Weekly Newsletter, 12.13.23

This week is the final legislative week of 2023, and Congress still has several significant bills pending: appropriations bills, the National Defense Authorization Act, supplemental funding for our allies abroad and humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, FISA Reauthorization and FAA reauthorization. Yet, all House Republicans managed to bring to the floor last week were partisan messaging bills and a resolution censuring Jamal Bowman. Here’s a summary of what happened last week.  

Check out what you may have missed last week.

THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON

Yet Another Republican Messaging Bill 

Last week, House Republicans brought another partisan messaging bill to the floor: H.R. 4468, the “Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act.” This anti-science, anti-climate action bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing its proposal to strengthen emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles. Even more concerning, the legislation blocks EPA from ever finalizing any vehicle emission standards that might “result in limited availability of new motor vehicles” based on engine type. 

I opposed this harmful bill, and pointed out in floor remarks the irony of the party actively trying to strip away Americans’ health care choices justifies this bill as one protecting choice. House Republicans once again put Polluters Over People, prioritizing corporate special interests over the health and well-being of Americans. Watch my remarks here:

Amended TRANQ Act Sent to President Biden’s Desk

In May, the House passed the TRANQ Research Act to fight the spread of dangerous synthetic opioids. I cosponsor this legislation. Last week, the House approved Senate amendments to the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. It now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature. 

The TRANQ Research Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to deepen its partnerships and strategically focus on the science needed to detect, identify, and better understand synthetic opioids. The usage of one particularly dangerous fentanyl analogue known as “tranq” is skyrocketing across the country and contributing to an ever-growing number of drug overdoses. I look forward to President Biden signing this important legislation into law to help deepen our understanding of synthetic opioids and other harmful drugs.

Advocating for My Soil Carbon Sequestration Bill 

Throughout the year, House Committees hold “Member Day” hearings to invite members who do not sit on the committee to share their priorities. Last week, I testified before the House Agriculture Committee to highlight my bipartisan Coordination for Soil Carbon Research and Monitoring Act.  

Soil carbon sequestration refers to land management practices that promote the absorption of carbon into soil. These practices offer clear agricultural and environmental benefits, making operations more resilient to drought, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather conditions that are exacerbated by climate change. Experts estimate that soil could store almost 5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide worldwide each year, which equates to preventing about 13 percent of global annual greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. 

My bill provides viable strategies to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and protect Virginia’s farmers. Agriculture is the largest private industry in our Commonwealth, but climate change threatens the livelihoods of our farmers. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance priorities that support our local farmers.

THE WEEK IN THE DISTRICT

Major Federal Investments in Public Transit 

On Friday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $8.2 billion in new funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program for 10 major passenger rail projects across the country and $34.5 million through the Corridor Identification and Development Program to guide passenger rail development on 69 rail corridors across 44 states. This funding furthers projects that will improve passenger and freight rail through VA-04 up and down the East Coast and west to the New River Valley.  This funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Fed-State National Project selections include:

• The Raleigh to Richmond (R2R) Innovating Rail Program Phases IA and II project will receive up to $1.1 billion. This project is part of a multi-phased effort to develop a new passenger rail route between Raleigh, NC and Richmond, VA along the CSX Transportation “S-Line” as part of the Southeast Corridor that will connect North Carolina with Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the Northeast Corridor. Once completed, this new route will save passengers an estimated 90 minutes per trip.

• The Long Bridge project, part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia – Phase II program, will receive $729 million to construct a new two-track rail bridge over the Potomac River to expand passenger rail capacity between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. Nearly 6 million passengers travel over the existing bridge every year on Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express lines. This upgrade will reduce congestion and delays on this heavily-traveled corridor to our nation’s capital. I joined Senators Warner and Kaine, Representatives Connolly, Beyer, and Spanberger, Governor Youngkin, and General Assembly and local elected officials at a press conference on Friday to highlight this grant.

The Administration is also planning for future rail growth through the Corridor ID Program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to establish a new planning framework for future investments. Friday’s announcement included plans to upgrade 15 existing rail routes, establish 47 extensions to existing and new conventional corridor routes, and advance 7 new high-speed rail projects, creating a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for future investment.

The project selections include:

• The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will receive up to $500,000 for the Commonwealth Corridor, which will provide much-needed east-to-west passenger rail service and connect Newport News to Richmond, Charlottesville, and the New River Valley. As a state legislator, I sponsored legislation in 2020 initiating a study on the feasibility of an east-west Commonwealth Corridor passenger connecting Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the New River Valley, and I am excited to see these steps towards making the Commonwealth Corridor a reality. 

• The North Carolina Department of Transportation will receive up to $500,000 for the Charlotte, North Carolina to Washington, D.C. Corridor to expand passenger rail service and reliability in the growing Southeast Corridor, which is expected to reach a population of more than 25 million by 2040. The proposed corridor will improve or add services in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Raleigh, Durham, Salisbury, and Burlington, NC, and Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Alexandria, VA, by addressing infrastructure capacity constraints. These improvements will include constructing or rehabilitating a partially abandoned alignment between Raleigh, NC, and Petersburg, VA, providing a more direct route than the existing route through Rocky Mount, NC, potentially shaving more than an hour off the end-to-end travel time. In March, I joined Representative Bobby Scott in a letter to the Secretary of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging the selection of the project. 

These major infrastructure investments will ensure VA-04 will remain at the heart of the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision of world-class passenger rail and the economic opportunity that comes along with it.

The Trojan Explosion Competes for the ESPN Band of the Year

Congratulations to Virginia State University’s Trojan Explosion Marching Band for its selection as the best Division II HBCU marching band in the nation by ESPN. This week, the band heads to Atlanta, GA to compete in ESPN’s inaugural HBCU Band of the Year competition. You can watch the competition on December 15th at 6 pm on ESPN3 and ESPN+ 

Last week, I took to the House Floor to recognize VSU for its incredible accomplishment and to wish them luck in Atlanta.

Check out the Trojan Explosion’s recent performance at the National Battle of the Bands. 

Celebrating the Retirements of History Making Henrico Supervisors

After 28 years on the Henrico Board of Supervisors, Frank Thornton (Fairfield) and Patricia O’Bannon (Tuckaho) are retiring this year. Last week, federal, state and local officials gathered to celebrate their history making service to Henrico County. Elected in 1995, Frank and Pat were elected as the first African American and first woman to the Henrico Board of Supervisors respectively. I have had the honor of working with both as a member of the General Assembly and now Congress representing parts of Henrico County since 2006. I am also privileged to call Frank my constituent. I joined Representatives Rob Wittman and Abigail Spanberger to present copies of remarks printed in the Congressional Record on their behalf. 

Congratulations, Frank and Pat on your 28 years of service to Henrico County!
 

Virginia Marketplace Health Exchange Open Enrollment Ends Soon! 

This Friday, December 15th is the deadline to enroll in the Virginia Marketplace Health Exchange for coverage beginning January 1, 2024. Open enrollment closes January 15th for coverage beginning February 1, 2024. You can visit marketplace.virginia.gov to review available, tailored health insurance plans.  

I look forward to hearing from you ahead of our first episode. Make sure to follow @RepMcClellan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Threads to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington and Virginia’s Fourth and to catch the next episode of Moments with McClellan!

I wish a very Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate in our district!

Sincerely,

Rep. Jennifer McClellan
Member of Congress