Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Biography

Nydia is originally from Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Puerto Rico and a master's degree from New York University. 

Nydia previously worked as the director of the Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the United States, as a staff member for U.S. Representative, Edolphus Towns, and as an adjunct professor at Hunter College.

Nydia M. Velazquez currently serves as US Representative in Congressional District 7. She was first elected in 2012 and is serving her sixth term. She previously served as US Representative in  Congressional District 12 for 5 terms from 1993 to 2013.

As chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, Velazquez advocated for reducing costs and raising additional funds for small businesses.

Supports strengthening the Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps low and moderate-income earners save tax dollars.

Wants to federally funded public housing.

- As chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, Velazquez advocated for reducing costs and raising additional funds for small businesses.
- Supports strengthening the Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps low and moderate-income earners save tax dollars.
- Wants to federally funded public housing.

Economy

As of September 19, 2024, Nydia M. Velazquez did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

Supports Medicare-for-all, which provides government-funded health insurance to all Americans.

Opposes any effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying it would "take away healthcare from over 24 million Americans and...2.3 million New Yorkers."

- Supports Medicare-for-all, which provides government-funded health insurance to all Americans.
- Opposes any effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying it would "take away healthcare from over 24 million Americans and...2.3 million New Yorkers."

Healthcare

As a Congresswomen, Velazquez helped secure "511 million" in federal funding for flood storm resiliency projects in Lower Manhattan and the Lower East Side, and "100 million" for flood protection systems in Red Hook. 

Supports "bold, meaningful" actions to combat climate change effects.

Supports the "Green New Deal", legislation that would provide green energy jobs and make investments in renewable resources.

- As a Congresswomen, Velazquez helped secure "511 million" in federal funding for flood storm resiliency projects in Lower Manhattan and the Lower East Side, and "100 million" for flood protection systems in Red Hook. 
- Supports "bold, meaningful" actions to combat climate change effects.
- Supports the "Green New Deal", legislation that would provide green energy jobs and make investments in renewable resources.

Energy & the Environment

Believes in supporting Puerto Rico, and worked to secure federal funding and relief for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

- Believes in supporting Puerto Rico, and worked to secure federal funding and relief for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Voting & Elections

Education

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Nydia M. Velazquez

Sunnyside Post, Ex-Fire Marshal and Woodside resident Bill Kregler, seeks to unseat Rep. Velazquez in NY-7

Bill is retired. He previously worked as a housing police officer, firefighter, and fire marshal in New York City. 

Ballotpedia

Bill Kregler previously ran for Queens Borough President in 2017, but he did not win.


Candidate website

Supports increasing the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction to relieve taxpayers with higher state and local tax burdens.

Supports raising the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap to help relieve taxpayers with higher state and local tax burdens.

Supports a 0% state tax rate for individuals under 25 and parents under 30 to encourage financial relief and economic growth among the youth and young families.

Wants a 0% state tax rate for individuals under 25 and parents under the age of 30 to encourage financial relief and economic growth among youth and young families.

Supports implementing private-public partnerships to address housing shortages for families.

Wants to establish private-public partnerships to address housing shortages for families.

Advocates eliminating property taxes for residents aged 70 and older.

Advocates for eliminating property taxes for residents aged 70 and older.

Supports federal small business loans with a 5% interest rate for low and medium-income individuals.

Wants to implement federal small business loans with a 5% interest rate for low and medium-income individuals.

Supports proposing new federal funding to repair and modernize roadways nationwide.

Wants to secure federal funding to repair and modernize roadways nationwide.

Proposes new legislation for funding to repair roads and pilot glow-in-the-dark lanes to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians, especially during low-light and inclement weather.

Wants to pilot "glow-in-the-dark lanes" to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians, especially during low-light and inclement weather.

- Supports raising the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap to help relieve taxpayers with higher state and local tax burdens.
- Wants a 0% state tax rate for individuals under 25 and parents under the age of 30 to encourage financial relief and economic growth among youth and young families.
- Wants to establish private-public partnerships to address housing shortages for families.
- Advocates for eliminating property taxes for residents aged 70 and older.
- Wants to implement federal small business loans with a 5% interest rate for low and medium-income individuals.
- Wants to secure federal funding to repair and modernize roadways nationwide.
- Wants to pilot "glow-in-the-dark lanes" to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians, especially during low-light and inclement weather.

Supports mandatory 1-year prison sentences for those caught transporting illegal guns into New York, with no plea bargaining.

Wants to establish mandatory 1-year prison sentences for unlawfully transporting firearms into New York, with no plea bargaining.

- Wants to establish mandatory 1-year prison sentences for unlawfully transporting firearms into New York, with no plea bargaining.

As of September 19, 2024, Bill Kregler’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports dedicated funding to address flooding and protect homeowners from sea level rise impacts.

Wants to dedicate funding to address flooding and protect homeowners from sea level rise impacts.

- Wants to dedicate funding to address flooding and protect homeowners from sea level rise impacts.

Supports allocating resources to strengthen border security by increasing funding, recruiting more Border Patrol agents, and implementing a comprehensive strategy to stop illegal immigration.

Supports allocating resources to strengthen border security by increasing funding, recruiting more Border Patrol agents, and implementing a comprehensive strategy to stop undocumented immigration.

- Supports allocating resources to strengthen border security by increasing funding, recruiting more Border Patrol agents, and implementing a comprehensive strategy to stop undocumented immigration.

Supports allocating resources to establish technical training programs in public schools nationwide, providing students with alternative career pathways.

Supports reintroducing civics classes in every school and requiring community service projects for graduation to promote civic responsibility and engagement.

Wants to pass legislation reintroducing civics classes in every school and mandating community service projects for graduation to promote civic responsibility and engagement.

Supports improving children's education by providing more apprenticeship and trade paths for in-demand services such as auto repair, plumbing, electricity, and carpentry.

Wants more apprenticeship and trade paths for careers in auto repair, plumbing, electricity, and carpentry industries. 

Wants to invest more in technology in classrooms to streamline teaching methods.

- Supports allocating resources to establish technical training programs in public schools nationwide, providing students with alternative career pathways.
- Wants to pass legislation reintroducing civics classes in every school and mandating community service projects for graduation to promote civic responsibility and engagement.
- Wants more apprenticeship and trade paths for careers in auto repair, plumbing, electricity, and carpentry industries. 
- Wants to invest more in technology in classrooms to streamline teaching methods.

Bill Kregler

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. New York currently has 26 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a US Citizen for at least seven years before their election and a New York resident. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.