After years of flooding problems along the Sound Shore area, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will sign an agreement Monday aimed at reducing flooding in the region. The County Executive will join Federal,State and Local officials including Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) to sign the deal that will re-evaluate what steps can be taken to reduce the risk of flooding in areas that drain to the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers, expecially in Mamaroneck Village.

Westchester County Congresswoman Nita Lowey isn't exactly welcoming Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the Big Apple this week with open arms. Ahmadinejad will be in New York City for a United Nations Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference. Said Lowey, "New Yorkers are proud to be home to the United Nations, which entails the unpleasant task of hosting some of the world's most loathesome dictators.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) Tuesday contacted President Barack Obama and urged him to approve Governor David Paterson's request for a major disaster declaration and implementation of federal assistance following the Nor'easter that struck the region between March 13-15.

In her letter to the President, Lowey said "The damage associated with this storm left hundreds of thousands in the region without power and resulted in the tragic death of one of my constituents from a fallen tree.

"Local governments have estimated that as a result of this storm at least $85 million in damages were incurred. The availability of the FEMA programs would be invaluable to state and local governments, as well as eligible non-profit entities, as they recover from the storm.  The damage has clearly overwhelmed State and local resources, which had already spent more than $45 million in these counties recovering from record snowfall this winter.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the centerpiece of the Obama administration-- healthcare reform.  The historic legislation, approved 219-212 without a single Republican vote, will cause sweeping changes to the healthcare system in the U.S.  It will offer coverage to millions of currently uninsured people and will ban insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.  It will require most Americans to have insurance, impose a penalty if they do not, and will provide subsidies for those unable to pay for coverage.

Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist New York state in conducting a Preliminary Damage Assessment for the New York City metro area, including Westchester and Rockland Counties following this weekend's severe storm.

Lowey has written a letter to FEMA Administrtor Craig Fugate saying "FEMA's expertise will allow for a swift and accurate damage assessment and greatly aid the ability of local,state and federal efforts to both recover from this storm and assist affected individuals and businesses."

The Preliminary Damage Assessment will help New York State determine whether the damage from this weekend's storm is sufficient to request a federal disaster declaration, making the region eligible for federal emergency response funding.

Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate this week's car accident in Harrison in which a Toyota Prius suddenly accelerated, causing a woman to crash the car into a stone wall. Said Lowey, "Drivers need answers about why their vehicles may suddenly and uncontrollably accelerate, and the problem needs to be fixed." Lowey added "It must must consider this recent crash, which could have resulted in serious injury or death."

On Tuesday, a 56 year old woman suffered a knee injury after the Prius she was driving accelerated down a driveway, crossed a two lane road and shoulder and crashed into a large stone wall.
There have been numerous accidents involving sudden acceleration, including another this week in California, where a man claims his car accelerated for miles at a high rate of speed on a freeway, until police were able to intervene and stop the vehicle safely.

With a critical need for nurses in Westchester County, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) announced today that she's secured $250,000 in federal funds for nurse training at St John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers. Said Lowey "The healthcare industry is one of the few sectors that continues to expand and create jobs in this difficult economy and nurses are in particularly high demand."

The $250,000 was secured for the Cochran School of Nursing at St John's Riverside Hospital through the 2010 Federal Appropriations process.

The Cochran School of Nursing continues to expand its facilities and enrollment, increasing from 50  to more than 300 students over the past ten years. Officials say despite burgeoning unemployment rates, the he althcare industry is considered one of the fastest growing industries, and will add about 3.2 million jobs over the next ten years.