Page 7 - qt edition #20

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 7

Senator Gillibrand Announces Groundbreaking Fabric Act to Assemblyman Colton Informs The
Reinvigorate The Garment Industry in The U.S. Community That The Heap Cooling

Strengthen Garment Workers’ Rights, Drive Wage Growth And Promote Equity Assistance Program is Now Open
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
announced the introduction of her “Every year my office helps
groundbreaking Fashioning Ac- qualified households to apply for
countability and Building Real In- the HEAP Cooling Assistance
stitutional Change (FABRIC) Act. program. If you are eligible and
Garment workers are a corner- would like to apply for the cooling
stone of the American economy program, then you can come into
and, for far too long, have faced my office for help at 155 Kings
unsafe working conditions, wage Highway, Brooklyn, NY 11223,
theft, and piecework pay, which or call 718-236-1598 for more in-
often prioritizes fast fashion over formation. The cooling assistance
the safety of workers. Supply benefit helps eligible households
chain disruptions caused by the buy and install an air conditioner
pandemic have only exacerbated or fan up to a cost of $800.00.
these ongoing issues, which are You may receive one cooling
disproportionately shouldered assistance benefit per applicant
by women, people of color, and household for the purchase and in-
immigrant workers. Gillibrand’s stallation of an air conditioner or a
FABRIC Act would protect nearly fan to help your home to stay cool
100,000 American garment work- during hot summer days. Applica-
ers and help revitalize the garment tions are accepted from May 2 to
industry in the United States by cut-and-sew apparel manufactur- demic, we need to invest in them Assemblyman William Colton August 31, 2022,” Colton stated.
improving working conditions ing industry, making up 61% of and this crucial industry. (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, “Air conditioners are given on
and reforming the piece-rate pay workers, and following heavy job Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) a first-come, first-served basis
scale. Women are leaders in the losses for women during the pan- (Continued on page 9) is notifying the community that to eligible applicants. Applicants

Meng Helps Secure $3 Million For New the 2021-2022 HEAP Cooling are only eligible for a Cooling
Assistance program opened on Assistance benefit once every five
years,” Colton added.
Labor & Delivery Wing May 2, 2022.

(Continued from page 1) QueensTimes.com

In honor of Women’s Health
Month, U.S. Congresswoman
Grace Meng and representatives Read Our Paper Online and Play Sudoku
from the Office of Congress- and crossword puzzles online
woman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
visited NYC Health + Hospitals/
Elmhurst’s Women’s Pavilion to
mark the announcement of $3
Million in federal funding they
secured for a new Labor and Deliv-
ery Unit on the hospital’s 5th floor.
Congresswoman Meng led a
“wall-breaking” ceremony to kick
off the project, and she toured the
current Labor and Delivery Unit
to see where the renovations will
take place. Federal funding for the
initiative, made available under families deserve a modern, safe, received additional federal fund-
the Community Project Funding and equitable maternal health care ing to support moms and babies at
Program that Meng and Ocasio- experience, and investments like our hospital, and I want to thank
Cortez championed in the House this are needed to ensure that the Senators Gillibrand and Schumer,
of Representatives, also came hospital can continue to provide along with Congress Members
through the offices of Senators efficient, high-quality and state of Meng and Ocasio-Cortez, for
Gillibrand and Schumer. the art services that local residents their support,” said NYC Health
Construction is scheduled for need and deserve. It is also crucial + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Director
the spring and summer of 2022. to meet the growing needs of the of OB/GYN Services Dr. Frederick
The project will support Elm- area. When the COVID-19 crisis Friedman. “We deliver over 2,200
hurst’s goal of improving health began, NYC Health + Hospitals/ babies per year at Elmhurst, but
indicators for pregnant women Elmhurst was in the heart of the this number is expected to increase
and decreasing maternal and infant epicenter, and this project is an ex- significantly due a growing de-
mortality rates in underserved ample of how we must build back mand for our OB/GYN services.
communities. better and stronger as we work to The ability to modernize and up-
Meng also took part in a patient recover from the pandemic. I’m ex- grade our Labor and Delivery suite
baby shower co-hosted by Metro- cited for this renovation to begin, and optimize our birthing program
PlusHealth that featured educa- and look forward to the upgrades will support a new generation of
tional presentations on prenatal benefiting Queens families for healthy, flourishing kids in our
care, breastfeeding, Safe Sleep, decades to come.” community.”
nutrition, and the hospital’s doula “I am beyond ecstatic and “A lack of access to high-quality
program, along with tabling by grateful to Senators Gillibrand maternal health services in com-
community-based organizations and Schumer, and to Representa- munities results in challenges aris-
such as CommonPoint Queens tives Meng and Ocasio-Cortez, for ing from the social determinants of
and the Queens Museum. After their commitment to our hospital health, contributing to disparities
the presentations, patients had and to improving the lives of our in maternal health care for women
the opportunity to win prizes by patients,” said NYC Health + of color and their babies,” said
answering trivia questions related Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Steven Mitchell, Senior Director
to well-baby care. Arteaga-Landaverde, MPH. “Our of Sales at MetroPlusHealth. “We
“I was proud to help secure $3 expectant mothers and newborns have teams across New York City
million for NYC Health + Hos- will greatly benefit from these and NYC Health + Hospitals’ loca-
pitals/Elmhurst to renovate its investments in infrastructure and tions educating and informing ex-
delivery unit which will be a major improving patient care and patient pectant mothers about their health
boost in expanding access to care satisfaction at our facility. We look insurance coverage, benefits, and
and ensuring healthier families. forward to working closely with resources.”
Elmhurst plays a critical role in our federal legislators to ensure For more information about pro-
the health and wellbeing of our that Elmhurst has the resources it grams and services at NYC Health
communities, and I cannot wait needs to meet the growing health- + Hospitals/Elmhurst, please call
until the renovation is completed,” care demands of our community.” 844-NYC-4NYC or visit www.ny-
said Congresswoman Meng. “All “I am very happy that we have chealthandhospitals.org/Elmhurst.