Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-08-31

CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX YMCA

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On 2026-08-31, Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX YMCA" in the House.

Full Text

CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX YMCA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 137 (Monday, August 31, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 137 (Monday, August 31, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E824] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX YMCA ______ HON. RITCHIE TORRES of new york in the house of representatives Monday, August 31, 2026 Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fifth anniversary of the Northeast Bronx YMCA, an institution that has become an important part of the fabric of the Northeast Bronx and a place where residents of all ages can come together, stay active, learn, and build community. For decades, residents of the Northeast Bronx advocated for a dedicated community facility that would provide children, families, seniors, and young people with access to recreation, education, health, wellness, and enrichment opportunities. The opening of the Northeast Bronx YMCA in September 2021 represented the culmination of years of community advocacy and a shared commitment to investing in the future of the neighborhood. Community leaders Alonzo de Castro and Shirley Fearon, along with many other residents and advocates, played an important role in keeping the vision for a Northeast Bronx YMCA alive. Through their work with the Northeast Bronx Community Coalition and their engagement with residents and public officials, they helped ensure that the community's desire for a high-quality recreational and community facility remained a priority. The result is a remarkable resource at the heart of the Northeast Bronx. Located on East 229th Street, the Northeast Bronx YMCA provides residents with access to swimming pools, a full gymnasium, fitness and wellness facilities, childcare, youth programming, community spaces, and educational and recreational activities. These resources provide opportunities for children to learn and grow, families to spend time together, seniors to remain active and connected, and residents of all ages to improve their physical and mental well-being. The importance of the YMCA became particularly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when its gymnasium served as a vaccination site and helped connect Bronx residents with critical public health resources. This demonstrated that the YMCA is more than a place for exercise--it is an institution capable of responding to the needs of the community in times of both celebration and crisis. The Northeast Bronx YMCA also represents what can be accomplished when residents, community organizations, nonprofit institutions, and government work together toward a common goal. The approximately $60 million investment that helped make the facility possible reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that residents of the Northeast Bronx have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve. Five years after opening its doors, the Northeast Bronx YMCA has become a multigenerational gathering place and community hub. It provides a safe space for young people, opportunities for families, programs for seniors, and resources that promote health, education, and connection. Most importantly, it gives residents a place they can call their own. As we celebrate this fifth anniversary, we recognize the many community members and leaders who helped make this vision possible, including Alonzo de Castro and Shirley Fearon, while celebrating the broader community that has embraced the YMCA and made it an integral part of life in the Northeast Bronx. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Northeast Bronx YMCA on five years of service to our community. May it continue to be a place of opportunity, wellness, fellowship, and hope for generations of Bronx residents to come. ____________________

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CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX YMCA Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 137 (Monday, August 31, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 137 (Monday, August 31, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E824] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHEAST BRONX YMCA ______ HON. RITCHIE TORRES of new york in the house of representatives Monday, August 31, 2026 Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fifth anniversary of the Northeast Bronx YMCA, an institution that has become an important part of the fabric of the Northeast Bronx and a place where residents of all ages can come together, stay active, learn, and build community. For decades, residents of the Northeast Bronx advocated for a dedicated community facility that would provide children, families, seniors, and young people with access to recreation, education, health, wellness, and enrichment opportunities. The opening of the Northeast Bronx YMCA in September 2021 represented the culmination of years of community advocacy and a shared commitment to investing in the future of the neighborhood. Community leaders Alonzo de Castro and Shirley Fearon, along with many other residents and advocates, played an important role in keeping the vision for a Northeast Bronx YMCA alive. Through their work with the Northeast Bronx Community Coalition and their engagement with residents and public officials, they helped ensure that the community's desire for a high-quality recreational and community facility remained a priority. The result is a remarkable resource at the heart of the Northeast Bronx. Located on East 229th Street, the Northeast Bronx YMCA provides residents with access to swimming pools, a full gymnasium, fitness and wellness facilities, childcare, youth programming, community spaces, and educational and recreational activities. These resources provide opportunities for children to learn and grow, families to spend time together, seniors to remain active and connected, and residents of all ages to improve their physical and mental well-being. The importance of the YMCA became particularly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when its gymnasium served as a vaccination site and helped connect Bronx residents with critical public health resources. This demonstrated that the YMCA is more than a place for exercise--it is an institution capable of responding to the needs of the community in times of both celebration and crisis. The Northeast Bronx YMCA also represents what can be accomplished when residents, community organizations, nonprofit institutions, and government work together toward a common goal. The approximately $60 million investment that helped make the facility possible reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that residents of the Northeast Bronx have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve. Five years after opening its doors, the Northeast Bronx YMCA has become a multigenerational gathering place and community hub. It provides a safe space for young people, opportunities for families, programs for seniors, and resources that promote health, education, and connection. Most importantly, it gives residents a place they can call their own. As we celebrate this fifth anniversary, we recognize the many community members and leaders who helped make this vision possible, including Alonzo de Castro and Shirley Fearon, while celebrating the broader community that has embraced the YMCA and made it an integral part of life in the Northeast Bronx. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Northeast Bronx YMCA on five years of service to our community. May it continue to be a place of opportunity, wellness, fellowship, and hope for generations of Bronx residents to come. ____________________