Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Meng, and Local Electeds Issue Joint Statement on Federal Funding Cuts for Flooding

QUEENS, NY – Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Grace Meng (NY-06) and other elected officials from Queens issued the following joint statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to revoke federal money to address flooding in Queens, in particular cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The elected officials include State Senators John Liu and Jessica Ramos; Assembly Members Catalina Cruz, Larinda Hooks, Jessica González-Rojas, and Nily Rozic; and Council Members Francisco Moya and Sandra Ung.

“The Administration's decision to slash more than $300 million in federal funding for infrastructure projects across New York State is unacceptable and it will have devastating impacts in Queens. This includes vital funding to combat flooding, such as cutting $46 million through the Kissena Corridor Cloudburst Hub and $47 million for the Corona East Cloudburst Hub. We all remember how Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on our borough. Lives were lost, and homes and businesses sustained extensive damage. We fought hard for these needed funds and without the money, more lives and property will be put at risk. We should be better prepared against the threat of future flooding and mitigate the effects of severe storms and heavy rainfall which we continue to experience year after year. But slashing this funding will leave us less prepared and susceptible to more devastation. We urge the administration to immediately abandon this reckless decision.”

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