AFTER VOTING AGAINST GOP BILL THAT DRIVES UP COSTS AND TAKES HEALTHCARE FROM HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES, CONGRESSMAN RYAN’S C.A.R.E.S. VAN CONTINUES TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE HUDSON VALLEY IN JULY
After Voting Against GOP Bill That Drives Up Costs and Takes Healthcare From Hudson Valley Families, Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van Continues to Provide Direct Assistance Across the Hudson Valley in July
The bill has already had devastating impacts for families across the Hudson Valley: driving up healthcare costs for everyone, ripping away health insurance and food from kids and seniors, and threatening the closure of local hospitals
Ryan and his C.A.R.E.S. Van are equipped to answer constituent questions regarding access to federal programs and benefits including Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare
During the first district tour, the Van reached over 1,500 constituents and logged 3,341 miles, helping Ryan’s team to secure over $30 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan announced the schedule of events for his mobile office, the Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van, across the Hudson Valley this July. Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van, staffed by his team of highly-trained caseworkers, will bring direct assistance with federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and IRS to Hudson Valley families right in their own community. Especially in light of the harmful GOP bill passed through the House last month, the C.A.R.E.S. Van team is also equipped to aid constituents hurt by recent cuts, closures and uncertainty – in particular regarding health care. The C.A.R.E.S. Van has become a staple at community events and celebrations since June 2023.
“Amid unprecedented health care cuts to Medicaid and threats to local hospitals pushed forward in the Republican tax bill, we’re marshaling every tool at our disposal to help folks with our C.A.R.E.S Van. Now more than ever, people need support. Every person in the Hudson Valley, no matter where they live, deserves access to high quality services in their own home town,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Whether you need help navigating your Social Security benefits, have questions about your taxes, or are worried about your health care, my team is here to help – come to an event near you!”
Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van assists constituents of NY-18 in accessing earned benefits, such as Veterans’ Affairs benefits and Social Security, federal grant funding, passports and visas, immigration and naturalization services, and resolving issues with federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service.
“Congressman Ryan’s team was extremely polite, professional, and emphatic towards my situation as a disabled veteran,” said Middletown veteran Nicholas White. “They contacted me to inform me of everything and what they could do to assist. I was granted 100% P&T disability compensation. My wife and I couldn't be happier. Thank you!”
“We are so grateful for the excellent assistance we received from Congressman Ryan’s office,” said David Friedman of New Paltz. “For two years we have been trying to resolve a problem with the IRS, and because of the intervention of his office, the issue has been properly resolved, and we actually received interest on an amount due from the IRS! It took something special to get this matter looked at and Congressman Ryan’s office provided that!”
“My 2022 tax return was held up by the IRS for nine months,” said Robert Warhola of Kingston. “I had plans for my refund. The case worker assured me this problem could be resolved in two weeks. As promised, I received my refund electronically. It is nice to see our government working efficiently.”
“Thanks to Congressman Ryan’s office, the IRS finally issued refunds this spring for 2 returns I filed back in 2021,” said Stacy Quinn of Rhinebeck. “ After a very frustrating year of follow up – including an appointment at the IRS regional office in Poughkeepsie, multiple IRS assurances that I would hear back but never did, and a request for help from a senator’s office that was ignored – I was about to lose hope. Congressman Ryan’s office responded immediately, however, provided frequent updates, and I received the missing refunds in 6 weeks.”
In the fall, the C.A.R.E.S. Van made a number of community stops at Hudson Valley Halloween and fall events to conveniently connect with families attending on accessing benefits and navigating federal programs.
This past summer, Congressman Ryan launched a specialized C.A.R.E.S. Van series that connected Hudson Valley seniors directly with one-on-one assistance from the Social Security Administration, Center for Medicare, and dozens of community partners as well as his team of expert caseworkers who assisted with federal agencies. Over the summer, Ryan also utilized the Van to deliver help with veterans services and federal agencies like assistance accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, requesting military medical records, obtaining lost military awards, and more directly to veterans at veterans service organizations (VSOs) throughout the Hudson Valley.
In March of last year, the C.A.R.E.S. Van completed its first district tour, visiting every one of the 82 cities, towns, and villages in NY-18 in under 10 months. During the first district tour, the Van reached over 1,500 constituents and logged 3,341 miles to bring assistance directly to Hudson Valley families where they are at. The Van has been critical in assisting Ryan’s team in securing nearly $24 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents.
In November 2023, the C.A.R.E.S. Van was utilized to bring assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County for a one-day senior resource fair organized by Congressman Ryan’s Office. The Van also made multiple stops at veterans service organizations in every county of NY-18 during Congressman Ryan’s Veterans Week of Action, for events that delivered specialized assistance directly to Hudson Valley veterans and honored their service.
Congressman Ryan mobilized the C.A.R.E.S. Van to assemble a coalition of community partners to deliver flood recovery resources during on-site events in communities impacted by last July’s devastating flooding.
The C.A.R.E.S. Van has also been used by Congressman Ryan to partner with other offices and organizations, such as the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, for specialty events.
Congressman Ryan has prioritized increasing the responsiveness and accessibility of these services. The C.A.R.E.S Van will visit every municipality in the district over the course of the next year, ensuring that every constituent has direct and easy access to vital federal services.
The schedule for the C.A.R.E.S. Van’s July events is as follows, and updates will be provided via social media.
TUESDAY, JULY 1:
10:00AM - 2:00PM
Health Orange Farmers Market
130 Broadway
Newburgh, NY 12550
TUESDAY, JULY 8:
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Florida Farmers Market
Route 94 & Route 17A
Florida, NY 10921
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9:
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
Beacon Memorial Park
Robert Cahill Dr
Beacon, NY 12508
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
FRIDAY, JULY 11:
11:00AM - 1:00PM
Marlboro Free Library
1251 Route 9W
Marlboro, NY 12542
SATURDAY, JULY 12:
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Middletown Farmers Market
1-31 Union St
Middletown, NY 10940
TUESDAY, JULY 15:
2:00PM - 5:30PM
Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market
75 N Water St
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16:
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
2829 W Church St
Pine Plains, NY 12567
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23:
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Wawayanda Farmers Market
80 Ridgebury Hill Rd
Slate Hill, NY 10973
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
95 Robinson Ln
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
2:30PM - 4:30PM
Minisink Town Hall
20 Roy Smith Dr
Westtown, NY 10998
FRIDAY, JULY 25:
12:00PM - 5:00PM
County Fair in Otisville
300 Finchville Tpke
Otisville, NY 10963
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging
181 W Rd
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
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