Nadler, Jerrold RSS Articles

Nadler Statement On H.R. 8595 Votes

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement regarding House consideration of H.R. 8595:

“Today the House voted on H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2027. This legislation will weaken diplomatic and development capacities critical to national security and further isolate America on the global stage. Among other devastating cuts, it slashes $1.1 billion from international organizations—a blatant attempt to undermine American diplomacy around the world, as well as efforts to bolster global health and combat the climate crisis. The bill also includes specific and heinous attacks on women and LGBTQ+ individuals globally. Republicans also cruelly attached unrelated legislation to this bill that would undermine Americans’ democratic rights, including the fundamental right to vote, in service of a cynical partisan political agenda.

“In addition to the underlying bill, the House also considered several dangerous amendments, including amendments that would undermine efforts to build a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

“Most significantly, the overly broad Massie amendment, which imposes a blanket prohibition on any funds in the bill being used for Israel, including embassy operations, critical peacebuilding programs like the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Program (MEPPA), and more. MEPPA is the legacy of my dear late friend and colleague Nita Lowey and plays a critical role in peacebuilding and people-to-people relations between Israelis and Palestinians. Such efforts are absolutely necessary for real progress ever to be made in the region towards a viable, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

“I have made no secret my opinion of Prime Minister Netanyahu. I have often called him the worst leader in Jewish history since the Maccabean king who invited the Romans into Jerusalem over 2100 years ago. Netanyahu is responsible for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, growing isolation in the region and around the world, and partisan politicization within American politics. He is responsible for the attempts to undermine Israel’s democratic character in service of keeping himself from facing justice, and for using the lives of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians as political pawns in his monomaniacal quest to cling to power. Under his leadership, Hamas grew a stronghold in Gaza with tragically disastrous results, and the Palestinian Authority has been shortsightedly weakened, undermining any viable alternative. Settler violence has surged in the West Bank, and new Palestinian terrorist entities have arisen. In short, Netanyahu has been a disaster for Israel and for all those around the world concerned with the future of the region.

“I do not question the many well-intentioned supporters of the amendment who voted for it as a means of sending a message of disapproval of Israel’s actions. I share their disapproval of these actions, and I will never shy away from expressing my critiques of Israel’s behavior loudly and publicly without fear. However, I refuse to support prohibiting funding for the very peace-building programs and activities that are perhaps our best hope at present of improving the reality on the ground and building towards long-term peace. These programs, funded in memory of Chairwoman Lowey, are persistently under attack, with their funding under constant risk. I simply will not join those undermining the heroic efforts of these peace-seekers.

“I also want to strongly oppose the Tenney amendment, which called on the House to support upending the precarious status quo on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. As a progressive, I believe that religious freedom and equal access for all are important principles governing international relations. This amendment, however, fundamentally misapplied these principles to a tenuous and potentially dangerous situation on the Temple Mount. The status quo on the Temple Mount exists in a delicate arrangement, which is best explained by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s own words: “Muslims pray on the Temple Mount; non-Muslims visit the Temple Mount.” This policy was established in 1967 after Israel conquered the territory on which the Temple Mount stands, and it has been regularly reaffirmed by every Israeli Prime Minister and Government since.

“It is only now, when there are extremists and previously convicted terrorists serving as members of the Israeli cabinet, that this extremely delicate agreement has begun to erode. Over the past years, instigated by Israel’s so-called “Minister of National Security,” radical Israeli extremists have been methodically testing the limits and attempting to move the goal posts of the fragile status quo agreement. These provocateurs understand the implications of their actions. In fact, many of the most important Ultra-Orthodox and Orthodox Rabbis in Israel forbid visiting the top of the Temple Mount on religious grounds. But these agitators and instigators selectively seek out particular Rabbinic advice that place kosher certifications on their inciting actions.

“It was former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount that many believe triggered the outbreak of the Second Intifada. And in recent years, social media clips exposing Israeli police beating Muslim worshipers in and around al-Aqsa Mosque with clubs and rifle butts have provoked violent responses and provided the pretext for rockets from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and more. Any attempts to change the letter, or even the spirit, of the status quo agreement on the Temple Mount has the potential to beget untold levels of violence and further dramatically destabilize the region.

“In addition to these amendments, I oppose the amendment aimed at defunding assistance to our vital ally Jordan, the United Nations and its important diplomacy around the world, the Global Environment Facility aiding in climate resilience in light of climate change around the world, and the Fulbright Program, which is the gold-standard of education and cultural exchange programs.

“I am also deeply disappointed that the Republican majority refused to allow consideration of my bipartisan amendment to prohibit the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues (SEHI) from being eliminated or merged into another office. SEHI is the only office in the U.S. Government solely dedicated to advocating for Holocaust survivors. As I have said before, if this Administration truly cared about Holocaust survivors, they would strengthen the SEHI office—not eliminate it.

“Today’s legislation will make the world less safe and less secure for generations to come. Unfortunately, I was unable to vote due to a family medical emergency in New York. Had I been present, I would have voted against this deeply shameful bill and the dangerous amendments considered by the House. When this bill is sent to the Senate, I urge them to take a more responsible course.”

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Jerrold Nadler: Penn Station Won’t Fund Itself

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

New York, N.Y. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) wrote about the glaring lack of answers on the funding on the massive Penn Station Renovation. Read his essay, published in The New York Times, below:

As the congressman who has for decades represented the district that is home to Penn Station, I have always been a staunch supporter of renovating the transit hub. For nearly 34 years, as I’ve commuted to Washington, I’ve experienced the decay and neglect that have befallen this station. It’s clear that Penn Station fails to meet New York City’s needs, and I welcome the chance to renovate and renew this vital piece of American infrastructure.

Penn Station is the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere, and it needs to be modernized. As ridership increases, Penn Station’s infrastructure must be updated to meet the needs of riders — making the station easier to navigate, more accessible for all and safer. But with President Trump at the helm, this project has so far been mismanaged as a backroom deal between billionaires and the politicians who serve them.

For years, New York state and local officials have tried to renovate Penn Station. Every effort has run aground on the same problem: cost. Past estimates have been as high as $22 billion. New York residents and commuters should not be held singularly responsible for a project that benefits residents and travelers alike. Past attempts often prioritized appearances over functionality and never fully resolved how the project would be paid for.

Now, with the Gateway Tunnel under construction — which will modernize train tracks under the Hudson River and double the capacity for passenger transit between New Jersey and New York — our city, state and federal governments have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally deliver a Penn Station renovation. Mr. Trump’s administration has made that far harder.

The New York public deserves immediate answers about who will pay for the Penn Station renovation. The cost estimate for the project is $8 billion, but the process has been shrouded in secrecy from the beginning, and that figure cannot be corroborated. One glaring omission from the vague plans is the cost of purchasing and demolishing the Madison Square Garden theater to build the new entrance to Penn Station. How much will the facility’s owner, the billionaire James Dolan, charge?

The likely truth: The Trump administration plans to stick New York residents and public transit riders with the massive cost of this development. We must have transparency on where every taxpayer dollar is being spent.

When the Trump administration wrested control of the Penn Station renovation project from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority last year, the president made it clear that crucial state and local partners would not be needed and that necessary public oversight would not be considered. Behind closed doors, Mr. Trump has already attempted a quid pro quo, offering federal funding for New York’s transit needs only if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed for him. Mr. Trump reportedly held a nonpublic meeting with Mr. Dolan and the real estate investor Steven Roth at the White House. Key decisions — like whether to move the events venue — were seemingly on the table, but without essential public disclosure.

Later, Mr. Trump shared his dreams for the Penn Station renovation. Madison Square Garden would no longer change location, and Mr. Trump focused on aesthetics rather than practical necessities. How those decisions were made and what promises may have been offered were not shared with the public. Without further disclosure, the series of events stinks of possible self-dealing, even corruption.

Like the planning process, the developer selection process is happening behind closed doors. This will be one of the most important and most expensive projects in the country, yet there was no public oversight. The public does not know what was discussed, what deals and incentives were offered or whether anyone in the room ever raised the question of who would pay. And in Congress, some are trying to seize New York’s tax dollars outright — handing Amtrak unprecedented power over local zoning and stripping away our tax revenue, with no negotiation and no input. We cannot let that stand.

Last month, the Office of Management and Budget requested supplemental funding for the Department of Defense to cover the money that has been spent illegally on Mr. Trump’s war in Iran. That request also included $1 billion for Penn Station, the first time the Trump administration acknowledged that federal funding may be used for the project. It’s still $7 billion short, and with top appropriators already opposing the supplemental funding request, it’s unlikely to be approved anyway.

Andy Byford, a former transit executive in London, Toronto and New York, was appointed by the Trump administration to lead the Penn Station project. While Mr. Byford is rightly credited for his prior work, in his new role he is only adding to the project’s opacity. He claimed that transit riders wouldn’t feel the pain of this project, then cautioned that his word could not be taken as a promise.

No other administration official has delivered any kind of commitment to protect riders from bearing the brunt of this massive cost. In 2020, Mr. Byford resigned as New York City’s subway chief after Andrew Cuomo, then the governor, pressured him to work against the best interests of the city’s public transit. It is time for him to show the same courage and not sell out the integrity of Penn Station to Mr. Trump’s vanity and corporate greed. Mr. Byford must address the source of funding and compel the administration to prove that this project won’t be completed at the expense of New Yorkers.

Mr. Trump’s record here is clear. He has repeatedly attacked New York City transportation and infrastructure, attempting to roll back congestion pricing, withhold the Gateway tunnel funding and block transit security funding that would help prevent terrorist attacks. We cannot let him do so again by using the renovation of Penn Station as just another one of his vanity projects.

New Yorkers are accustomed to bright lights and beautiful architecture. Indeed, the new facility that has been planned looks magnificent in carefully made artistic renderings. But we will not be duped by the gimmick being sold to us. We cannot allow necessary accountability, transparency and reliability to be compromised by pleasing drawings. Had a less self-dealing president decided to give the federal government a greater role in the Penn Station redevelopment, I would enthusiastically partner with officials and stakeholders on the project. Federal financial help and planning acumen are undoubtedly necessary to rebuild the station. I am not opposed to a beautiful, renewed and reliable Penn Station. I am opposed to a process that keeps New Yorkers outside the room while the country’s wealthiest and most powerful decide the fate of millions of New Yorkers — and everyone who passes through Penn Station.

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Nadler Statement On Trump's Newly Announced "Deal" With Iran

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement following Donald Trump's announcement of a deal with Iran to end the war he started:

Donald Trump is attempting to claim credit as a peacemaker after creating the very crisis he claims he has ended. The American people are left to bear the costs: 13 American servicemembers killed, countless Iranian civilians dead, and more than $50 billion of taxpayer dollars spent on an illegal and unauthorized war. Announcing a half-baked agreement and declaring victory on his birthday is straight out of the authoritarian playbook. It does nothing to erase the consequences of the reckless decision to start a war.

And the substance of this agreement raises serious questions of its own.

For years, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans attacked President Obama's Iran agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), for its focus only on Iran’s nuclear program and not its missiles, proxies, or regional aggression.

Now, Trump has reportedly reached an agreement with Iran that addresses none of those issues—and is even silent on the nuclear program itself!

Will Congressional Republicans oppose this agreement with the same ferocity they directed at the JCPOA, or were those objections never really about the substance?

I am strongly in favor of reaching a diplomatic solution with Iran to cease hostilities, curb their nuclear ambition, and prevent the destabilization of the region—but let’s be clear: this agreement is not that.

The agreement lacks transparency, so we cannot accurately comment on its scope or effectiveness. But from what we do know about it, it appears to fall far short of the JCPOA, which Trump famously scrapped. Under the JCPOA, there were international inspectors at every uranium enrichment plant in Iran, and the Iranians were required to sell all their enriched uranium to the Russians, which they did under international supervision. It sounds like Trump's deal costs more and does less. Thousands of people have died, billions of dollars have been wasted, and the cost of oil has skyrocketed, causing huge inflation for no benefit at all.

And all because Trump couldn't stand to admit that President Obama accomplished something worthwhile.

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Nadler And Holyman-Sigal: "Penn Station Belongs to New Yorkers"

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

New York, N.Y. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal sounded the alarm on the Trump administration's attempt to override the local authority of Penn Station by running a corrupt redevelopment process and pushing malicious legislation through Congress. Read their op-ed, published in Streetsblog, below:

We represent Penn Station.

We represent the riders who pass through it every day, the workers who keep it running, the businesses that depend on it, and the communities in Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, and the surrounding Manhattan neighborhoods that live with the consequences of every decision made about its future.

Penn Station is not an abstract national asset, a line item in a federal transportation plan, or a real estate opportunity for billionaires. It is essential local infrastructure at the center of New York City’s daily life.

Every day, more than 600,000 New Yorkers and regional commuters depend on Penn Station. Amtrak — the agency that owns this station and is now driving its redevelopment — serves just 7 percent of these riders; the MTA and NJ Transit serve 93 percent. And yet Amtrak, under the direction of the Trump White House, is making all the decisions. Without asking any of us.

Penn Station was built to accommodate 200,000 passengers a day. It now handles more than three times that number. It is not just overcrowded — it is operating in a state of permanent crisis. New Yorkers deserve better. But the answer to that crisis cannot be a secret deal that hands the station’s future to politically connected developers while locking out the public.

No one disputes that Penn Station needs to be renovated — this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we want to see it done.

But not like this.

This is also the same president who froze $16 billion in Gateway Tunnel funding and demanded Penn Station be renamed after him in exchange for releasing it. His own White House confirmed it. New Yorkers haven’t forgotten.

The appointment of Penn Transformation Partners as the “master developer” for Penn Station was made behind closed doors. No full public request for proposals was released. No complete cost estimate was disclosed. No public hearings were held. New York City, New York State, local elected officials, and the communities most affected were sidelined. And all three shortlisted developer teams have direct ties to Trump donors — and all three lobbied the White House directly for this contract.

This was not a competitive process. It was a political favor dressed up as one.

The MTA — whose riders make up the overwhelming majority of Penn Station’s daily users — was given no meaningful seat at the table. The MTA holds legally binding leasehold rights at Penn Station, rights it has relied on to invest in the 33rd Street corridor and protect the rider experience it is responsible for. Those rights must not be quietly bargained away in a process the MTA was deliberately excluded from.

And let us be direct about the money. Estimates put the total cost of this project up to $7 billion. The potential public shortfall is nearly $6 billion. Washington has committed just $43 million so far. Someone is going to be stuck with that bill. It will not be Donald Trump. It will not be the developers. It will be New York’s commuters — hit with surcharges on their MTA and NJ Transit tickets — and New York’s taxpayers, left absorbing costs they never agreed to fund.

There is also a dangerous piece of legislation moving through Congress that would make all of this worse. The McDowell and Moulton Amendment — adopted as part of the BUILD America 250 Act — would hand Amtrak sweeping new authority over development around intercity rail stations. It would allow Amtrak to own, lease, and enter into private development agreements around stations like Penn. It would let Amtrak-linked projects avoid state and local taxes, building codes, and zoning requirements.

In plain English: a federally controlled entity operating under Trump’s direction could gain the power to reshape land use around Penn Station while exempting itself from New York’s laws, weakening our tax base, and bypassing our communities. Not temporarily. Permanently.

Property taxes fund our schools, our public safety, our housing, and our basic services. Granting private developers exemption from those obligations — in one of the most valuable real estate markets in the world — is not transit-oriented development. It is a public giveaway on a breathtaking scale.

We are not against transit-oriented development. Done right — transparently, locally, in service of riders and communities — it can be a genuine public good. A real 24/7 neighborhood around Penn Station, with affordable housing, retail, and public spaces, would be transformative for this city. That is exactly the kind of vision New York deserves.

But that vision cannot be decided in a backroom deal between a president and his donors. It must be decided with the community, for the community.

New Yorkers deserve straight answers to basic questions. Who picked this developer and why? What will this project actually cost? Who will pay when the bill comes due? What happens to funding for subway repairs, accessibility upgrades, and state-of-good-repair work across the region? Will our tax base be protected? Will our zoning laws be respected?

