MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Delgado Discusses COVID-19 Crisis at the Monticello Campus of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties

MONTICELLO, NY – Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) visited the Monticello Campus of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster (CCOSU) and met with the organization’s leadership to discuss how CCOSU is navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for next year. The conversation focused on the need for additional funding sources to meet the demands of the community as well as the specific challenges facing in-patient rehabilitation facilities. Rep. Delgado underscored his support for additional coronavirus relief legislation that includes funding for state and local governments.

“During the winter months, local organizations are seeing increased demand for essential services, while budgets tighten and federal assistance wanes. Today, I connected with the good folks at Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster to discuss how they are working to help support the most vulnerable in our society despite these budget constraints,” said Rep. Delgado. “Organizations that receive state and local support are facing funding shortfalls that restrict their ability to serve our communities when folks need it most. I will continue to advocate every single day to ensure that we pass urgently needed federal relief legislation that includes state and local government funding and provides resources for the organizations in our area that offer essential mental health and substance abuse support. Our communities cannot wait any longer – the urgency in taking action at the federal level is now.”  

Earlier this year, Rep. Delgado introduced the Direct Support for Communities Act, a bipartisan, bicameral proposal to ensure counties, cities, towns and villages of all sizes can access urgently needed federal funds. This legislation has passed the House as part of larger coronavirus relief packages including the Heroes Act and an updated version of the legislation, Heroes 2. Additionally, Rep. Delgado along with more than 60 members on both sides of the aisle, wrote to Congressional leadership urging them to include funding and support for mental health and substance abuse resources and organizations.  

In October 2019, as part of his in-district work period focused on addressing the opioid crisis, Rep. Delgado visited the Monticello Campus of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster to learn more about their work serving those suffering with addiction, those in recovery, and their family members and loved ones in upstate New York.

Click here to see additional photos of Rep. Delgado’s visit to Catholic Charities.