog: Congresswoman Maloney authored the Debbie Smith Act to help reduce the backlog of untested DNA rape kits. First passed into law in 2004, this bill has been lauded "as the most important anti-rape legislation ever signed into law," by the head of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network.
Congresswoman Maloney first met Debbie Smith in June 2001 at an Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on DNA rape evidence. Debbie was raped near her home in 1989, and for six and a half years she lived in fear that her attacker would return to kill her. Debbie was finally able to live without fear when she learned that her rapist had been identified because of DNA evidence and was already in prison. Maloney authored “The Debbie Smith Act” in the 107th Congress to provide grants to local law enforcement to process their DNA rape kit backlog.
In 2004 the Debbie Smith Act was signed into law as part of the Justice for All Act (P.L. 108-405). It has since been reauthorized as standalone legislation in 2008, and again in 2014, when it was extended for another 5 years, through fiscal year 2019 (P.L. 113-182).
In 2013 Congresswoman Maloney co-authored the Sexual Assault Forensic Reporting Act (SAFER Act, H.R. 354 in the 113th Congress) to require that 75 percent of Debbie Smith Act funds be used to process the backlog of untested DNA kits. This bill was eventually included in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which was signed into law by President Obama. The law also provides grants to conduct audits of unprocessed kits to help track the backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested DNA kits sitting in labs across the country.
In 2007 Lifetime released "A Life Interrupted", a movie dramatization of Debbie Smith's story, starring Lea Thompson.
During Superstorm Sandy, the 100-year-old Canarsie Tunnel that brings the L Train under the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn was flooded with 7 million gallons of saltwater and was forced to close for 11 days. According to the MTA, this was the subway tunnel most adversely affected by the storm, and that the aging and overcrowded tunnel needs additional upgrades.
Ridership on the L Train has risen nearly 240% since 1990, with an increase of nearly 470% at Bedford Avenue alone. With approximately 400,000 riders per day, more than half of whom commute between Brooklyn and Manhattan, the L Train is one of the most important elements of New York’s public transit system. The MTA is proposing major repairs that will have a significant impact on commuters to and from Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn and 14th Street in Manhattan. As part of the repairs, the Canarsie Tunnel will be significantly upgraded, as will the 1st Avenue and Bedford Avenue Stations. Much of the cost of the repairs will be funded from Superstorm Sandy Recovery Funding, federal formula funding and the Cost of Good Repair program, for a total of roughly $700 million in federal funds.
The MTA is starting the tunnel rehabilitation phase of the L Project—a project that will ultimately also bring ADA accessibility to three new stations and increase service on the L line. The partial closure of the Canarsie Tunnel for the repairs needed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, while necessary, will reduce the frequency of L Train service on nights and weekends, beginning Friday, April 26, 2019 and lasting 15-18 months.
Getting Around During the L Train Project
It’s important to plan ahead before using the L Train as it will be crowded, and alternatives might be faster.
In Brooklyn, the MTA is introducing a new bus, the Williamsburg Link. It will operate on two routes, one clockwise (B92) and one counterclockwise (B91). This bus will provide double the normal bus service when there is no L Train service during weekend and weeknight construction work. These buses provide connections between:
In Manhattan, the MTA is planning additional M14A bus service to connect customers to the M-, G-, and 7-Trains, which will have enhanced service during weeknights and weekends. The extra M14A route service will extend to connect with the Delancey/Essex Street F/J/M Station. On weekends, the M14A/D buses, combined, run every 3 to 5 minutes for most of the day along 14th Street. The MTA is also planning to implement Select Bus Service (SBS) along the M14A/D route to increase bus speeds.
The city has also decided to pilot a new design for 14th Street. To further increase bus speed, 14th Street will be temporarily converted to a “busway” for the duration of the L Project. NYC Department of Transportation will set aside 14th Street between Third and Ninth Avenues for buses only, with allowances for private car drop-offs and deliveries. The new design is founded on international best practices for busy transit corridors that are proven to facilitate quick and reliable bus travel and improve truck traffic. You can view details on the City’s design for the 18-month pilot here.
