AT MUSK’S AND TRUMP’S DIRECTION, HOUSE REPUBLICANS DENY CRUCIAL AID FOR NEW YORK DISASTER VICTIMS, 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS, WORKING FAMILIES
Unelected Billionaire Oligarch Orders GOP Leadership to Put Nation on Brink of Government Shutdown, Deny Aid to Working Families
Budget Deal Would Have Delivered $4.2 Billion in Disaster Relief to New York, Fully Funded World Trade Center Health Program
Absent Congressional Action, New York Cannot Refund Stolen SNAP Benefits Using Federal Funds
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today condemned House Republican’s rejection of a bipartisan budget bill that would have delivered $4.2 billion in disaster relief to New York State, ensured health care access for 9/11 first responders and survivors through the World Trade Center Health Program until 2040, extended New York State’s ability to refund victims of SNAP fraud using federal dollars, and prompted new safety standards for the lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and e-scooters.
Republicans’ rejection of key priorities for working families now imperils New Yorkers’ ability to access health care, put food on the table, and recover from natural disasters.
“After weeks of negotiations resulted in a bipartisan budget bill that provided vital assistance to New York’s 9/11 first responders, working families, and disaster victims, Donald Trump followed directions from the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, and ordered House Republicans to kill their own bill.” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “No one elected Elon Musk, yet Republicans would rather represent his interests than represent the constituents who elected them. While Donald Trump hides in Mar-a-Lago, Elon Musk is calling the shots on funding the government and Republicans have chosen their billionaire supporters over working New Yorkers.”
The end-of-year spending deal – negotiated between Republican and Democratic leaders – would have updated the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program and averted a disastrous projected funding shortfall in 2027 which could imperil the 132,000 9/11 survivors and first responders who rely on the program for health care. Congressman Goldman has repeatedly pushed to fix this funding formula and guarantee permanent funding for the program’s beneficiaries.
The continuing budget resolution would have also delivered $4.2 billion to hard-hit New York communities impacted by natural disasters, providing individual assistance for emergency housing, rent, and food. Earlier this fall, Congressman Goldman and Senator Gillibrand urged congressional leaders to pass this disaster relief and deliver aid to New Yorkers in need.
Congressional Democrats also ensured an extension to states’ ability to refund stolen SNAP benefits using federal SNAP funds was included in the budget deal and would have been in effect until September 30, 2028. This refund authority is particularly important in New York City, which received over 80,000 reports of SNAP fraud last year alone. In August, Goldman joined Congressman Ruppersberger (MD-02) in sending a bipartisan letter to Congressional leadership urging them to include a provision in any forthcoming stop-gap funding bill that would allow victims to continue to be reimbursed from federal funds.
The negotiated budget deal would have also introduced new regulations on potentially dangerous batteries and helped take poorly-made e-bike batteries out of circulation. While in 2020 there were only 44 New York City fires caused by poorly made lithium-ion batteries, there were 220 fires in 2022 and 268 fires in 2023. Following a deadly June 2023 Chinatown fire caused by lithium-ion batteries, Congressman Goldman pushed the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission to update e-bike safety regulations. He was an original sponsor of the ‘Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act.’
