A Successful Last Month of 2007

During December 2007 Congressman Fossella was instrumental in - 

Gaining concessions from the MTA which will alleviate some of the Verrazano Bridge traffic

Protecting thousands of local taxpayers from a $2000 tax hike in 2008

Extending the State Children's Health Insurance Program

Moving closer to a new Anti-Terror Team for NYC

Securing more Money to help treat those who are sick as a result of 9/11

Protecting Medicare beneficiaries' access to inpatient rehab services

Keeping the Emergency Room open at Victory Memorial Hospital

Boosting Homeland Security Funding for High Threat Areas

Major Improvements to Verrazano Bridge Construction Project to Help Beleaguered Commuters are Announced

After months of battling the MTA, Congressman Vito Fossella recently announced several major improvements to the Verrazano Bridge construction project, including the creation of a new HOV+2 contraflow lane on the Gowanus Expressway running from 65th Street to 92nd Street that could slash commute times by as much as 30 minutes in the afternoon.

The new lane, along with plans to convert the existing west-bound, bus-only lane on the Staten Island Expressway to HOV+2, has the potential to save commuters even more time so they can be home with their families instead of sitting in traffic. 

The announcement of the improvements came on the same day that Fossella, Councilman James Oddo, Senator Andrew Lanza, Councilman Vincent Ignizio and Assemblyman Lou Tobacco were expected in court for a hearing on the lawsuit they filed against the MTA in November over the construction project. The lawmakers said that while the improvements are a positive step forward, they will continue to pursue the legal action as well as more roadway and mass transit enhancements to help commuters.

House Leadership Heeds Fossella’s Call to Prevent Tax Hike on Middle-Income Americans

Following months of delay by the House leadership to bring to the floor a bill to prevent a massive tax hike on millions of middle-income Americans, Congressman Fossella’s call for action was heeded on the final day of the 2008 legislative session. 

Fossella voted to prevent 23 million middle-class families from having to pay as much as $2,000 more in taxes next year due to the alternative minimum tax (AMT). The House leadership relented after Fossella and others pressured them to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. The legislation passed and millions of middle-income Americans who are already struggling to make ends meet will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Fossella Votes to Extend State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) through March 2009

The S-CHIP program has been a huge success in providing healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured children. It has played a key role in ensuring that children receive proper care and has helped put millions of young Americans on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

That is why Congressman Fossella, one of only 45 Republicans to support the legislation, reached across the aisle earlier this year to increase funding for the program by an additional $35 billion over five years. The legislation would have expanded coverage for nearly 4 million children nationwide and 268,000 in New York alone.

Despite the many advantages of this legislation, House leaders ultimately gave up the fight and passed an extension of the current program through March 2009. While extending the program was important, Fossella argued that expanding it to cover more children would have benefited society as a whole because taxpayers would save when children receive proper preventative care and learn of medical conditions sooner.

New York Members Secure $3.8M to Bring Elite Anti-Terror Team to Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn

Congressman Fossella continues to take the lead to keep New Yorkers safe from another terrorist attack. In his latest victory, Fossella joined with Congressman Peter King to bring home $3.8 million in federal funds 

to establish an elite terror response team at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

The highly-specialized team, known as a CST, is comprised of Army and Air National Guard personnel and brings unique capabilities to local first responders across the state. 22-member team deploys rapidly to assist emergency management personnel in determining the nature of an incident of known or suspected chemical, biological or radiological agents.

Fossella successfully argued that a CST at Fort Hamilton would ensure that our first responders have the manpower, resources and training they need to respond to a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction.

Earlier this year, the Members again teamed up by securing the commitment to site the CST at Fort Hamilton. Prior to that, the lawmakers worked with the New York State Congressional delegation to secure $4.8 million in federal funds to start-up the unit and an additional $3 million in federal monies for the CST. At present, a Captain and a First Sergeant have been assigned to the unit as a first step in its formation. 

Landmark Funding for Sick and Injured 9/11 Responders & Others is Secured

Congressman Fossella fulfilled another pledge to the unsung heroes of 9/11 by helping to bring home $158 million in federal funds to provide medical monitoring and treatment for all who are sick or injured as a result of the terrorist attacks. For the first time ever, 9/11 responders, area workers, residents and others will have access to monitoring and healthcare to treat illnesses and injuries that resulted from breathing the toxic air over Ground Zero.

Fossella has served as a national leader on the issue of 9/11 health, working closely with Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, NYS AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes and local construction and trade unions to focus attention on the issue and address the needs of those who are sick. Previously, Fossella helped restore $125 million in funding that was rescinded by the President for healthcare for first responders and also secured the commitment to appoint a 9/11 Health Czar to coordinate the federal government’s response to the emerging health crisis.

Fossella Declares Victory in Battle to Preserve Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Services

Congressman Fossella has played a key role in Congress fighting to expand access to healthcare. And in late December, he helped pass legislation that ensures Staten Island and Brooklyn patients continue to have access to short-term rehabilitation following common medical procedures like hip, knee and joint replacements or cardiac surgery 

Under a Medicare regulation known as the “75% rule,” hospitals with rehabilitation units would essentially be forced to turn away patients who do not have 1 of 13 qualifying (and typically, more serious) medical conditions to meet an artificial quota set by bureaucrats in Washington. As a result, hundreds of patients a year who would benefit from rehabilitation in a hospital setting would be denied access to care to help them recover and return to an active, healthy lifestyle more quickly.

The vote blocked the 75% rule from taking effect, ensuring that Staten Islanders and Brooklynites would continue to have access to the care they need.

Fossella helps keep Victory Memorial Emergency Room Open through March

Just days after filing a lawsuit against the State Department of Health over the closure of Victory Memorial Hospital, some encouraging news was received-- the emergency room will remain open for another six months.

The hospital and its emergency room were expected to close by February 1, but the reprieve gives Fossella and other local officials more time to fight to preserve critical healthcare services in the community.

Indeed, the battle will heat up on January 11, 2008, when Fossella, along with State Senator Marty Golden and City Councilman Vincent Gentile, square off against the State in the first court hearing of their lawsuit. Judge Gerald Held of Brooklyn State Supreme Court has ordered all parties to court that day to begin proceedings on the lawsuit. The group will argue that the State’s decision threatens the health and well-being of residents of our community and should be overturned.

Crowley/Fossella/Garrett/Matsui Amendment Helps Boost Homeland Security Funding for High-Threat Cities By $50 Million vs. FY 07

New York could stand to gain millions more in homeland security funding thanks to an amendment authored and passed by  a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The money, which is distributed using a risk-based formula, helps high-threat cities like New York to train and better equip first responders, enhance communication systems to assure preparedness and improve the monitoring of critical infrastructure.

The amendment, which increased funding to $820 million for Fiscal Year 2008, will allow our City’s first responders to train, prepare and be ready to protect innocent New Yorkers from acts of terrorism. Fossella has repeatedly fought to end the pork barrel distribution of homeland security funding, arguing that our tax dollars must be directed to the areas that are being targeted by terrorists for attack.

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