May Newsletter: Fighting Cuts to Medicaid and Sharing Valuable Resources

Table of Contents:

From Capitol Hill
In Our Community
Constituent Corner: Resources Available To You

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A Message from the Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

To our Neighbors in NY-14,

We hope you are looking forward to summer! In this month’s newsletter, the office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez would like to update you on all the ways we are fighting for you.

From Capitol Hill

This month, we focused on several key initiatives that directly impact our district. Our community guides our work every day as we fight for NY-14 in Congress.

Fighting Cuts to Medicaid & Food Assistance

This past week, House Republicans passed a legislative package that would strip health insurance from 13.7 million people, cut SNAP benefits for tens of millions of Americans, repeal key clean energy provisions, and defund essential resources like Planned Parenthood to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez continued the fight against these devastating cuts to Medicaid and other essential programs during the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s 26.5 hour markup, spoke against these cuts on the House floor, and will continue to oppose to these cuts as the bill heads to the Senate.

Bipartisan Work to Protect Public Health Services for New Parents and Babies

This month, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) introduced legislation that would reauthorize the Healthy Start program, which provides critical funding for community-based efforts that improve maternal and child health across the country. For example, in NY-14, the Bronx Healthy Start Partnership provides essential public health services to nearly 10,000 new parents and babies before, during, and after childbirth, ensuring that these babies and new parents can receive medical and non-medical support. The Congresswoman is committed to ensuring that this support remains available in our communities.

The DEFIANCE Act

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez reintroduced the DEFIANCE Act, bipartisan legislation that would grant survivors the right to take civil action against individuals who knowingly produce, distribute, solicit or possess nonconsensual sexually-explicit digital forgeries.

In Our Community

The heart of our work lies in the vibrant communities of NY-14. These local initiatives and victories reflect the spirit of the Bronx and Queens.

Constituent Story

Recently our constituent, Angela, visited our office seeking assistance with her Social Security and Medicare Part B application, because it was determined that her application was being delayed due to an incomplete form. After our inquiry and assistance in resubmitting the paperwork, her Medicare Part B coverage was scheduled to begin, she received her first SSA payment, and she received her Medicare card!

This is just one of the many wins our incredible casework team achieves daily for our constituents. If you have an issue pending with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will do our best to assist.

“It's such a relief to see the official letter confirming my benefits. Your team’s assistance in getting my SSA & Medicare application processed after many months and finally approved, has been a tremendous help. You all have gone above and beyond my expectations. I felt I was hitting a brick wall every time I called SS and Medicare. Kudos to you all! Not only for the assistance provided to me but also for everything you do on a daily basis, most importantly for being our voice. Thank you, Thank you!” - Angela

Jackson Heights Post Office

Jackson Heights residents and local leaders have long pushed for USPS to make the neighborhood post office accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, seniors, and parents with strollers. This inaccessibility created an unnecessary hurdle for our community members. However, after years of advocacy from our office, Representative Meng’s and Councilmember Krishnan’s offices, and with the help of the United States Access Board, we were able to begin construction of a ramp for the Jackson Heights Post Office this week.

May Town Hall

The Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez hosted a town hall in Jackson Heights with more than 450 constituents! The community gathered to hear about the work the Congresswoman is doing to fight for health care, keep our community safe, and respond to Trump’s disastrous economic decisions. It was the biggest town hall our office has ever hosted, and we greatly appreciated every single community member who took the time to show up and engage in a passionate dialogue about the needs of our community.

Missed the town hall? No Problem! Watch below ⬇️

Constituent Corner: Resources Available To You

Free Training Opportunities for NYCHA Residents

All NYCHA residents can receive free comprehensive solar and green construction training with REES. This program provides resume and interview preparation, essential skill building, and ongoing career support.

When: June 2-23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Solar One (Long Island City)
Register: Call 718-289-8100 and Apply here

HEAP Cooling Assistance

The HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan to help their home stay cool. Applications opened last month, and more information is available here.

Climate Justice Fellowship Plus Program

In collaboration with NYSERDA, our office helps support the Climate Justice Fellowship Plus Program, a $3 million pilot program to advance climate justice in the Bronx and Queens. NYSERDA is currently seeking applications for fellows. Apply here.

2025 Congressional App Challenge

Every year, middle and high school students are invited to create a software application as part of the Congressional App Challenge. Students can pre-register here for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge and start coding their apps. Submit your apps by October 30th, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET.

For questions about the Congressional App Challenge, you can reach out to [email protected]

In service,

The Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez