Congresswoman Yvette D. Clark, About

Ballotpedia, Yvette Clarke

Yvette is from Flatbush, where she lives today. She earned her bachelor's degree from Oberlin College.

Yvette previously worked as a staffer for a New York state senator and as an executive assistant for the New York Workers' Compensation Board. 

Yvette Clarke is the U.S. representative for New York's 9th Congressional District. She was elected in 2006 and is serving her ninth term. She was previously a New York City council member from 2002 to 2007, serving 2 terms. 

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Advocates for affordability in Brooklyn, particularly for low-income communities.

Supports expanding paid family leave programs.

As a House Representative, introduced the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act to reduce rent in subsidized areas.

Introduced the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act to reduce rent in subsidized areas.

- Advocates for affordability in Brooklyn, particularly for low-income communities.
- Supports expanding paid family leave programs.
- Introduced the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act to reduce rent in subsidized areas.

Economy

Supports legislation aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking.

Supports decriminalizing sex work and shifting focus to crimes like sex trafficking.

- Supports legislation aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking.
- Supports decriminalizing sex work and shifting focus to crimes like sex trafficking.

Public Safety

Supports abortion access and has received high ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America for opposing anti-abortion legislation.

Supports Medicare for All and access to affordable healthcare.

Advocated for adding Black Women’s Health Week to national health observances to highlight disparities in mortality rates post-childbirth.

- Supports abortion access.
- Supports Medicare for All and access to affordable healthcare.
- Advocated for adding Black Women’s Health Week to national health observances to highlight disparities in mortality rates post-childbirth.

Healthcare

Supports the Green New Deal and introduced the FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act to integrate climate change into federal policies.

Supports the Green New Deal, which would reduce fossil fuel usage and increase jobs in clean energy industries.

Introduced FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act, which "would require the agency (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to factor climate change into all its official policies."

- Supports the Green New Deal, which would reduce fossil fuel usage and increase jobs in clean energy industries.
- Introduced FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act, which "would require the agency (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to factor climate change into all its official policies."

Energy & the Environment

Supports abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and co-sponsored the ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act to mandate body cameras for agents to reduce mistreatment and abuse.

Supports removing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Supports comprehensive immigration reform to address family separation and detention conditions. Co-sponsored acts ensuring rights for undocumented individuals and providing temporary protection for those affected by disasters like Hurricane Dorian.

Said, "We are a nation of immigrants, and our policies must empower those looking to become part of the American dream."

Supports abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and co-sponsored H.R.1013, the ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act, which will force agents and officers to wear body cameras when engaged in official operations, in order to reduce instances of mistreatment and abuse.

As U.S. representative, co-sponsored House Bill (HB) 1013, which mandates body cameras for agents and officers to reduce mistreatment and abuse.

- Supports removing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Said, "We are a nation of immigrants, and our policies must empower those looking to become part of the American dream."
- As U.S. representative, co-sponsored House Bill (HB) 1013, which mandates body cameras for agents and officers to reduce mistreatment and abuse.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

As of September 26, 2024, Yvette Clarke’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Supports increased funding for STEM programs.

Supported legislation that increased funding for STEM programs.

Supports a student loan bailout program and free college for all.

- Supported legislation that increased funding for STEM programs.
- Supports a student loan bailout program and free college for all.

Education

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Yvette Clarke

Yvette Clarke Bio

Ballotpedia: Yvette Clarke

Yvette is originally from Flatbush. She earned her bachelor's degree from Oberlin College. She lives in the same Flatbush neighborhood where she grew up.

Yvette Clarke currently serves as the U.S. representative for New York Congressional District 9. She was first elected in 2006 and is serving her 9th term. She previously served as a council member for New York City Council district 40 from 2002 to 2007. 

Advocates reformulating the area median income used by HUD to determine affordable housing and cosponsored the Public Housing Emergency Response Act to reinvest in public housing.

Supports affordable housing and accessible, quality healthcare.

As a House Representative, sponsored legislation to provide resources to small business owners and secured over $17 million in funding for local projects.

Supports the U.S. Virgin Islands Small Business Contracting Assistance Act, which provides credits, contracting incentives, and mentor-protege relationships to support small businesses in the Virgin Islands.

Believes retaining Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders is crucial for the nation's economic recovery.

As a House Representative, introduced H.R. 5200 (Hardest Hit Housing Act) to provide additional funds for various housing programs, including grants for public housing agencies, foreclosure mitigation counseling, and incremental rental assistance vouchers.

- Advocates for affordability in Brooklyn, particularly for low-income communities.
- Introduced the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act to reduce rent in subsidized areas.
- Supports expanding paid family leave programs.

Believes "broken windows" policing is a form of police brutality.

Believes linking "broken windows" enforcement of low-level crimes with police brutality is misguided.

Supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and co-sponsored the ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Body Camera Accountability Act to reduce mistreatment and abuse by requiring body cameras for agents and officers during official operations.

Supports investing $75 million in CISA’s CyberSentry program to enhance vulnerability detection and malicious activity identification.

Believes access to affordable healthcare is a right and has passed legislation to improve health quality measures for Medicaid-eligible adults, including behavioral health.

Supports access to the monkeypox vaccine and provides information on eligibility and scheduling appointments.

Supports mental health and addiction equity by endorsing the Paul Wellstone Act for equal treatment limits and combating the opioid crisis through the Opioid Addiction Action Plan Act, which mandates enhanced treatment and prevention strategies by Medicare and Medicaid.

Supports NYC Well, a free service offering counselors and peer specialists for short-term counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals.

- Supports abortion access.
- Advocated for adding Black Women’s Health Week to national health observances to highlight disparities in mortality rates post-childbirth.
- Supports Medicare for All and access to affordable healthcare.

Believes climate change exacerbates natural disasters, leading to significant economic damage and loss of life.

Believes recent climate disasters, like Hurricane Ida, show the need for "robust and proactive steps" to address the climate crisis.

Supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to improve infrastructure, create jobs, and boost the economy.

Believes in addressing climate change and its impact on natural disasters, citing Hurricane Sandy's destruction in 2012.

Supports investing $42.5 billion in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program and $2 billion in rural broadband to enhance telehealth services for rural and underserved communities.

Supports the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIF), which includes many of her bills and amendments related to energy and environmental infrastructure.

Supports the Congressional Black Caucus Immigration Task Force's efforts to reform immigration policy.

As representative, co-sponsored the House Bill 1013, which mandates body cameras for agents and officers to reduce mistreatment and abuse.

- Supports removing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Said, "We are a nation of immigrants, and our policies must empower those looking to become part of the American dream."
- As representative, co-sponsored the House Bill 1013, which mandates body cameras for agents and officers to reduce mistreatment and abuse.

Believes in protecting the "soul of our democracy" and supports voting rights.

Supports enhancing cyber education and training by partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and community colleges to diversify the nation's cybersecurity workforce.

Yvette Clarke has been serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2006, representing New York's 9th Congressional District.

Yvette Clarke has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 9th Congressional District since 2007. She is the only Black woman in the New York delegation.

Supports strengthening U.S. relations with the Caribbean community (CARICOM) on trade, immigration reform, and direct investment through development programs.

Supports providing a path to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

Believes the immigration system is broken, leading to family separations and poor conditions in detention centers.

Believes the American dream should be accessible to all, including immigrants and undocumented communities.

Supports providing immigrants with Know Your Rights resources.

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. New York currently has 26 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a US Citizen for at least seven years before their election and a New York resident. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.