Nydia Velázquez

Nydia Velazquez is the Democratic party representative from New York's 7th Congressional District. In 1992 Velazquez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House. Velazquez is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Dinkins and the DSA

Velasquez received endorsements from Mayor David Dinkins, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Jesse Jackson, Rep. Jose Serrano and other prominent Progressives. Karen Ackerman ran the effort for Dinkins in Brooklyn for the Central Labor Council in 1989. As Velasquez's campaign manager in 1992, Ackerman ran the successful campaign against incumbent Steven Solarz for the newly created Congressional seat in the 12th District of New York. Moving to Washington, DC after the race, Ackerman served as Chief of Staff for Rep. Velazaquez until 1996.

Congressional career

In her speech to the Rainbow Coalition Leadership Summit, February 19, 1993, Velázquez paid tribute to the late Jesus Colon, a Communist Party USA (CPUSA) member and author of A Puerto Rican in New York. The speech was re-printed in full in the CPUSA's official organ, People’s Weekly World of March 6, 1993.

Velesquez, Maxine Waters and Alcee Hastings were arrested and handcuffed in May 1994, in front of the White House in a protest against the Clinton administration policy of forcibly returning Haitian refugees.

On October 7, 1994 Velesquez, Bernie Sanders, Maurice Hinchey and Major Owens, introduced the "Jobs and Investment Bill" which would appropriate $42 billion for "make work" construction and infrastructure projects.

In 1995 Velázquez, Marcy Kaptur, Peter DeFazio, Gene Taylor and Bernie Sanders co-sponsored a Bill, to force the US to withdraw from NAFTA within 90 days.

In 1995, Nancy Pelosi, Velasquez, Bernie Sanders, David Bonior, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Cynthia McKinney, Maurice Hinchey, Major Owens, John Conyers, Bob Filner, Alcee Hastings, Lane Evans, Edolphus Towns, Jim McDermott, supported DSA Rep. Ron Dellums' "Living Wage, Jobs for all Act."

Velasquez took part in an Institute for Policy Studies and Share The Wealth Project discussion on "Eliminating Corporate Welfare."

In 1997 Rep. Matthew Martinez of California introduced the "Martinez Public Works Jobs Bill" at the the request of the Los Angeles Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs. The leaders of the Coalition and its only affiliate, the New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs, are all members and supporters of the Communist Party USA. The bill had 33 original co-sponsors, including Velasquez.

This is the most significant jobs legislation introduced in Congress since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal established the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This bill is the WPA-type program for today. It has strong provisions which will put hundreds of thousands of unemployed building trades workers to work as well as provide jobs for victims of plant closures, welfare recipients who are parents, youth, and the long term unemployed. The public works projects which will be established under this bill will be built in communities with the highest levels of unemployment and with the greatest needs.

The goal of the New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs is to build the movement to pass the Martinez Jobs bill as part of the National Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs. You can help by asking your union, community organization, or local government body to to join those who have already passed resolutions to endorse the bill. Such a resolution has been introduced in the New York City Council. Calling on additional Congressional Representatives to co-sponsor the bill is very important. We will be organizing petition campaigns, visits to elected officials, and demonstrations and other actions for a public works jobs program.