To help you plan your trip, use these resources:
MTA website, including maps: https://new.mta.info/l-project/service-alternatives
Video Travel Guides:
Station-Specific Travel Guides (detailed information by station):
Manhattan Stations
Brooklyn Stations
If you have questions or need help trip-planning, you can contact the MTA:
Air Quality on the Subway
Rep. Maloney's number-one priority for the L Project is ensuring the safety of all commuters, including when it comes to the quality of the air in the Canarsie Tunnel and on the L-Train platforms. Tunnel rehabilitation work creates dust, which includes respirable crystalline silica. The MTA has required its contractor to create a plan for managing dust. The MTA, in consultation with a public health consultant, has established an extremely conservative threshold that the contractor will be required to meet or the dust producing work will be stopped. By applying the OSHA established long term exposure limits (for workers exposed to these levels for 8 hours a day over 45 years), to the short-term exposure of our riders, the MTA is confident that it is establishing a threshold that is health protective to our riders. In addition to managing and mitigating the dust, the plan includes constant environmental air monitoring within the tunnel work zones, adjacent to any work zone and on the platforms adjacent to the tunnel at 1 Av and Bedford Av. The MTA has promised to make the results of the air monitoring available to the public, but the agency is still working to finalize how that data will be shared.
What I’m Doing
Rep. Maloney has met many times with MTA officials over the past several months to express my concerns about the L Project mitigation plan, air quality monitoring, and the agency’s efforts to solicit community feedback during the L Project’s planning phase. Rep. Maloney is continuing my involvement as NYC Transit forms its plans for re-designing 14th Street and for implementing Select Bus Service on the M14A/D route.
Congresswoman Maloney is a longtime and a strong supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. In Congress, she is a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus and a strong supporter of anti-discrimination legislation, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, the Equality Act, and other federal measures to expand and protect the rights of LGBT individuals. She is also an original co-sponsor of the PRIDE Act. In 1986, then-City Council Member Maloney introduced the first domestic partnership legislation in New York City history.
Select Highlights
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010: Congresswoman Maloney sponsored this legislation, allowing gay, lesbian and bi-sexual individuals to openly serve in the military after a law was enacted in 1993 that stated these individuals could only serve if their sexual orientation was not discovered by the military. Now, anyone can openly serve in the United States military regardless of their sexual orientation
Employment: In most states, employers are still allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. Congresswoman Maloney is a strong supporter of the Employment Non Discrimination Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to this list.
International Efforts: Congresswoman Maloney is not only a supporter of the American LGBT community, but the international LGBT population. Across the world, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals are tormented, discriminated against, imprisoned, and in some cases executed every day. As a human rights advocate, the Congresswoman has openly criticized nations that hold such discriminatory and exclusive policies towards the LGBT community, and calls on each of them to change their intolerant laws.
Nothing is more important to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney than the quality of life in her district. She is proud of the work she has done to improve infrastructure, preserve historic neighborhoods, fight for better zoning and create schools in her district. Whether working to create an academically rigorous public high school on the Upper East Side, seeking to restore the crumbling Queens seawall or fighting for a full build Second Avenue Subway, her first priority has always been to make her district a better place to live.
Legislation | Documents/Reports | Links | Press Releases
Since coming to Congress in 1992, Carolyn Maloney has served on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the main investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. This committee has jurisdiction to investigate any federal program and any matter with federal policy implications. Congresswoman Maloney also sits on the Government Operations subcommittee and previously served on the National Security Subcommittee and as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Census.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney supports strong oversight and management of federal programs and taxpayer dollars. She has continuously fought to curtail gun trafficking, support the mission of the Census Bureau, reform the system that allowed private companies to underpay for oil extracted on federal lands, prevent further erosion of reproductive choice for women in America, and ensure the postal service remains solvent and continues its presence in our communities.
01/26/15 - H.R.532, Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act [114th Congress]
01/14/15 - H.Res. 32, Expressing the sense of the House of representatives that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, as an entitiy of the United States Postal Service, should issue a commerative Stamp in honor of the holiday of Diwali. [114th Congress]
06/06/13 - H.R.2291, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 450 Lexington Avenue in New York, New York, as the "Vincent R. Sombrotto Post Office" [Signed into law 08/08/14. 113th Congress]
05/9/13 - H.R.1942, Construction Quality Assurance Act [113th Congress]
02/5/13 - H.R.517, Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act [113th Congress]
01/25/13 - H.Res. 47, Expressing the sense of the House of representatives that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, as an entitiy of the United States Postal Service, should issue a commerative Stamp in honor of the holiday of Diwali. [113th Congress]
During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has consistently supported efforts to ensure the humane treatment of animals.
