AMID FIGHT OVER GOVERNMENT FUNDING, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CONTINUES DELIVERING DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF WITH OCTOBER C.A.R.E.S. VAN EVENTS

Amid Fight Over Government Funding, Congressman Pat Ryan Continues Delivering Direct Assistance and Relief with October C.A.R.E.S. Van Events

Throughout the shutdown, as Congressman Ryan continues to fight for a government that works for Hudson Valley families, his C.A.R.E.S. Van team will be in every corner of the district continuing to help folks navigate federal programs and roadblocks 

With the C.A.R.E.S. Van, Ryan and his team deliver one-on-one assistance navigating federal programs and accessing benefits including Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare directly to constituents in their own community

Ryan’s team has visited every community in NY-18 with the Van and  recently surpassed securing over $40 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents

WASHINGTON, DC  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan announced the schedule of October events for his mobile office, the Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van, across the Hudson Valley. 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 amid the federal government shutdown, Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van team will continue to be all hands on deck to aid constituents hurt by the nonstop cuts to critical federal programs, 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.

“The harms that have impacted our Hudson Valley community over the last several months have been immense. From Social Security office closures to health care uncertainty to food bank cuts, my team has been laser-focused on delivering the direct relief, support, and answers Hudson Valley families deserve,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Especially amid the uncertainty, we are acting with the care and urgency the moment requires. Whether you need help navigating your Social Security benefits, are worried about losing access to your health care, or have questions about the major slashes in federal grants and how to find new funding, my team is all-hands-on-deck to help however we can in every corner of the Hudson Valley.”

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. 

“For months and months, I heard absolutely nothing back from the VA and was getting so frustrated. When I saw the Congressman's C.A.R.E.S. Van flyer, I was so excited,” said Helen Adams of Wallkill. “Within just a few weeks, I got a letter in the mail back telling me that I was approved for benefits! I can breathe easier now knowing that I will finally be getting the VA benefits I am entitled to. Thank you to Congressman Ryan for caring about seniors like me and having a team who can help us navigate the agencies that we depend on to be able to survive.”

“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.” 

The C.A.R.E.S. Van’s casework team meets and listens to community members and answers and offers assistance with federal programs and benefits including, but not limited to:

Social Security, Veterans Affairs (VA), Medicare, Medicaid, federal student loans, federal grants for local governments, small businesses and organizations, and households, IRS taxes and tax returns, passports, immigration services, military records and awards, the Office of Personnel for federal workers, connecting with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and the military community in the Hudson Valley, U.S. Service Academy nominations, and more!

In March of 2024, 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 over $40 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents.

The C.A.R.E.S. Van has also been mobilized for specialized events, resource fairs, community events, and to deliver emergency response resources including, but not limited to:

• Bringing direct assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County following closure of the county’s only Social Security Administration office.
• Partnering with dozens of community organizations, the Social Security Administration, the Center for Medicare, local governments from across the Hudson Valley for Senior Resource Fairs.
• Partnering with Veterans Service Organizations, local governments, and the Hudson Valley military community to deliver Veterans and Military Families Resource Fairs and for Congressman Ryan’s Veterans Week of Action that made stops in every county in NY-18.
• Mobilizing a coalition of community partners, emergency response organizations, and local governments to bring direct relief to communities impacted by the catastrophic flooding events of July 2023.
• Partnering with the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds to connect constituents with money owed to them by the State.
• Delivering direct assistance with federal agencies to community events including the Dutchess County Senior Picnics, National Night Out in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, community Trunk-or-Treat Halloween celebrations, community farmers’ markets, Kingston’s Mexican and Central American Independence Celebration, Warwick’s Mental Health Awareness Celebration, the Orange County Veterans’ Picnic, and more!

The schedule for the C.A.R.E.S. Van’s October events is as follows, and updates will be provided via social media. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER  3: 

10:00AM - 1:00PM

Town of Lloyd Town Hall

12 Church Street

Highland, NY 12528

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4:

9:00AM - 1:00PM

Lakeside Farmers Market

Winstanley Park

133 Windermere Avenue

Greenwood Lake, NY 10925

10:00AM - 1:00PM

Middletown ELKS Lodge Veteran Stand Down

48 Prospect Street

Middletown, NY 10940

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6:

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Beekman Library

11 Town Center Blvd.

Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

5:30PM - 7:30PM

Union Vale Library

8 Tymor Park Road

Lagrangeville, NY 12540

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8:

11:00AM - 2:00PM

Ulster County Human Services Trunk or Treat

151 Plaza Drive

Kingston, NY 12401

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9:

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Middletown Thrall Library

11-19 Depot Street

Middletown, NY 10940

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11:

11:00AM - 4:00PM

Community Day for Domestic Violence Awareness

Schlathaus Park

126 All Angels Hill Road

Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14:

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Woodbury Village Hall

455 Route 32

Highland Mills, NY 10930

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Harriman Village Hall

1 Church Street

Harriman, NY 10926

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Red Hook Public Library

7444 South Broadway

Red Hook, New York 12571

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18:

11:00AM - 3:00PM

Amenia Harvest Festival

E. Main Street

Amenia, NY 12501

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21:

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Port Jervis City Hall

20 Hammond Street

Port Jervis, NY 12771

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Esopus Library

128 Canal Street

Port Ewen, NY 12466

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Woodstock Public Library

5 Library Lane

Woodstock, NY 12498

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Highland Falls Library

298 Main Street

Highland Falls, NY 10928

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25:

3:00PM - 5:00PM

Middletown Trunk or Treat

99 Tower Drive, Building A

Middletown, NY 10940

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Hyde Park Library

2 Main Street

Hyde Park, NY 12538

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30:

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Newburgh Town Hall

1496 NY-300

Newburgh, NY 12550

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Walden Village Hall

1 Andrews Ct.

Walden, NY 12586

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