Weekly Newsletter 5.13.23

Congress was back in session, and it was another productive week representing Virginia’s Fourth in Washington.

THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON

Republicans Double Down on Cruel, Ineffective Border Policies

This week, I voted against the Republicans’ cruel, untenable and unworkable border bill that returns some of the worst of former President Trump’s border policies H.R. 2, which should be known as the ‘Child Deportation Act,’ is not a serious attempt to fix our nation’s immigration system, but instead would cripple our ports of entry, undermine our nation’s asylum and humanitarian parole systems, jeopardize the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children, and create chaos at the border. It doubles down on construction of a pointless border wall, which still is not being paid for by Mexico; expedites child deportation and the detention of unaccompanied minors; makes it more difficult for charities, churches, and local governments to offer humanitarian aid; and makes no effort to address the flow of illegal drugs through our ports of entry.

According to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates, H.R. 2 would cost the American people $6.1 billion. It mandates the construction of at least 900 miles of border wall, despite Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) reports which have shown new segments of border wall have been breached over 3,272 times. 

H.R. 2 also would affect the legal status of about 4.4 million people who would otherwise be granted asylum and would make humanitarian parole, like what has been extended to Afghan allies and Ukrainian refugees, illegal.  People who seek asylum are those in true fear of their lives and for their families. Restricting asylum counters American principles of being a refuge for those in danger from authoritarian governments. 

The Child Deportation Act is nothing more than Republicans’ desperate attempt to stoke culture wars and achieve their inhumane, xenophobic goals. This extreme legislation is opposed by numerous organizations that work with refugees such as the Catholic Charities, UnidosUS, and more. 

You can read a section-by-section fact sheet on H.R .2 here.

Republicans Advance Harmful ‘Anti-Fraud’ Legislation 

This week, I voted against Republicans’ H.R. 1163, an alleged anti-fraud bill that could negatively impact hardworking Virginians and families who received unemployment assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, congressional Democrats passed unemployment insurance (UI)  measures to stave off a deep economic recession and provide some relief to Americans. For example, in 2020, The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 provided additional flexibility for state unemployment insurance agencies and additional administrative funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for UI such as the self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, clergy and those working for religious organizations. The American Rescue Plan (ARPA) also included two billion dollars to fight fraud through an important cross-checking system at the Department of Labor to catch fraudsters who apply for UI in one state while receiving income in another.

H.R. 1163, which should be called ‘The Surprise Billing Our Workers Act,’ jeopardizes the economic security of our workforce while stripping crucial anti-fraud protections, thereby leaving UI programs vulnerable.  Specifically, the bill would send surprise bills to workers who received accidental overpayments through no fault of their own and allow states to target hard working Americans for up to 10 years after an overpayment occurred. The bill would also cut federal investments in fighting fraud by $400 million over the next 5 years, weakening successful anti-fraud programs and letting criminals off the hook. According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this bill would be a net cut in federal investment in strengthening UI and preventing fraud. Finally, the bill would undermine state employee unions by allowing states to contract out jobs, despite evidence that temporary use of contractors during the pandemic led to errors and contributed to missed fraud.

Committee Hearings 

This week, the House Armed Services Committee and its subcommittees were scheduled to begin consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). Unfortunately, these hearings were postponed as a result of the on-going Republican brinkmanship around the debt ceiling. 

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing on the proposed budget for the National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST).  NIST works to promote U.S. innovation, research, and global competitiveness. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent, we must keep pace with its rapid evolution and ensure proper oversight. I questioned NIST Director Laurie Locascio about NIST’s efforts to manage AI algorithmic bias and ensure the technology is representative of a diverse range of perspectives. I also asked how NIST plans to expand advancement opportunities for women employees.  

I also participated in a Joint Energy and Investigations & Oversight Subcommittee Hearing examining the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) implementation of the the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the CHIPS and Science Act. Through these three bills, Congress provided DOE comprehensive long-term guidance and unprecedented funding for much of its civilian research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs. The IIJA and IRA provided DOE with $97 billion in funding to  expand research and development, demonstration, and deployment programs to help to achieve carbon-free electricity in the U.S. by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050. You can learn more about these programs here.