Ending Horse Slaughter: Congresswoman Maloney believes the practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption should be permanently banned. That’s why she has been a long-time supporter of legislation which would prohibit horse slaughter and related commercial activities. Over 90,000 American horses were slaughtered for human consumption last year, and many were likely mistreated on their way to the slaughterhouse. Congresswoman Maloney has also cosponsored legislation which would reinstate protection for wild horses from commercial slaughter. Wild horses are one of our nation’s treasures, and she opposes their capture and slaughter.
Prohibiting the Sale of Horse Meat: In January 2014 Congress passed, as part of its annual budget, a law that prevented the USDA from inspecting horse meat. This effectively eliminated any opportunity for the sale or purchase of horse meat in America, ending the practice of horse slaughter for human consumption. Congresswoman Maloney strongly supported this measure.
Puppy Mills: Currently, Animal Welfare Act standards of care do not apply to commercial dog and cat breeders who sell animals directly to the public. These "puppy mills" do not have the best interests of the animals in mind, and often fail to provide adequate living conditions and veterinary care. Congresswoman Maloney supports legislation that would provide better oversight of these facilities. She has also joined her colleagues in supporting measures that would prohibit the U.S. import of puppies for commercial sale from foreign puppy mills. Any dog imported into the U.S. should be in good health and at least six months old. Congresswoman Maloney will continue to fight for these and other animal welfare issues.
Pet Evacuation: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita revealed a serious flaw in evacuation plans when many Gulf Coast residents were not allowed to bring pets with them while evacuating their homes. Congresswoman Maloney cosponsored and supported House passage of Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) in the 109th Congress. The PETS Act, which was signed into law in October 2006, would require local and state disaster plans to include a provision regarding pets and service animals. People in disaster situations should not be made to choose between their pets or their own safety.
Congresswoman Maloney has been an effective and tenacious champion for consumers. Her Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act has saved consumers $12 billion a year since it was signed into law in 2009. As Americans recover from our worst financial crisis since the Great Depression—brought on in part by financial firms’ unfair and predatory practices—it is imperative to protect the American consumer.
Overdraft Protections: Along with many of her Democratic colleagues, Congresswoman Maloney has introduced the Overdraft Protection Act. Financial institutions have increasingly used overdraft “protection” plans in a way that is deceptive and unfair to consumers, despite a Federal Reserve Rule that requires financial institutions to obtain consumers’ consent to opt into overdraft coverage. This problem is significant. The FDIC reports that the vast majority of large banks enroll consumers automatically in overdraft plans, charge an average of $35 per overdraft, and manipulate the order transactions to post in a way that maximizes overdraft fees. Read More
Identity Theft Protection: Each week we hear of a new loss of personal data that threatens thousands of Americans with identity theft. In this age of electronic banking and internet transactions, it is easier than ever to have your personal data stolen. Almost every state, including New York, has responded to this threat by enacting laws that allow individuals to protect themselves from identity theft by controlling access to their credit report and the personal data it contains. Congresswoman Maloney is working in Congress to expand this “file freeze” protection at the national level and enhance notification requirements when personal data is lost. By now, many victims have found out the hard way that once a criminal sets up false accounts in your name, it can be very difficult to clear your credit. In this case it may be years before you can buy a car, buy a house, or get a credit card. Read More
CFPB: Congresswoman Maloney proudly supported the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a key component of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act. The CFPB consolidates consumer protection and regulation of financial practice, and allows consumers the opportunity to provide feedback on and make inquiries about financial consumer products. When families are dealing with financial institutions to open a bank account, take out a loan to send a child to college, or apply for a mortgage, they will be able to trust that the process is fair and transparent. Read More
Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009: In the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Maloney authored and passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, which became law on May 22, 2009 [Public Law 111-24]. This bill eliminated credit card practices that the Federal Reserve had deemed unfair and deceptive to customers, and which had an anticompetitive effect, such as retroactive interest rate increases on existing balances, double cycle billing, and agreements that allowed issuers to raise rates “any time for any reason,” without even providing effective notice. The law ended these practices that, according to some estimates, cost consumers $12 billion in one year alone.
