2024 August Recess Recap Newsletter
The House returned from August recess with only 18 days to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government. It should be easy, right?
Well, nothing in the 118th Congress has been easy given the Chaos Caucus’s penchant for brinkmanship as they try to load must-pass legislation down with their extreme MAGA agenda that nobody wants. The pending CR seems to be no exception.
Rather than fund a clean CR through the end of the year, Speaker Johnson wants to pass a six-month extension of government funding coupled with the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship before registering to vote in a federal election. Nevermind that it is already a federal crime for non-citizens to vote, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Nevermind that noncitizen voting is extremely rare. As I noted on the House floor, the SAVE Act is a modern-day poll tax because any permissible proof of citizenship document under the Act costs money. Once again, House Republicans look to put politics over people and play games rather than pass a budget. And yet, looks like Speaker Johnson can’t get the votes from his own party to pass it….
Speaking of which, this week the House Republicans plan to focus on a slate of bills to target the Chinese Communist Party; however, these bills fail to meet our global competitive needs and serve as a vehicle for Republicans’ to advance their extreme agenda.
Here is a recap of what happened during August recess.
THE MONTH IN THE DISTRICT
Commemorating the 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents experienced voter discrimination in the segregated South under Jim Crow. My great-grandfather had to pass a difficult literacy test and find three white men to vouch for him to be able to register to vote. My grandfather and father paid poll taxes. My great-grandmother and grandmother never voted – and my mother didn’t vote until after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The VRA was an important step toward ensuring every American could exercise their fundamental right to vote… until the Supreme Court gutted the Act with its 2013 Shelby County v. Holderdecision. The ruling stripped away key provisions, including the preclearance requirement that mandated that states with a history of voter discrimination seek pre-approval from the Justice Department for changes to voting laws.
In honor of the 59th anniversary of the VRA and our continued fight to preserve access to the ballot box, I convened a roundtable discussion with community leaders and voting rights advocates to discuss ongoing threats to voting rights and our collective efforts to protect them. In Congress, I’m fighting to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, both of which I cosponsor, to restore the VRA and implement additional protections to protect our democracy and the integrity of our elections.
Delivering Millions in Community Project Funding to Virginia’s Fourth
Through the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations process, I submitted 15 local projects and priorities to the House Appropriations Committee for funding consideration and successfully secured over $15 million in federal funding for all 15 projects. Throughout August, I had the opportunity to visit recipients across the district to deliver these funds.
In early August, I traveled to Prince George County and Surry County to deliver $959,752 to each locality to upgrade their water infrastructure. In Prince George County, the funding will support the county’s Water Transmission Main Appomattox River Crossing Project, which will construct nearly 2,200 feet of water transmission lines to ensure customers have a reliable means to receive drinking water. The existing system has experienced multiple failures in the past, so these new modernization efforts will make a meaningful difference for residents.
In Surry County, the funding will help the county upgrade the water wells and water infrastructure that serves the Surry County School Complex, where all three county schools are located. The Water System Upgrade Project will allow the county to connect the public school water system to the neighboring industrial park water system to increase capacity, foster economic development, and prepare for future needs. Every Virginian deserves access to potable, reliable drinking water, and these projects will move us closer to that goal.
In late August, I traveled to Chesterfield County to deliver $1,000,000 in Community Project Funding to Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA). The federal funding will support VPRA’s efforts to design and construct a new rail station that will eventually replace Ettrick Station. The station currently serves nearly 30,000 passengers annually – and that will continue to increase in the coming years as the Raleigh to Richmond corridor is constructed. This project builds on the work of my predecessor, the late A. Donald McEachin, who also secured federal funding to upgrade the Ettrick Station. You can read more about the funding announcement in WVTF.
Finally, I delivered $500,000 to Richmond International Airport (RIC) to help the airport construct a new aircraft apron, which will ultimately allow for the consolidation of general aviation operations and the construction of a new runway. RIC reported record passenger traffic last year and helps drive economic development and activity in Central Virginia. As the airport continues to grow, I will work to ensure it has the resources and support it needs to continue serving our region. You can read more about the project in The Henrico Citizen.
Requesting HUD to Address Issues Carriage House Apartments in Petersburg
Recently, my office began receiving complaints regarding the living conditions at the Carriage House Apartments, a low-income senior living community in Petersburg. Residents have cited infestations, poor sanitary conditions, and inoperable elevators, which were corroborated by the Petersburg Fire Marshall. These ongoing issues threaten the health and well-being of one of our most vulnerable populations – and it’s unacceptable. After hearing these complaints, I requested the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help address these issues and provide a safe living environment for residents of the apartment complex. I will continue coordinating with HUD to conduct necessary oversight and ensure the management company takes the appropriate steps to resolve these issues. You can read my full letter here and watch an interview with CBS6 here or below.
