Nydia Velázquez is a Democratic Congresswoman who represents the 7th Congressional District of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her metropolitan district is comprised of parts of Brooklyn, lower Manhattan, and Queens. Rep. Velázquez has served in the House since 1993, and she was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House of Representatives.
Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Velázquez taught at the City University of New York’s Hunter College after earning her master’s degree from New York University. Shortly thereafter, she entered politics, first serving as special assistant to Congressman Edolphus Towns; she was later appointed to serve on the New York City Council.
Congresswoman Velázquez is currently serving her 14th term in the House of Representatives.
Why She’s Important to Agents
Rep. Velázquez currently serves on several House committees with jurisdiction over issues important to agents. She is the chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee. She also serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where she is a member of the Subcommittees on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and on Housing and Insurance.
During the 116th Congress, Congresswoman Velázquez introduced several bills that would directly affect independent insurance agents. She introduced H.R. 3111, which would provide needed reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). She also introduced H.R. 4074, the Clarifying Law Around Insurance Marijuana (CLAIM) Act, which would provide safe harbor for independent insurance agents relating to cannabis-related businesses in states in which the use of cannabis is medically or recreationally permitted.
PIA National will continue to work with the Congresswoman’s office on these and many other important issues.