Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives approved $850,000 to benefit three programs in New York’s 12th Congressional District.  The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act.  Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) said the funds will be used to provide career training services, English language education and community health resources to low-income residents.  She pledged to continue working to support local organizations that bring vital services toNew York City’s working families.

“These organizations exemplify the longstanding New York City tradition of neighbors helping neighbors.  Their programs help low-income and immigrant populations obtain job training, health care and English language education,” Velázquez said.

The funding Velázquez secured in the Labor, Health and Education appropriations bill will benefit three important projects:

• El Puente: $500,000 from the Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention for developing a community health institute and wellness center.  It will provide Brooklyn youth and their families with information on disease prevention and management. The health initiative will focus on diseases that impact the North Brooklyn community, including obesity, diabetes, STDs, HIV/AIDS and environmentally-connected diseases like asthma.

• Make the Road New York: $200,000 from the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration to support an English and Economic Literacy Project, which provides language and financial education in low-income, primarily immigrant communities.  The program will target women in the Bushwick community, seeking to help the residents acquire the written and conversational language skills needed to gain long-term employment.  In addition, participants will be taught about the importance of financial planning, debt management and budgeting.

• St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation: $150,000 from the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration to establish a workforce program that provides training in environmental remediation and commercial driver’s license operation, and connects employers with job seekers.  St. Nick’s is working with the Partnership of Brownfield Practitioners to prepare low-skilled workers for careers in green jobs in the Brownfield remediation industry. These funds will support 35 workers in the first year of the program’s implementation.

“By equipping New Yorkers with the skills and resources needed to lead healthy lives and acquire good jobs, we can help them rise out of poverty and strengthen our local communities,” said Velázquez.

On Friday, July 24, the FY2010 Labor, Health and Education Appropriations bill passed the House by a vote of 264 to 153.  The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for approval.