Meet Representative

Adriano Espaillat

U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat proudly represents New York’s Thirteenth Congressional District. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2017, during the 115th Congress.

First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his second term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Small Business Committee.  He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and serves in a leadership role as CHC Whip.  He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing.  Rep. Espaillat is a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus and Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC). Rep. Espaillat’s congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, Norwood, University Heights, Kings Bridge, Kings Bridge Heights, and Bedford Park.

During the 115th Congress, Rep. Espaillat was among the top three Freshmen members to introduce and pass legislation, including his bill, H.R. 4406, which designated the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 99 Macombs Place in New York, New York as the Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building.  In 2018, Quorum named Rep. Espaillat as one of the top 10 most active Members of Congress on Twitter.

A steadfast champion for working- and middle-class New Yorkers, Congressman Espaillat is a staunch advocate of a fair living wage, immediate and effective investments in affordable housing, meaningful criminal justice reform, infrastructure improvements, expanded youth programs, and better educational opportunities.  

Throughout the tenure of his career in public service, Congressman Espaillat has been a vocal advocate for protecting tenants, improving schools, and making serious, smart investments in economic development, job creation, and environmental protection.  

Prior to coming to Congress, he served as a New York State Senator during which he represented the neighborhoods of Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, West Harlem, the Upper West Side, Hell's Kitchen, Clinton, and Chelsea. While in the New York State Senate, Congressman Espaillat served as the Ranking Member of the Senate Housing, Construction, and Community Development Committee; Chairman of the Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus; and as a member of the Environmental Conservation, Economic Development, Codes, Insurance, and Judiciary committees. Prior to his tenure as a state senator, he served in the New York State Assembly, and in 1996 became the first Dominican-American elected to a state legislature.  In 2002, Espaillat was elected chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.

Photo Credit: Celeste Sloman/Redux

Photo Credit: Celeste Sloman/Redux

On The Issues

Immigration
Immigration
Dreamers: An Army of Goodwill

Representative Adriano Espaillat is not only the first and only Dominican-American member of Congress, he is the first and only member of Congress to formerly be an undocumented immigrant.

Rep. Espaillat has fought against deportations, using his office to help immigrants stay in the United States and keep families together.

Rep. Espaillat presided over the vote to pass the DREAM ACT and struck the gavel when the bill passed Congress.

Rep. Espaillat co-sponsored bills to defund and shut down ICE and require body cameras to be worn at all times.

Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Building a Better Tomorrow

Representative Adriano Espaillat has been a leader in obtaining funding to restore elevator service to the 181st St Subway station and extend the 2nd Avenue Subway lines in East Harlem.

Rep. Espaillat has also pushed for a national infrastructure and transportation bill that will fund over $2 trillion in programs that will rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and create American jobs.

New York has more infrastructure needs than any other American city and Rep. Espaillat will continue to fight for additional funding at the federal level to ensure that we can keep the MTA affordable for everyone who uses public transit.

Housing
Housing
Ensuring Quality at Home

Representative Adriano Espaillat has brought in millions of dollars in funding to support housing in Upper Manhattan that saved affordable housing at Lakeview Apartments and increased funding for NYCHA.

Rep. Espaillat has fought in the court-room to protect residents by testifying against gutting the Fair Housing Act and taking part in the lawsuit to preserve Inwood zoning.

Rep. Espaillat introduced legislation to facilitate grants to renovate homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Rep. Espaillat will continue to ensure that every New Yorker has access to the quality, affordable housing that they deserve.

Impeach
Governance
A Government That Works for You

Representative Adriano Espaillat was one of the first Congressman to cosponsor impeachment in 2017. City and State New York called him “A Symbol of Opposition to Donald Trump”. He also introduced the JARED Act which would revoke security clearances from family members of the President who receive security clearances who cannot pass a background check.

Rep. Espaillat has voted against all military spending bills and is a strong supporter of Israel. He has also co-chaired the Latino-Jewish Caucus.

Rep. Espaillat secured millions of dollars in funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to help fight drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

Media & Social Media

 

 

Dreamers: An Army of Goodwill