“Our nation’s leading scientists and researchers have developed a vaccine that has been tested and produced based on science to meet our highest standards of safety and effectiveness,” said Espaillat.

 

“Today, I was administered the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID19 vaccine to ensure my constituents of its safety and effectiveness. I understand that many individuals, especially within minority communities, have expressed their concerns about being among the first to take the vaccine, and I fully believe that this is the first of many significant steps that I, along with each of us, must take in order to help stop the spread of this virus that is devastating our communities.”

 

Posting a photo on Twitter of himself getting vaccinated, along with a shorter statement, the congressman continued, “My district has been hit hardest by this deadly pandemic, with many loved ones taken from us far too soon. As the virus continues to overwhelm our hospitals and emergency personnel, we each have a responsibility and role to play and must answer the call to action to help keep our families safe, our communities strong and to help us rebuild and recover from the impact this pandemic has had on each of us and our economy.”

 

In other news, on Thursday, Dec. 17, Espaillat confirmed his appointment in the 117th Congress to serve on the influential House appropriations committee, responsible for financing the federal government’s activities. Of the appointment, he said that representing his constituency and having a voice on decisions determining government funding was critical to the fight for New York families, and the issues impacting them the most.

 

“The powerful Appropriations Committee has an important say in crafting how federal agencies invest in our communities and how they carry out their duties,” the congressman said in a written statement, adding that he was honored to have been chosen to serve on the committee and thanked the Democratic leadership and his colleagues for their confidence and support in him.

 

In his four years in Congress, Espaillat’s office said he has secured multiple wins in congressional appropriations legislation, including funding for body cameras for border patrol agents, a higher budget for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, investment in critical infrastructure projects like the Second Avenue Subway, and investment in key federal nutrition programs. He will be one of just two New Yorkers to serve on the Appropriations Committee, as well as the only member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s leadership and one of just two naturalized citizens on the panel.

 

“I’m excited about this new opportunity, and as two, long-time New York champions depart from this key panel, I look forward to carrying the torch to continue advocating for New Yorkers’ interests at the federal level,” he said. “As a new member of this influential committee, I will remain committed to fostering a more equitable society, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, getting our economy back on track by investing in our infrastructure, protecting immigrant communities, and supporting our next generation,” he added.

 

The two New York members currently serving on the appropriations committee are retiring Congressman José E. Serrano, representing the 15th congressional district which covers Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Melrose, High Bridge, Morrisania, East Tremont, Tremont, Morris Heights, University Heights, Belmont, Fordham, Bedford Park, West Farms, the Longwood Avenue Historic District, and parts of Soundview, and Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, representing the 17th congressional district covering the Lower Hudson Valley of New York State, which includes central and northwestern Westchester County and all of Rockland County. Lowey is also the current committee chair.

 

Serrano will be succeeded, on his retirement, by Congressman-elect Ritchie Torres who, himself, was elected to the powerful House Committee on Financial Services and, as recently reported by Norwood News, has also been been elected to a new leadership role in the 117th Congress, as the representative of the newly elected, Democratic members of Congress in “the Crescendo”. In this position, Torres will represent his colleagues in weekly crescendo meetings with House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and House caucus chairs.

 

I am honored to be appointed to the powerful House Committee on Financial Services, which oversees @HUDgov, @USTreasury, and @federalreserve. Financial Services is one of only four exclusive committees. I look forward to bringing my Bronx roots to the halls of Congress. pic.twitter.com/3IgPfKhWZc

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) December 18, 2020

 

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who is 77 and reportedly a Pelosi ally, has been elected as the next chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

 

On the same day, Espaillat also released a statement following the introduction of his legislation, the COVID-19 Cold Storage Expansion Act of 2020. He said with the planned upcoming meetings by the vaccines and related biological products advisory committee, which reviews the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidates, Congress needed to make sure that all willing providers would be able to receive, store, and deliver the vaccines if approved.

 

“The COVID-19 Cold Storage (law) would allow providers who complete and sign the CDC COVID–19 vaccination program provider agreement to be reimbursed for the costs of purchasing new equipment that would meet the specific standards as recommended by the CDC,” he said.

 

“Allowing more providers to be registered in their city, state, and region to receive and administer these mRNA vaccines will be a critical part of the wider vaccination campaign that must occur to successfully combat this COVID-19 virus,” Espaillat continued. “While the priority in the near term will be vaccination of frontline health care workers, elderly residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities and essential workers, this legislation will benefit all cities and regions as the wider vaccination campaigns begin in 2020 and continue into 2021.”