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Nadler, New York City Local Elected Officials, Community Members Rally Against The Trump Takeover Of Penn Station

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In new letter to DOT Secretary Duffy, leaders demand answers for the secret, politically driven process that resulted in the appointment of Penn Transformation Partners as the “master developer” for the Penn Station renovation

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Assemblymembers Tony Simone (District 75) and Micah Lasher (District 69), State Senators Liz Krueger (District 28) and Erik Bottcher (District 47), and New York City Councilmember Carl Wilson (District 3) railed against Donald Trump’s attempt to make New Yorkers pay for his takeover of Penn Station.

“The Trump administration has weaponized the Department of Transportation against New Yorkers in a blatant attempt to steal money, land, and power," said the lawmakers. "The Penn Station redevelopment process has broken every precedent and trampled on the rights of New York City residents and the hundreds of thousands of riders who use Penn Station every day. There has been no transparency on the overall cost, who will pay this unknown price, no input from the MTA or key stakeholders, and no public proposal over which land will be used and for what purposes now or later. New Yorkers’ voices have been muted from the discussion happening between billionaires behind closed doors.

The lawmakers continued, “Additionally, the legislation moving through Congress right now—the McDowell and Moulton Amendment—is a blatant attempt to advance the Trump agenda, hurting New Yorkers in the process. The amendment strips away local control and hands broad authority to a Trump-controlled Amtrak and his real estate developer friends. These entities, all of whom have a significant financial stake in this project, would have the ability to permanently reshape land use around Penn Station while exempting themselves from New York’s laws, weakening our tax base, and bypassing our communities. Without any discussion or negotiation, Amtrak and big real estate would now be exempt from local zoning laws and New York City real estate taxes. The current process has already shown a disregard for New Yorkers. If the McDowell-Moulton Amendment is adopted, New Yorkers’ homes and hard-earned dollars will be up for grabs by Donald Trump and the billionaires and multinational corporations he handed this project to. This is an infringement on local authority and New Yorkers' pocketbooks."

"We represent Penn Station, the riders who rely on the transportation it facilitates, and the community members who live here. We will never stop fighting to make sure their voices are heard, and their hard-earned dollars are protected from corrupt efforts to fulfill Donald Trump’s fantasies for Penn Station and New York City,” said the lawmakers.

"Before anything else, Penn Station's rebuild should save commuters time and money," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "A secret selection process and legislative land grab are the opposite of the transparency and accountability riders deserve. We must have reassurance that riders' needs aren't taking a back seat to private ambition. With so much at stake for millions of people far beyond the West Side of Manhattan, it's essential that New York leaders have a seat at the table to protect what belongs to riders and advance our needs throughout the renovation.”

"My New York City neighborhood, including all of Block 780, should never have been under the threat of destruction by former governor Cuomo or the Amtrak, MTA and NJ Transit Railroads and their allies including the RPA for an unneeded, horrendously expensive, outdated and inefficient terminal track southern expansion of Penn Station. The case for this destruction of a vibrant New York City neighborhood was never made as industry standard Rail Traffic Controller dynamic modeling simulations were never performed. These simulations should have been used to determine if through running plans could meet future capacity needs within the existing footprint of Penn Station before an expansion was even considered by the Railroads and their allies. Such simulations have or are being performed for every other capacity expansion proposed for Penn Station including Penn Access and the Empire Corridor. No government agency — federal, state or local — should ever be able to demolish an entire neighborhood and waste so much taxpayer money to build an expansion train station when these simulations haven't been performed. We have and continue to ask the DOT and others for transparency on this issue. If the Railroads have performed such simulations, it is time for them to stop wordsmithing objections to their production and share the results with the public. If Andy Byford and the Penn Transformation Partners are sincere in their promises to see our neighborhood spared we hope they will see to it that RTC simulations are performed and the matter of the need for a southern expansion of Penn Station is finally put to rest," said Eugene Sinigalliano, 251 West 30th Street Residential Tenants Association.