Since her election to Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has worked to protect Social Security and Medicare and to get senior citizens the care and resources they need and deserve.
In New York, Congresswoman Maloney’s dedicated casework staff helps seniors every day with Social Security claims, housing, and other essential services. If you or someone you know requires assistance, please visit this page for more information.
Medicare and Social Security: Congresswoman Maloney has been a tireless advocate for Medicare and Social Security, ensuring they remain strong and reliable for seniors. The Social Security Trust Fund has provided all working Americans financial support in their old age since President Franklin D. Roosevelt first created the program in 1935. Unlike any private investments, Social Security provides inflation-proof income for life, furnishing millions of older Americans a crucial safety net. The Social Security system must be strengthened over the long term, but privatizing the system is not the answer. Our solution must protect the promise made to seniors who have come to rely on Social Security for their retirement. Congresswoman Maloney also believes strongly in maintaining a Medicare system that provides quality and affordable healthcare to all senior citizens in America. That is why she has consistently pushed Congress to improve Medicare services and lower the costs of drugs for seniors.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Thanks to this landmark healthcare legislation, seniors in New York have saved a total of $1,150,173,343 on their prescription drugs, with more savings on the way. The health care law will close the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ in the next 10 years. In addition, Medicare now provides free coverage of key preventive services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. In 2014 alone, 2,387,588 seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare in New York used one or more free preventive services because of this provision.
Senior Housing: Congresswoman Maloney has worked to ensure that seniors can continue to live in their own communities, close to family and friends. As part of that effort, she has secured federal funding through a multitude of federal sources, such as the Section 202 program, the Federal Home Loan Bank, HUD’s HOME program, and the Low Income Housing Tax Credits. This funding has been used to build or preserve senior housing developments in her district, including Carnegie East Houses, Riverview Gardens, HANAC Archbishop Iakavos Senior Residence, HANAC PCA Senior Residence, HANAC George T. Douris Tower, the Vallone Family Senior Residence and 1850 Second Avenue.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney always works to improve the quality of life in her district, and subsequently has focused on transportation issues that impact the lives of thousands of New Yorkers on a daily basis.
2nd Avenue Subway: Building the Second Avenue Subway has been one of her top priorities since Congresswoman Maloney was first elected to Congress. New York City’s subway system has not added capacity in over 60 years, and we need to expand. Passengers on the Lexington Avenue line have the dubious distinction of riding on the most overcrowded subway line in the entire nation. There is a limit to the number of people that can be crammed into one subway car, but the Lex line seems to have exceeded that limit. A Second Avenue Subway offers a much-needed alternative for commuters. The full length subway, which will run from 125th Street to lower Manhattan, will also reach underserved neighborhoods on the East Side. Read More
50th Street Facility: Several years after the completion of its Final Environmental Impact Statement for East Side Access, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) decided to amend its original proposal which would have spread certain ventilation systems and mechanical facilities across several locations and instead decided to consolidate them into a 16 story facility on 49-50th streets between Park and Madison Avenues (the “Facility”). This caused the business community, local residents and landmark preservation experts to express serious concerns about the plan. They reached out to Congresswoman Maloney for assistance and she joined in leading a vigorous campaign. As a result, the MTA completely revised its proposal in a way that satisfied the community's concerns. Read More
63rd Street Connector: One of the first major transportation projects Congresswoman Maloney championed as a member of Congress was the 1300-foot 63rd Street Tunnel Connector. The project consisted of ½ mile of new construction and 8 miles of rehabilitation work. Designed to relieve crowding on the E and F lines and make appropriate use of the 63rd Street Tunnel, it was completed in 2001. Congresswoman Maloney worked with her colleagues in the New York delegation, particularly then-Congressman Thomas Manton who brought the idea to President Clinton's attention, to obtain federal funding. With their support, the federal government contributed $306.1 million out of a total project cost of $645 million. Read More
