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 TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE HUDSON VALLEY IN JUNE
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 to Provide Direct Assistance Across the Hudson Valley in June
The bill will have 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 June. 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 earlier this 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, including to Medicaid, 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 June events is as follows and updates will be provided via social media.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4:
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
1 Geering Park
Geering Way
Fishkill, NY 12524
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6:
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Saugerties Public Library
91 Washington Avenue
Saugerties, NY 12477
TUESDAY, JUNE 10:
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Wallkill Town Hall
99 Tower Drive - Building A
Middletown, NY 10941
2:00PM - 4:00PM
Otisville Village Hall
66 Highland Avenue
Otisville, NY 10963
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11:
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
6636 US-9
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14:
11:00AM - 2:00PM
America the Beautiful Festival
517 Neversink Drive
Port Jervis, NY 12771
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Big Orange Impact - Hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha
162 Johnston Street
Newburgh, NY 12550
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
28 Harvey Street
Hyde Park, NY 12538
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25:
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Senior Picnic (in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging)
Bowdoin Park
85 Sheafe Road
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
**As space is limited, please call Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to register.
MONDAY, JUNE 30:
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Woodbury Town Hall
615 State Route 32
Highland Mills, NY 10930
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