Staten Island Rep Introduces Legislation To Target Organized Car Theft Rings, Highlighting Tax Cuts, Legislation Benefits

Editor’s note: Back in 2023, an inter-agency task force was announced by DA McMahon regarding these auto theft rings and the issues that arise when attempting to return the automobiles to their owners.  It becomes impossible once they have left the island, so this task force was put together.  The legislation introduced here seeks to expand something similar to this nationwide. There was also recently an issue with certain Kia vehicles, which became very easy to exploit.  The Congresswoman also recently announced funding for the God’s Love We Deliver pilot program to make medically tailored meals available to more patients.  She also recently announced her push for capital gains tax relief that would greatly help seniors and expand available housing stock in the market over time.  While the representative discusses the incredible tax cuts below, those who are on the opposite side of the aisle highlight different aspects of the OBBBA: no more student loan repayment plans with $0 monthly payments, no matter how low one’s income is (as well as inescapable garnishment once all repayment plans expired,  as well as the deprofessionalizing of seven female dominated careers for which student loans are usually necessary – but now federal loans with their special interest and repayment rules are not available to them); the expiration of the insurance tax credits that allowed more Americans and New Yorkers to carry health insurance which many have already lost with more to follow (including the loss of the Essential Plan which allowed those of modest means but not extremely poor to have free health insurance); and the loss of SNAP benefits to 700,000 low-income children whose benefits were rescinded over the last few months (it’s certainly higher, since the 700K number is from only twelve states). 

Malliotakis, Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Target Car Thefts

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) — Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) introduced the bipartisan H.R. 10872, Combatting Auto Robbery at the Source (CARS) Act to combat organized auto theft across New York, New Jersey and the tristate area.

Auto theft remains a serious problem in New York City, with nearly 9,110 vehicles stolen during the first nine months of 2026, according to recent NYPD data. Many auto theft rings operate across state lines, making greater coordination and real-time information sharing between law enforcement agencies critical to tracking stolen vehicles and apprehending those responsible. The NATB would help strengthen coordination among local, state and federal law enforcement to disrupt organized theft rings operating across the country and internationally.

Specifically, the bill would re-establish a National Anti-Auto Theft Bureau to:

• Act as a national repository for information related to auto theft.
• Facilitate real-time information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
• Provide training, resources, and recommendations to multiple stakeholders on how to combat auto theft.

“In recent years, we have seen an increase in car thefts across the tristate area, making New Yorkers feel less safe and negatively impacting their quality of life. License plate scanners I allocated funding for have helped identify and recover stolen vehicles. However, once these vehicles leave the city, it becomes harder,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “We know that many end up on ships at New Jersey ports and then are sold in other countries. By creating a national anti-auto theft bureau and strengthening coordination at all levels, law enforcement can better combat auto theft across the tristate area.”

“A car can be replaced, but the scars from a violent carjacking, or a home invasion over a set of keys, can last a lifetime. For hardworking Jersey families who depend on their cars to get to work, school, and the doctor, a stolen car brings everything to a halt. We know a National Auto Theft Bureau works because it helped drive down auto theft before, and bringing it back is just common sense. By investing in tracking stolen cars, training our officers, and coordinating at every level of government, we can finally get ahead of these criminals. When it comes to public safety, you have to invest to protect,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

Rep. Malliotakis has secured over $9 million for the NYPD to purchase personal protective equipment, forensic equipment, patrol response vehicles, fixed plate reader systems, K-9 training and equipment, new tasers and belt-worn trauma kits.

Malliotakis, IRS CEO Bisignano Highlight Tax Cuts for Seniors and Other Provisions Benefiting Staten Island Families

Watch the congresswoman’s remarks here.

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) — Today, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) joined Frank Bisignano, Chief Executive Officer of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, and discussed the impact of the middle-class tax cuts enacted by President Trump and Congress on Staten Island families and seniors.

Major tax provisions:

• Senior Bonus Deduction: Staten Island has one of the largest senior populations in New York City, with more than 42,000 residents age 65 and older receiving Social Security benefits. This year, a new tax deduction of up to $6,000 for eligible seniors age 65 and older, or $12,000 for eligible married couples, will provide tax relief to the vast majority of Staten Island’s more than 42,000 senior Social Security recipients and help ensure that 88% of seniors nationwide pay no federal income tax on their Social Security benefits.
• Quadrupled SALT Deduction: More than 100,000 Staten Island households own their homes, and under the Working Families Tax Cuts the state and local tax deduction was increased from $10,000 to $40,000 so hardworking New Yorkers can deduct more of the high state and local taxes they pay and keep more of their money. 98% of households in NY-11 have state and local tax liabilities that fall within the expanded deduction.
• Standard Deduction Expansion: The increased Standard Deduction delivered an estimated average tax cut of $782 per filer in Richmond County, allowing working families and middle-class taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money. Without the Working Families Tax Cuts, the expanded standard deduction established under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would have expired, resulting in a significant tax increase for millions of Americans.
• Increased and Permanent Child Tax Credit: The Working Families Tax Cuts raised the credit to $2,200 per child. More than 45,000 Staten Island families have children under the age of 18, and the Working Families Tax Cuts are helping hardworking parents keep more of their hard-earned money through this expanded Child Tax Credit.
• No Tax on Most Tips and Overtime: Staten Island is home to hardworking police officers, firefighters, nurses, sanitation workers, construction workers, and hospitality employees who often depend on overtime pay and tips to support their families. Under the Working Families Tax Cuts, the federal taxes on most tips and overtime are eliminated so hardworking Americans can keep more of what they earn for qualified tips and overtime compensation, rewarding hardworking Americans who put in extra hours to make ends meet.
• Newborn Investment Accounts: The Working Families Tax Cuts created a first of their kind investment accounts for eligible newborns born between 2025 and 2028 with a $1,000 federal contribution, giving children a head start on saving for their future and expanded 529 education savings accounts to help parents save for their children’s futures.
• Education Contribution Tax Credit: Beginning in 2027, eligible taxpayers can receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for donations to participating scholarship organizations, helping families cover qualifying K–12 expenses at public, private and religious schools while giving parents greater flexibility to choose the learning environment that best meets their children’s needs.

 

IRS data shows that over 80% of refunds were issued in less than 21 days, with the average refund reaching $3,276, an increase of more than 11% compared with the same period in 2025. These larger refunds are putting more money back into the pockets of American families, helping them manage household expenses and save for the future.

“Congress delivered the largest middle-class tax cuts in American history to put more money back in the pockets of Staten Island seniors and working families. From quadrupling the SALT deduction cap and increasing the child tax credit and standard deduction to providing a new bonus deduction for seniors and creating investment accounts for newborns, we are delivering real relief for our community. These provisions help families keep more of what they earn, save for their children’s future and allow seniors to keep more of the retirement income they worked their entire lives to earn,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.

“This year, working class families in Staten Island and across the country received meaningful financial relief from President Donald J. Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts,” said Bisignano who also is the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. “On average, tax refunds were up 11% and more Americans received refunds than the previous year. Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Malliotakis, hardworking Americans and seniors were able to keep more of their hard-earned money,” said Frank Bisignano, Chief Executive Officer of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

 

 

Banner Image:  Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis with Frank Bisignano, Chief Executive Officer of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Commissioner of the Social Security Administration at Arrochar Friendship Club. Image Credit – Rep. Malliotakis