Brooklyn, NY – Last week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) delivered his eleventh annual State of the District Address, where he highlighted his work both in Washington and New York during the 118th Congress.

At the event, Leader Jeffries was joined by Angela Yee, who served as Mistress of Ceremonies. Brooklyn musician Tru Osborne sang the National Anthem and Lift Every Voice and Sing, accompanied by Titus Dewley on piano.

Reverend Sharon Codner-Walker of Stuyvesant Heights Christian Church, Cantor Zachary Konigsberg of Temple Sholom in Flatbush and Imam Sharif Ul Islam of the Islamic Center of Brighton Beach delivered messages of prayer. 

Local student groups performed during the event, including the Victory Music and Dance Company and Brooklyn Music School’s Project 22. 

WATCH

Excerpt of Remarks as Delivered: 

“I want to speak to you for just a few moments under the theme, ‘How it started, versus how it’s going.’ 

These are challenging times, and we are working hard down in Washington to address the issues of concern here in Brooklyn related to the cost of living, housing affordability, public safety and of course, the need to fix our broken immigration system. 

But let me be clear. Because of the leadership of President Biden, House Democrats and our colleagues in the Senate, we have made real progress for you and the American people.

Four years ago, we were facing a once-in-a-century pandemic that shut everything down. 

Because of the leadership of President Biden and House Democrats, we passed the American Rescue Plan, put vaccine shots in arms, money in pockets, including a $1,400 survival check, and kids back in school. And now the people of our community have the freedom to spend time with your families, your friends and your neighbors without being masked up or having to shelter in place. 

How it started, versus how it’s going. 

Before President Biden took office. It was Infrastructure Week every other week in Washington, D.C. But nothing happened. 

Because of the leadership of President Biden and House Democrats, we saved the subway and bus system in New York City, and we are finally fixing our crumbling bridges, roads, tunnels, airports and sewers. We have also made sure that high-speed internet access needed to interact with others is available to many in our community for $30 less per month. We have helped over 90,000 families throughout the district save a total of $42 million. 

How it started, versus how it’s going. 

During my first ten years in the Congress, we were not allowed to individually advocate for community project funding. But recently, House Democrats brought community project funding back to life, and I’ve worked hard to secure almost $40 million over the last two years for our community to help local organizations provide food for the hungry, assist veterans, fund overdue improvements to medical centers, expand labs in schools, beautify our neighborhoods, deepen cultural understanding and build affordable housing. I will continue to work hard to bring resources back home to our community. 

How it started, versus how it’s going. 

And then, of course, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act to strike a dramatic blow against the climate crisis, set our planet on a sustainable trajectory forward, lower energy costs, stand up a clean energy economy, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, lower health care costs and drive down the high price of life-saving prescription drugs for millions of Americans. In 2022, the cost of insulin for the average American family was approximately $4,000 a year. Because of the leadership of President Biden and House Democrats, the cost of insulin right now for thousands of people in our community and millions of Americans throughout the country is $35 a month. 

How it started, versus how it’s going. 

The D in Democrat truly does stand for deliver. 

We are making a big difference. But we also recognize that there is much more work that needs to be done so that our future is brighter than the past.