In the News
SEATTLE, Washington — The Youth, Peace and Security Act of 2020 recognizes the importance of youth involvement and leadership in peace-building and conflict-prevention activities. The Act directs the State Department and the President to take meaningful steps to enable and encourage young people to participate in the promotion of peace and security.
They followed the rules and filed their taxes on time, but many U.S. citizens are not getting those desperately needed stimulus checks because of their spouse's immigration status.
As millions of Americans cash in, others are entirely excluded.
These U.S. citizens say they feel like second-class Americans, and it's all because of who they married.
One Brooklyn resident, who doesn't want to be named, is a U.S. Citizen. His husband from Mexico is pursuing legal status.
Lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a $2 billion bill to provide internet service to students during the pandemic.
With schools now holding classes online to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a record number of students are relying on access to high-speed internet and internet-connected devices to continue their educations, according to Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., who introduced the bill to address students' immediate technology needs during the health crisis.
Faith leaders from around Queens gathered in front of their computer screens Tuesday for a remote vigil to commemorate the thousands of neighbors who have died from COVID-19 in the weeks since the borough emerged as the epicenter of the pandemic.
Speakers, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, also honored medical personnel and other frontline workers who have risked their own health to save lives and keep Queens running.
New York congresswoman Grace Meng pressing for billions of dollars in new funding to address the digital divide in education, backing a bill that would fund internet equipment and devices for schools and students.
Meng, a Democrat, argues that the coronavirus pandemic has called attention to the shortfalls and inequities in students' access to technology.
"Covid-19 has forced over 55 million students to stay home during this national health crisis and adjust to a new future that requires internet access and a computer to continue their studies," Meng said in a statement.
A House lawmaker introduced legislation that would allocate $2 billion to get students access to the internet while stuck at home during the global health crisis.
After calling on President Donald Trump to ensure that nursing homes immediately report coronavirus infections and deaths to the families of residents, Congresswoman Grace Meng announced on April 20 that the Trump Administration has agreed to implement the new rule.
On April 18, Meng sent a letter to the president calling for family members of nursing residents to be swiftly notified of any COVID-19 cases.
As millions of tenants were unable to pay rent on April 1, and with no clear end to the COVID-19 crisis in sight, a Queens lawmaker is helping to introduce a new legislation to cancel rent and mortgage payments nationwide.
Congresswoman Grace Meng on April 20 announced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, which would constitute a full forgiveness of payment, with no accumulation of debt for renters or homeowners and no negative impact on their credit rating or rental history.
The Queens congressional delegation has urged the federal government to intervene to protect nursing home residents and staff from the coronavirus, pushing the Trump Administration to take action after the state said more than 200 Queens nursing home residents have died due to COVID-19 as of April 15.
Queens Congresswoman Grace Meng, in a Saturday letter to the White House, called for the mandatory notification of families nationwide within 24 hours of any nursing home COVID-19 death or diagnosis.
The Democratic House member said family members, many barred from access to elderly relatives under quarantine at care facilities, need more details than they are receiving during the pandemic.