The CHIPS and Science Act invested $67 billion in DOE to create an Office of Science to enable cutting-edge research and development in clean energy to fight the climate crisis and advanced computing and manufacturing to boost American competitiveness. It also invested in our National Lab infrastructure and established the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation to deepen partnerships to create and deploy technologies to power the industries of the future, from clean energy to modern medicine. My questions to DOE witnesses focused on the importance of ensuring that local manufacturing and businesses in our district receive equitable funding and that we ensure that business owners in historically marginalized communities get due consideration and resources.

Other Legislative Action

This week, I signed on to cosponsor a number of bills, including The Child Care for Working Families Act introduced by Representative Bobby Scott and Senators Tim Kaine and Patty Murray to increase the quality and supply of child care and lower child care costs for families. I am one of the only 6.8 percent of members of the 118th Congress with minor children. As a working mother, I understand all too well the challenge of finding affordable and quality childcare, and worked as a state legislator to address this crisis. I will work just as hard in Congress to do so. 

I also signed onto a resolution declaring gun violence a public health crisisintroduced by  Representative Adriano Espaillat. There have been more mass shootings than days of the year in 2023, the most recent at a mall in Allen, Texas. Gun violence plagues our communities and destroys families every single day, and is now the number one cause of death for children in America. Enough is enough. That’s why I also joined nearly ninety of my House and Senate colleagues in a letter to ATF strongly encouraging them to fully implement existing background check laws by specifically designating who is “engaged in the business of selling firearms.” Dealers who are unlicensed, thereby claiming they are not engaged in the business of selling firearms have been able to evade the background check law.  The letter asks the ATF to further clarify who is a dealer so that those selling at gun shows as well as at brick-and-mortar stores would be subject to the background check law.

In honor of National Nurses Week, I also signed onto a resolution honoring Mary Elizabeth Mahoney sponsored by Representative Cori Bush. Mahoney was the first professionally trained Black nurse, graduating in 1879 from the New England Hospital for Women and Children. This resolution also celebrates the countless contributions Black nurses have made and advocates for more Black, Latina, and other women of color to enter the profession. You can find a complete list of bills I have cosponsored here.

Remembering Shawn Soares on the House Floor 

On May 4th, Richmonder Shawn Soares was killed in a pedestrian-vehicular accident on a particularly dangerous stretch of Main Street. Shawn was a dedicated public servant who formerly worked as a staffer to the late Congressman Donald McEachin, former Governor Ralph Northam, and Del. Suhas Subramanyam.  While working towards a graduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University, Shawn was working as the policy manager of clean energy & climate justice for the Virginia Climate Network. In this capacity, I worked with Shawn on a number of issues in the Virginia General Assembly. This week, I honored Shawn on the House floor.

March of Dimes Gourmet Gala

In addition to my legislative work, I had a chance this week to support an organization near and dear to my heart by attending the March of Dimes 41st Annual Gourmet Gala. I was one of 40 members of Congress participating in a cook-off competition. I had a great time serving one of my favorite dishes: banana pudding! It was wonderful to thank March of Dimes for their lifesaving efforts to address the maternal health crisis and provide resources to mothers and babies, while helping the March of Dimes raise over $1.3 million to support their advocacy, research, education and programs across the country.

My daughter was born nine weeks premature, and I saw first hand the tremendous support that the March of Dimes provides to families of premature babies in the NICU. I will do all I can to support their work on critical issues affecting moms and babies from prematurity and health equity to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.

THIS WEEK IN THE DISTRICT

Although this was a Washington, DC week with votes and hearings,  I was still able to attend some district activities.

Delta Luncheon with the Richmond Alumnae Chapter

As a 31-year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, I was pleased to join my chapter – The Richmond Alumnae Chapter – for its May Month Luncheon. I was particularly honored to be awarded the inaugural Social Action Impact Award. As a charter member of the Rho Rho Chapter at the University of Richmond, I have long been inspired by Delta’s commitment to public service.  In fact, our Founders’ first act of public service was participating in the Suffrage March of 1913. I am honored to carry on their legacy as one of eight Deltas in the 118th Congress!   

Highlighting Federal Investments in Clean Energy and Transportation 

This week I joined the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, the Blue Green Alliance, and other prominent environmental allies in Petersburg to highlight federal investments in clean energy and transportation that are benefitting our schools. This event specifically discussed the federal funding made available to Virginia to replace diesel school buses with cleaner, more efficient electric buses. Last year, Petersburg received $900,000 to replace three of their school bus fleet. We even got to ride one of the new electric buses! 