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Nadler, Goldman Statement on H.Con.Res.84 Vote

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) Dan Goldman (NY-10) released the following statement following their vote against H.Con.Res.84:

Today we voted no on H.Con.Res.84, a war powers resolution dealing with the current conflict in Lebanon. We opposed this resolution because it would establish a dangerous precedent in the interpretation of the War Powers Resolution, but let us be clear: Our vote today should not be taken as an approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s prosecution of Israel’s military action in Lebanon.

Regardless of the intentions of this resolution, it is predicated upon a premise that is both flawed in its theory and dangerous in its application. The key legal trigger for war powers resolutions is demonstrating that the United States is engaging in “hostilities” in the context of a particular conflict. However, this resolution failed to include even that most basic standard in its drafting. To the extent that American armed forces are present in Lebanon, it is to support the current Lebanese government, which deserves our assistance.

The assertion that general intelligence sharing alone constitutes engaging in “hostilities” is without merit. Critically, implementing such a standard would create a dangerous precedent around the world — implicating the United States in every conflict that includes any party with whom the United States shares intelligence. Such a proposition is as naïve as it is dangerous to American national security and global stability.

Our vote today was not to absolve Netanyahu of responsibility, nor was it to approve of the prosecution of the war in Lebanon. Indeed, when H.Con.Res. 108 – a war powers resolution that targets substantiated “hostilities” that may arise in Lebanon – comes to the floor, we intend to vote in favor.

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Nadler Leads New York Democrats Fighting To Protect Patients Receiving Gender-Affirming Care

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) led U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) urging NYU Langone to fight against recent subpoenas from the Trump administration that would violate the constitutional right to privacy for minor patients receiving gender affirming care from NYU Langone.

The letter comes after the Trump administration issued a string of ill-conceived, civil and criminal subpoenas to share confidential information regarding pediatric patients who received gender-affirming medical care between the years 2020 and 2026, and the identities of any medical staff involved in the provision of care.

“The Trump administration is on a cruel crusade to violate the personal dignity and constitutionally guaranteed rights of transgender people in NY-12 and across the nation,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “For my entire career, I have fought for justice and equality for all members of our LGBTQ+ community. Today, alongside my fellow New York lawmakers, I continue this fight to protect trans-youth from the downright illegal and unjustified attacks against NYU Langone and their patients for receiving and providing necessary medical care.”

“As the Trump administration continues its myriad efforts to target, harass, and vilify transgender Americans here in our state and beyond, I’m proud to stand alongside my New York colleagues to denounce this latest attack on the rights and freedoms of the trans community," said Congressman Paul Tonko. “Gender-affirming care is essential, lifesaving care, and no American child should be denied access to it because of bigotry — just as no health care provider should be attacked for providing it. My colleagues and I will always continue to fight against cruel actions like this one against NYU Langone and their patients.”

Read the full text of the letter HERE

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Nadler Celebrates $1 Million Community Funding Grant, Visits Lenox Hill Neighborhood Head Start Program

Wed, 27 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

New York, N.Y. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) visited the Early Childhood Center at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House to celebrate continued federal funding for their award-winning Head Start program that serves NY-12 children and families.

Congressman Nadler secured $1 million in community grant funding during the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for the Early Childhood Center. He continues to be an outspoken advocate for increased funding for Head Start and Early Head Start Programs in NY-12 and nationwide.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow with their peers, regardless of their family's income status,” said Congressman Nadler. “Head Start programs are critical to secure these opportunities for children and families in New York City and across the U.S. These investments in early education address the financial burden of childcare and empower guardians to work while their children learn and play in safe environments. It was a pleasure to see the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Head Start Program in action and meet with the passionate team that supports NY-12’s children and families every day.”

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Nadler Statement On Voting Against Final Passage Of The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill Through Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

Fri, 22 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington D.C. — Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement after voting against final passage of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill during the Transportation and Infrastructure full committee markup:

"I appreciate the bipartisan work that went into this bill and the good faith we engaged in today, but I must oppose final passage.

"At a moment when our transportation system needs bold, balanced investment, this legislation is insufficient. It continues a familiar pattern: highways are treated as the default national priority, while rail and transit are left fighting for insufficient resources, despite carrying millions of people, supporting regional economies, and reducing congestion.

