Nydia Velazquez

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Nydia Velázquez currently serves the 12th Congressional district of New York

Nydia Margarita Velázquez was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1992, representing New York's 12th District (map), which includes parts of Brooklyn, Queens and Lower Manhattan.

Record and controversies

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Nydia Velazquez voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Velazquez voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Disaster assistance

In 2007, Rep. Velazquez sponsored a bill aimed at better preparing the Small Business Administration (SBA) for responding to disasters impacting small businesses. The bill would direct the Administrator to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written disaster plan to include disasters most likely to occur in any given SBA region, an assessment of a disaster and the most likely demand for SBA help in the aftermath. The SBA plan would also be required to outline the SBA’s needs for information technology, telecommunications, human resources, office space needed to meet demand, and how it would coordinate with other federal agencies. The Administrator would also need to appoint a Director for Disaster Planning and a Director for Disaster Lending. In addition, an annual disaster simulation exercise would be ordered once each year. A disaster reserve corps would be created and implemented within the SBA and would consist of at least 1,000 individuals who would not ordinarily have the duties of a full-time officer or employee, but would be able to assume duties related to disaster response when necessary. On April 19, the measure passed the House 267-158.

Main article: U.S. congressional actions to provide disaster assistance

Bio

Background

Velázquez was born March 28, 1953 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, and she is the first Puerto Rican woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.

In 1969, when Velázquez was only 16, she enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico. In 1974 she graduated with high honors and became the first one in her family to receive a college diploma. Velázquez then went to New York studied political science at New York University. In 1976 she received her Master's degree. Velázquez was a university professor for many years, first in the University of Puerto Rico and then at New York's Hunter College.

In 1983, Velázquez was appointed Special Assistant to Representative Edolphus Towns, member of the House of Representatives for Brooklyn. In 1984, she became the first Latina appointed to serve as a member of the New York City Council.

Congressional Career

In 1992, Velázquez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 12th District The 12th district includes parts of Brooklyn, Queens and Lower Manhattan. Velázquez also became the first Hispanic woman to serve as Ranking Democratic Member of the House Small Business Committee. She oversees federal programs and contracts totaling $200 billion dollars annually. Velázquez also serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

Among Velázquez's "firsts" are: The first Hispanic woman to serve on New York City's Council; the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in Congress; The first woman Ranking Democratic Member of the House Small Business Committee and Hispanic Business Magazine's first "Woman of the Year."

2006 elections

In 2006, the Republicans nominated Allan E. Romaguera to face Velazquez in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [1] Velazquez retained her seat.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00001102&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Nydia Velazquez from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by industry:	2006 election cycle	Career totals

• Revolving door profile for Nydia Velazquez from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• 2006 privately funded travel profile for Nydia Velazquez from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• Personal finance profile for Nydia Velazquez from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on Small Business -Chair
• House Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises
• House Committee on Small Business - Ranking Minority Member

Coalitions and Caucuses

• Chair, Business and Economic Development Task Force
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Congressional Census Caucus
• Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
• Congressional Children's Caucus
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus
• Congressional Human Rights Caucus
• Congressional Job and Fair Trade Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Congressional Urban Caucus
• Democratic Regional Whip
• Education, Immigration and Livable Communities Task Force
• Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Caucus
• House Democratic Caucus
• Older American's Caucus
• Member, New York Jobs with Justice

Boards and other Affiliations

• Member, New York Jobs with Justice

More Background Data

• Background information on Nydia Velazquez from Project Vote Smart

• Interest group scorecard ratings for Nydia Velazquez from Project Vote Smart

• Voting record for Nydia Velazquez from the Washington Post database

• Information on Nydia Velazquez from Congress Merge

Wikipedia also has an article on Nydia Velazquez. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
2241 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3212
Phone: 202-225-2361
Fax: 202-226-0327
Web Email
Website

District Office- Brooklyn:
268 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 718-599-3658
Fax:

District Office- Brooklyn:
16 Court Street, Suite 1006
Brooklyn, NY 11241
Phone: 718-222-5819
Fax:

Articles and Resources

Resources

• Official website
• Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

• Gur, "The Phattest Bubble You've Ever Seen?", Room Eight, May 12, 2006.
• Gur, "What Part Of "You Will Pimp My Pay to $168K" Did You Not Understand?", Room Eight, June 30, 2006.
• Congressional Wire, "Earth to Congress - Come In!", Room Eight, July 11, 2006.
• Gur, "Why Bother?", Room Eight, July 12, 2006.
• Angela Burton, "NY Control In a Democratic House," Room Eight, November 6, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

• Simply Left Behind

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position: None	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses: Chair, Business and Economic Development Task Force; Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; Congressional Census Caucus; Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues; Congressional Children's Caucus; Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Congressional Human Rights Caucus; Congressional Job and Fair Trade Caucus; Congressional Progressive Caucus; Congressional Urban Caucus; Democratic Regional Whip; Education, Immigration and Livable Communities Task Force; Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Caucus; House Democratic Caucus; Older American's Caucus
Committees: House Committee on Financial Services, House Committee on Financial Services/Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, House Committee on Financial Services/Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, House Committee on Financial Services/Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Small Business
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: November 3, 1992	First Took Current Office: January 3, 1993	Next Election: November 4, 2008	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work? New York City Council	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 268 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11211 Phone: 718-599-3658 / Fax: 2. 16 Court Street, Suite 1006, Brooklyn, NY 11241 Phone: 718-222-5819 / Fax:
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: March 28, 1953