East Side Access: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proposes to build a new rail link to provide direct access for LIRR riders to Grand Central Terminal. The project would bring approximately 160,000 new passengers, including 5,000 residents of Western Queens, into Grand Central Station. Congresswoman Maloney has been a strong supporter of the East Side Access project, and has worked with her colleagues to procure Congressional earmarks for the project. Read More
Long Island City Links: Long Island City Links is an initiative being developed by the Department of City Planning that will lead to a comprehensive network of pedestrian, bicycle and transit connections between Long Island City residential and business areas and new parks, retail stores, and cultural institutions. Read More
Queens Plaza Roadway: Congresswoman Maloney has worked with the NYC Department of City Planning to redevelop Queens Plaza and transform it from a pedestrian's nightmare to a welcoming gateway to Queens and Manhattan. When completed, Queens Plaza will have better traffic patterns, improved crossings, bike paths and new open space. Most of the funding for this project comes from the federal government. Read More
L Train Repairs: During Superstorm Sandy, the 100 year old Canarsie Tube that brings the L Train under the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn was flooded with 7 million gallons of saltwater and was forced to close for 11 days. The MTA tells us that this was the subway tunnel most adversely affected by the storm, and that the aging and overcrowded tunnel needs additional upgrades. Ridership on the L Train has risen nearly 240% since 1990, with an increase of nearly 470% at Bedford Avenue alone. The MTA is proposing major repairs that will have a significant impact on commuters to and from Greenpoint in Brooklyn and 14th Street in Manhattan. As part of the repairs, the Canarsie Tube will be significantly upgraded, as will the 1st Avenue and Bedford Avenue Stations. Much of the cost of the repairs will be funded from the $5.4 billion in federal funds Congresswoman Maloney and her colleagues were able to obtain to help the MTA recover from Superstorm Sandy.
As the daughter, spouse, and sister of veterans, Congresswoman Maloney honors the millions of veterans who live across the country and in New York for their service and sacrifice. Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has fought to ensure that our returning heroes receive the care and services they deserve.
In New York, Congresswoman Maloney’s office has a dedicated staff member for veterans issues, and if you or someone you know has an issue with a VA claim or requires assistance, please visit this page for more information.
Protect Healthcare for Veterans: For years Congresswoman Maloney has fought efforts by the CARES Commission and the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce the level and quality of services offered by the Manhattan VA Hospital. The CARES Commission was established to evaluate the existing VA facilities across the country to determine if resources are being used most effectively. However, by closing hospitals and limiting access to health care, America fails in our promise to stand up for the military men and women who have stood up for us. With thousands of veterans waiting six months or more for an appointment at VA medical facilities, the Congresswoman strongly believes that closing or reducing services at VA hospitals is the wrong decision.
Maintaining an Effective VA: The Department of Veterans Affairs provides many vital resources to veterans in this country. Congresswoman Maloney believes Congress must play an active role in ensuring the VA is managed effectively so that all veterans have access to the services they deserve.
Access to Affordable Housing: Congresswoman Maloney is an ardent supporter of affordable housing opportunities for all Americans, especially the veterans who have dedicated their lives to protecting this country. She has worked hard in Congress to extend the VA Home Loan program in order to provide veterans in New York with more opportunities to purchase homes they can afford.
Select Highlights
Rebuilding Manhattan VA Hospital: The 23rd Street Manhattan VA Hospital evacuated about 130 patients in the days leading up to the landfall of Superstorm Sandy. The hospital incurred severe flooding damage during the storm, affecting 150,000 square feet of area and destroying electrical, heating, fire protection, water pumping, medical and technological equipment, much of which was located on ground floors. Congresswoman Maloney supported the Sandy Relief package, including $207 million in federal relief aid used to rebuild the Manhattan VA Hospital. The money contributed to building a flood wall for the facility, relocating equipment to higher floors, rebuilding clinics that were destroyed on the ground level to higher floors and making ground floor repairs.
Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has worked tirelessly as an advocate and leader for women. She has placed a special emphasis on women’s health needs, reproductive freedom, international family planning, and securing women’s equality in the Constitution.
