AS HUDSON VALLEY FAMILIES FACE HEALTH CARE CUTS AND RISING PRICES, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CONTINUES DELIVERING DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF WITH JANUARY C.A.R.E.S. VAN EVENTS

As Hudson Valley Families Face Health Care Cuts and Rising Prices, Congressman Pat Ryan Continues Delivering Direct Assistance and Relief with January C.A.R.E.S. Van Events

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 January 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.

"I've heard the heartwrenching stories from countless Hudson Valley families who can no longer afford health care coverage or aren't sure how they're going to put food on the table. My team and I are leaving no stone unturned to make sure they get every bit of relief they can.," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "Whether you are worried about finding new health care coverage, need help tracking down a long overdue tax return, or have questions about receiving your federal benefits, 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 January events is as follows, and updates will be provided via social media.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Saugerties Public Library

91 Washington Avenue

Saugerties, NY 12477

2:00PM - 4:00 PM

Woodstock Public Library

10 Dixon Avenue

Woodstock, NY 12498

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

NorthEast-Millerton Library

75 Main Street

Millerton, NY 12546

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23:

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Pine Plains Free Library

7775 S. Main Street

Pine Plains, NY 12567

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Town of Wallkill Town Hall

99 Tower Drive, Building A

Middletown, NY 10941

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Goshen Public Library

366 Main Street

Goshen, NY 10924

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Issues: The C.A.R.E.S. Van and Constituent Casework