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Malliotakis Named to Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee

February 23, 2021

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) yesterday was the only Freshman Member of Congress named to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which is responsible for examining a number of issues related to the coronavirus crisis, including the use of taxpayer funds for relief programs and the economic impact of the pandemic on individuals, communities, small businesses, health care providers, States, and local government entities. 

"My number one priority entering Congress has been defeating this virus, reopening our economy, returning children to school and getting our country back on track," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "Over the past year, we’ve worked to get supplies to healthcare providers and nonprofits, groceries to seniors, fill local food pantries and expand vaccine distribution for veterans and our vulnerable. I’ve been at the forefront of the fight to help our restaurants and small businesses recover and the calls for justice for the families of loved ones due to Governor Cuomo’s executive order. As we look to continue to help struggling Americans and small businesses holding on by a thread, it is imperative that relief funds are spent appropriately and actually get to the people. Congress must come together to pass tailored legislation that expands vaccine manufacturing and distribution, reopens our schools and helps get Americans back to work."

Malliotakis has expressed concern over adopting a $1.9T COVID package while $1T remains unspent by previous relief packages. She has been outspoken about the need for tailored relief that provides aid to the restaurants and small businesses that were mandated to close along with assistance for the unemployed. Last week, she wrote to Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo asking both officials to commit to not raising income taxes and the property tax levy if they receive federal aid, as well as use a portion of the funds to stop toll increases and provide relief for the small businesses they shut down. To date, the Mayor and the Governor have not responded. Malliotakis says she will use her position on this committee to push for accountability and advocate for transparency of how the funds are spent. 

Malliotakis added: "If President Biden and Congress do end up giving $50 billion to New York, there needs to be accountability and commitments that this money will make its way to providing hardworking New Yorkers with real relief. The worst thing they can do is accept this money and still move forward with toll and tax increases. It would not only be double-dipping on the part of the city and state governments, but it would be a slap in the face to our middle-class families who are struggling to get by during this pandemic and can’t afford increases to their daily cost of living."

“As we fight for accountability and transparency from the Cuomo administration on their nursing home cover-up and botched COVID response, it’ll be invaluable to have Nicole on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to help us push for these answers," said Republican Whip and Ranking Member on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Steve Scalise. "Nicole has been sounding the alarm from day one on this, and will be a tireless fighter for families in New York and in the entire country who want their kids back in school, access to a vaccine, and the ability to safely go back to work and reopen our economy. I’m excited to welcome her to the committee and get to work.”