Equal Rights Amendment: Congresswoman Maloney is the leader in Congress of the effort to pass an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. Read more
Breastfeeding: Due to significant health benefits for the mother and child, the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend six months of exclusive breastfeeding for all infants. Congress needs to do all it can to support mothers when they decide to breastfeed. Read more
International Efforts: Congresswoman Maloney has been a long-time supporter of the United Nations Population Fund, aiding global efforts to prevent and treat obstetric fistula, and passing the Afghan Women’s Act. Read more
National Women’s History Museum: In November 2016, a bipartisan Congressional Commission — created by a bill sponsored by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney — issued a report recommending the creation of a new Smithsonian Museum dedicated to women’s history. In March 2019, Reps. Maloney, Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act, to establish such a museum National Mall. The bill has broad bipartisan support. Read more
Gender Pay Gap: Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has been a steadfast leader in fighting for women’s rights, including closing the gender pay gap. A typical woman today, working full-time and year round, is paid only 79 percent of what her male counterpart makes. It is unacceptable that in the year 2016, women on the whole are not being paid fairly for their work. This is not merely a women's issue, it is an issue that affects every American family who is increasingly dependent on women's earnings. Read more
Reproductive Choice: Congresswoman Maloney is a strong advocate for a woman’s right to choose and an outspoken supporter of women’s reproductive rights. However, choice is meaningless without access. That is why she has been monitoring the efforts of the anti-choice establishment to devalue a woman’s right to choose and has been actively working against any legislative limits to access. Read more
Increasing the Role of Women in Corporate Boardrooms: In January 2016 Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) unveiled a new report from the Government Accountability Office, which shows women are severely underrepresented on corporate boards, taking up just 16 percent of seats in the boardroom. The study, which Maloney requested in May 2014, shows that even if the rate of women joining corporate boards were doubled, so they were hired at the same rate as men, it would still take at least 40 years (2056) for women to reach parity. Read more
Boko Haram: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is a fierce advocate of protecting both the rights and safety of Americans, and human rights internationally. Since Boko Haram’s capture of 267 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria in 2014, Congresswoman Maloney has supported the effort to #BringBackOurGirls, and supports international efforts to help eradicate the terrorist and anti-American organization, Boko Haram.
Equal Access to Discriminatory Clubs: In August of 2012, Congresswoman Maloney publically praised the Augusta National Golf Club's decision to admit former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore as members of the exclusive club that plays host to a Masters Tournament. Read more
Sexual assault in the military: Rapes and sexual assaults are far too common in both civilian life and in the military. Congresswoman Maloney has worked to bring justice to the military victims of sexual assaults through letters to the Department of Defense, nonpartisan studies, and legislation. As our soldiers are fighting for those who have long been denied basic rights, we should do everything possible to ensure that we are protecting their rights too.
Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act: Congresswoman Maloney has led the fight to have a day officially dedicated to the memory of an influential woman in the country’s history. The Congresswoman introduced the Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act in 2011, which would designate the third Monday in February as a day to celebrate the legacy of Susan B. Anthony. Susan Brownell Anthony is remembered for creating the first women’s movement in the United States and leading that movement for more than 50 years. Read more
Reducing the National Rape Kit Backlog: Congresswoman Maloney authored the Debbie Smith Act to help reduce the backlog of untested DNA rape kits. First passed into law in 2004, this bill has been lauded "as the most important anti-rape legislation ever signed into law," by the head of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network.
It can be difficult to juggle both work and family, which is why Congresswoman Maloney has worked in Congress to advance legislation that supports working families. She was a proud supporter of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Congresswoman Maloney also fully supports an increase in the federal minimum wage and has authored legislation that would expand workforce protections to support working families.
Affordable Childcare: Congresswoman Maloney has been a continuous supporter of legislation in Congress to provide American families access to safe, affordable, quality child care. She has also fought to safeguard tax exemptions for families with children, such as the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and Dependent Care Assistance Programs.
Paid Family and Medical Leave: Congresswoman Maloney understands the difficulties too many Americans face to meet everyday obligations for their families and workplaces. In response, she has supported legislation to ensure families get paid leave for family or medical emergencies, and worked to expand the Family Medical Leave Act to meet the demands of modern parents. Read more.
Paid Leave for Federal Employees: Federal employees are now guaranteed 12 weeks of leave for the birth of a child, but many families cannot afford to take this much time off of work without any compensation. Congresswoman Maloney has introduced legislation to provide paid FMLA leave for all federal employees. Read more.
Flexibility for Working Families: Congresswoman Maloney knows that the working dynamic of most American families has greatly changed over the last 50 years. Many families do not have a stay-at-home member, making it difficult to manage when someone in the family falls ill and needs extra care. The Congresswoman supports legislation that would support working family members adjusting their work schedules to accommodate busy, family friendly schedules.