More funding to replace diesel buses is anticipated. Both the IIJA and the IRA contain funds to encourage school districts to help replace their buses with electric ones, and Virginia is expected to receive another $7 million in federal funding for these efforts. These laws also include crucial funding to make our public schools more energy efficient. Investing in clean energy technologies will not only help address climate change, but it will create thousands of new jobs, spur economic activity, and achieve better health outcomes. 

Agriculture Roundtable and Tour of  VSU’s Randolph Farm 

Did you know that agriculture is the largest private industry in Virginia?  Or that forestry is number 3? Both industries have a significant presence in the Fourth District! This week, I held a roundtable with the Virginia Farm Bureau and district farmers at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm. We discussed the Farm Bill, a law that is typically renewed every five years to allocate funding for agriculture, food assistance and nutrition programs, and more. Farm Bill negotiations have just begun on Capitol Hill, so it was important to hear what challenges our farmers are currently facing and their priorities for the future. 

I also gave an update on how the debt ceiling stalemate and the House Republicans proposed solution could derail the pending Farm Bill and harm agriculture in the district. During the roundtable, farmers made clear that rising costs from everything from fertilizer to equipment have made it increasingly difficult to survive, putting more pressure on the need to strengthen the agricultural safety net. Yet, a default on our debts would increase interest rates on their mortgages and loans. And the proposed across-the-board cuts in the House Republicans’ Default on America Act would make it even more difficult to strengthen the critical farming safety net they need.  

After the roundtable, we toured Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm. A 416-acre agricultural learning center, Randolph Farm engages in agricultural related research, demonstration and instruction activities for traditional row crops, new and niche crops, alternative cropping methods, horticultural crops, nutrient management, water quality, animal production, and aquaculture production. 

WHAT YOU MISSED

Several Virginia Abortion Providers Join Mifepristone Lawsuit

Two Virginia abortion clinics and a clinic in Minnesota that provides telehealth services to Virginians have joined a lawsuit suing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to block potential new restrictions on the prescribing and use of mifepristone in Virginia and the other states in the lawsuit.

In 2021, mifepristone was used in 56% of Virginia abortions. This drug is effective, safe, cheaper and less resource-intensive than other methods. The attempts to deny women access to mifepristone is simply about denying women control over their own bodies and denying them the right to make their own healthcare decisions. I am pleased to see these Virginia clinics join this lawsuit so that women here, and women who come here from more restrictive states, are able to make their own best choices.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING

For the past few weeks, I have detailed the projects from around the district that I submitted for funding. These are the last of the projects and they are for four different localities – Prince George, Surry, Colonial Heights and Petersburg. As soon as I know which of the fifteen are receiving funding, I will share that information.

 Prince George - New Underground Water Main

Prince Geroge needs a new water main, one that is more up to date, that is buried safely underground and that has increased capacity. The $3,000,000 I have requested would accomplish all these goals. It would provide for a larger diameter pipe able to carry more water and the pipe would no longer be hung exposed from a bridge. Moreover, the plan is to install this pipe with a particular method of hydraulic drilling that minimizes adverse impacts to wetlands  and waterways.

Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing

The $5 million requested will accelerate research on state-of-the-art manufacturing demonstration solutions. These improvements can enhance manufacturing, resolving supply chain issues, improving product lead times and leading to greater efficiencies throughout the process. This will help the region’s industrial base.

Petersburg - Poor Creek Wastewater Capacity Improvements

This project for $4,000,000 would replace an existing wastewater system, thereby increasing capacity and functionality and creating a more reliable system for residents. Moreover, it will diminish the need for expensive repairs while preventing breaks and overflows that contaminate the Appomattox River and then the Chesapeake Bay. It will also provide the City with flexibility to  divert wastewater when needed.

Surry County - Surry County Public Schools Water System Upgrade

I have asked for $4,224,426 to replace and upgrade water wells at the Surry County School Complex which houses all three county public schools. It will allow the county to connect the school water system to the neighboring industrial park water system creating a combined system that increases capacity and assists with economic development.

Colonial Heights - Colonial Heights Water Replacement Project

This project, costing $1,556, 463, will replace aging water infrastructure. The replacement will improve water quality, capacity and water pressure, while also diminishing the chance for future breaks that could cause contamination.  The project will benefit thousands of Colonial Heights residents.