Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 13th district since 2017 and a longtime public servant, recently shared messages on social media addressing the loss of a Dominican filmmaker and concerns over potential environmental funding cuts.
On July 19, Espaillat expressed condolences regarding the passing of René Fortunato, stating in Spanish: “Recibo con profunda tristeza la noticia del fallecimiento de René Fortunato, cineasta dominicano y documentalista con quien nuestra oficina congresual colaboró, junto a la Biblioteca del Congreso, en sus investigaciones sobre acontecimientos históricos con los que enriqueció su” (July 19, 2025).
On July 22, Espaillat addressed environmental issues in both English and Spanish. He wrote: “Our children deserve the same access to parks, museums, and clean air & water that past generations secured for us. Today, we’re on the verge of LOSING America’s natural wonders to yet another round of Republican cuts.
Watch me fight back alongside @AppropsDems:” (July 22, 2025). Later that day he reiterated his concern in Spanish: “Nuestros hijos merecen el mismo acceso a parques, museos, aire y agua limpios que las generaciones pasadas nos garantizaron. Hoy, estamos a punto de PERDER las maravillas naturales de Estados Unidos debido a otra ronda de recortes republicanos.
Véame luchar contra estos” (July 22, 2025).
Espaillat has served as the representative for New York’s 13th District since replacing Charles Rangel in Congress in 2017. Prior to his current role in Congress he served in the New York State Assembly from 1997 to 2010 and later in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2016. Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1954 and now residing in Manhattan at age 68, Espaillat graduated from Queens College at City University of New York with a BA in 1978.