"That imbalance is especially harmful to New Yorkers. The MTA keeps the nation’s largest city and regional economy moving. The Northeast Corridor is one of the most important transportation and economic assets in the country. Unfortunately, this bill fails to provide the scale of investment needed to address aging infrastructure, improve reliability, and meet riders' needs.

"I am concerned that this bill creates new electric vehicle fees without ensuring that those revenues support a truly multimodal transportation system. At a time when we should be encouraging American innovation, manufacturing, and adoption of cleaner vehicles, this approach risks undercutting a growing industry while locking new revenues into the same highway-dominated framework. EV users should contribute fairly, but those dollars should help build a modern system that supports transit, rail, and congestion-reducing investments—not simply reinforce the imbalances of the past.

"This bill also fails to adequately protect communities from political interference in transportation decisions. New Yorkers have seen federal power used to threaten Gateway, attack congestion pricing, and reshape Penn Station behind closed doors. Congress should be strengthening oversight and transparency, not leaving critical projects vulnerable to political gamesmanship.

"This bill is also a step backward on climate. It abandons successful IIJA programs like the Carbon Reduction Program, which helped states reduce greenhouse gas pollution from transportation, and significantly weakens EV charging programs just as the country should be building out clean transportation options. Coupled with the prioritization of highways over rail and transit, this bill opens the door to more emissions and pollution for already overburdened communities. A transportation bill should reduce emissions and give people cleaner, more efficient choices, not increase reliance on cars and trucks. I refuse to support a bill that not only fails to meaningfully address climate change but also worsens the climate emergency."

"For these reasons, I must oppose final passage. This bill does not do enough for rail, transit, accountability, or the balanced transportation system Americans need."

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Nadler Opening Remarks On Build America 250 Act

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington D.C. — Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) delivered opening remarks during the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup of the Build America 250 Act. Below is a full transcript of his remarks, which can also be viewed here:

"Mr. Chairman, I want to commend you and Ranking Member Larsen for the bipartisan spirit that helped shape this bill. While I appreciate the work that has gone into this legislation, however, there are some serious shortcomings that I hope this Committee can address today.

As the sole Member of this Committee representing New York City, I am deeply concerned that this bill fails to adequately prioritize rail and transit infrastructure, systems that are essential not only to my district, but to the economic strength of the nation.

"For example, the Amtrak Northeast Corridor carries more than 800,000 passenger trips each day and serves as a backbone of interstate travel and commerce. Yet this bill falls short of the investment needed to modernize aging infrastructure, improve accessibility, address deferred maintenance, and ensure long-term reliability and resilience.

"At the same time, transit systems like the MTA continue to operate within a federal framework that disproportionately favors highways over public transportation. Despite serving millions of riders each day and anchoring one of the nation’s most productive regional economies, the MTA, like other public transit systems, receives a far smaller share of federal support than highways. This legislation does little to address that imbalance or provide the sustained investment needed to strengthen one of the nation’s most heavily used transit systems.

"When New York’s transit network falters, the consequences extend far beyond the region, affecting mobility, productivity, and economic performance nationwide. Yet this bill continues to lean toward highway expansion at the expense of stronger investment in rail and transit, an approach that is shortsighted and out of step with our transportation and economic needs. Rail and transit must be treated not as secondary priorities, but as core national investments.

"Just as important, this bill must include strong guardrails to ensure transportation laws are implemented faithfully and as Congress intended. This legislation will mean little if the Executive Branch can delay, obstruct, or selectively undermine its execution. Over the past 16 months, this administration has stalled transit projects, withheld Congressionally appropriated infrastructure funding, and injected politics into decisions that should be driven by public need and economic benefit—not political retaliation.

"New Yorkers know this risk firsthand. The Trump Administration has baselessly threatened funding for the Gateway Program—one of the nation’s most critical rail projects—attacked New York City’s congestion pricing efforts, and shaped planning for revitalization of Penn Station through a closed-door process that prioritizes private interests and the highest bidder over transparency, public oversight, and the transportation needs of New Yorkers.

"If we fail to establish stronger oversight and protections against politically motivated delays or selective enforcement, we risk authorizing investments that communities may never fully receive.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen this bill and better serve the transportation needs of New Yorkers and all Americans."

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