Demanding Answers on Deadly Listeria Outbreak at Boar’s Head Facility in Jarratt
In July, Boar’s Head recalled all of the products manufactured at its plant in Jarratt, Virginia, after listeria contamination was found at the facility. To date, nine people have died and 57 others have been hospitalized in 18 states. The outbreak and its devastating impact are unacceptable. Noncompliance reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show a pattern of serious violations, including mold, mildew, and insects, between August 1, 2023, and July 27, 2024.
I sent a letter to the Chief Operating Officer of Boar’s Head and the Jarratt Plant Manager demanding answers to the recent outbreak and why these violations went unaddressed for so long. These troubling reports make clear the need for immediate corrective actions to address the situation and prevent future outbreaks. My staff and I have also reached out to USDA for an update on the investigation and what additional steps will be taken. You can read my full letter to Boar’s Head here. If you recently consumed Boar’s Head products and experience any of the symptoms associated with listeria, I encourage you to reach out to your health care provider immediately.
Addressing Food Insecurity in Hopewell
September is Hunger Action Month. Ahead of the observance, I hosted a roundtable at the Hopewell Food Bank to discuss food insecurity and food access issues in our district. Across our Commonwealth, more than 700,000 Virginians experience food insecurity. I was joined by officials from local food banks and food advocacy organizations to discuss the realities of food insecurity and potential policy solutions to combat the issue. Throughout my time in the General Assembly and now in Congress, I have fought to expand access to healthy nutritious foods, bolster SNAP benefits and other food-assistance programs, and ensure every Virginian can put food on the table. Meanwhile, House Republicans proposed a $30 billion cut to the SNAP program in the upcoming Farm Bill. I recently joined more than 60 of my Democratic Women Caucus colleagues to urge Speaker Johnson to revise the current Farm Bill draft and protect American families’ access to SNAP and will continue fighting back against Republicans’ extreme draconian cuts.
Touring Businesses Throughout Virginia’s Fourth
Throughout August, I had the opportunity to tour several businesses throughout our district to learn more about operations, their priorities, and how Congress can support them. In early August, my staff and I visited the Surry Nuclear Power Station (SNPS), a vital energy source in Virginia’s Fourth. 14% of our Commonwealth’s electricity is produced by SNPS, powering 420,000 homes and employing 900 Virginians. We discussed the importance of nuclear energy in our continued efforts to transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.
August was Black Business Month, an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned small businesses to our local economies. I met with Black entrepreneurs throughout the Richmond metro area, including the owners of Nomad Deli, Big Herm’s Kitchen, Marie’s Hair and Nail Supply, Waller and Co. Jewelers, Barky’s Spiritual Stores, Moizelle’s Cleaner and Dryers, Mama J’s, and Buna Kurs Ethiopian Cafe. In Congress, I’m fighting to address the challenges business owners, especially minority- and women-small business owners face, including a lack of access to capital, technical assistance, and other resources, because small businesses are the backbone of the American economy.
To round out August recess, I visited the AMF Bakery System headquarters to learn more about their global operations. AMF is a leading manufacturer of automated bakery equipment to help bakeries minimize their risks and stay in business. Estimates suggest significant staffing shortages within the baking industry by 2030. AMF Bakery Systems’ efforts will help ensure the commercial banking sector can withstand those challenges and continue to thrive!
Celebrating Federal Funding for RPS and Phlow Manufacturing
Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, entities throughout the United States receive historic investments to modernize and keep up with growing challenges. In August, the Department of Education (DOE) announced that Richmond Public Schools (RPS) will receive $15,300,000 in federal funding through the Department of Education’s 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant Program. The federal funding will support RPS’s efforts to reduce school energy costs, increase energy efficiency, and improve teacher and student health, including overall comfort and indoor air quality. As a mother to two children in RPS, I welcome this federal funding and look forward to these crucial upgrades. While in the Virginia General Assembly, I established and chaired the School Construction Fund and Program to provide grants to K-12 schools that need financial support for construction and modernization. I’m continuing those efforts in Congress as a cosponsor of the Rebuild America’s Schools Act to establish a similar need-based grant program for local education agencies to upgrade and modernize school facilities.
I also traveled to Petersburg with Senator Tim Kaine to welcome the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell to celebrate federal funding awarded to Phlow Manufacturing, a local pharmaceutical company in our district that is working to ensure essential medicines are manufactured right here in the United States. During the pandemic, supply chain issues led to drug shortages that exposed a major vulnerability in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This HHS funding will help alleviate that problem by supporting Phlow’s efforts to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients necessary to support our health care and prescription drug needs right here in the 4th District! While House Republicans attempt to slash federal funding for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration will continue our efforts to keep these jobs in America to strengthen our economy and prepare our nation for any future pandemics.
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 launch of Moments with McClellan!