2020 Legislative Recap, More Than 450 Bipartisan Bills Passed In The House

Harlem rep. Adriano Espaillat, states that the House of Representatives passed more than 900 bills over the past two years.

Including bipartisan legislation to clean up government, defend access to affordable health care, respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, lower prescription drug costs, protect immigrants, and support policies to create jobs and bring greater economic security to constituents throughout New York’s 13th congressional district and families across the nation.

I am particularly proud of my successful efforts to provide grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses suffering from the pandemic, as well as H.R. 3870, which passed in both the House and the Senate and was signed into law to rename the U.S. Post Office at Audubon Avenue and West 165th Street in recognition of the late Normandía Maldonado, a community organizer, cultural pioneer and activist.

I was also able to secure funding for many key federal programs and saw a number of my legislation pass in the Democratic-controlled House.

I am proud my constituents have given me the opportunity to return as their representative in Congress, and I will continue these and other efforts over the next two years.

Below is a snapshot of legislation the House has passed to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as some of my key legislative wins during the 116th Congress.

Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the onset of this pandemic, House Democrats have acted swiftly to address its catastrophic impacts on both the economy and on public health. The House has passed major legislation including:

• H.R.6074, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
• H.R.6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• H.R. 784, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
• H.R. 266, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
• H.R. 6800, Heroes Act
• H.R.7301, Emergency Housing Protections, and Relief Act
• H.R. 7027, Child Care Is Essential Act
• H.R. 7327, Child Care For Economic Recovery Act
• H.R. 925, Updated Heroes Act
• H.R.133, Coronavirus Response, and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021

Espaillat Bills Passed In The House:

I was proud to secure House passage of three additional bills over my past term in Congress aimed at helping victims of natural disasters secure housing assistance, investing in small businesses, and promoting security in the Caribbean, and stemming the flow of illegal drugs into the United States:

• H.R. 2914, Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2020
• H.R. 7703, Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
• H.R. 4387, To establish Growth Accelerator Fund Competition within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes

Espaillat Federal Funding Victories:

Here is a snapshot of funding I was able to secure in federal appropriations bills on behalf of my constituents that impact families around the nation. Click here for a full list of my legislative activities during 2020.

• $14.4 million for body-worn cameras for border agents to ensure greater transparency and oversight of immigration enforcement agencies, building on $21 million secured last year.

• $15 million increase in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), bringing that project to nearly $75 million total, to combat drug trafficking, promote social justice, and increase public safety and security in the region.

• $2 billion for the Capital Investment Grants program, which will provide the federal portion of funding for the Second Avenue Subway Phase II Extension project. This comes in addition to more than $2 billion secured last year.

• $46.5 million for a National Science Foundation grant program specifically for Hispanic-serving colleges and universities to expand opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This comes in addition to the $45 million achieved last year.

• Funding for the National Institutes of Health that includes resources for an array of specialized research programs such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for cancer research; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) for the BRAIN Initiative; Precision Medicine Initiative; and, Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

• $21 billion for the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which helps those who participate in the WIC nutrition assistance program purchase fresh produce from locally-sourced farmers markets. This is a $2.5 billion increase over the previous year.

I will continue working across the aisle in the House to get things done for constituents of New York’s 13th congressional district, and I look forward to working with the incoming Biden-Harris Administration.

Adriano Espaillat is a member of Congress proudly representing New York’s 13th congressional district