Weekly Newsletter, 05.21.24

The House returns to Washington today for a short and busy week before the Memorial Day recess. The House Armed Services Committee is preparing to take up the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA), the annual bill to fund the Department of Defense and our Armed Forces. As a reminder, last year’s NDAA markup lasted 14 hours and went late into the night… Stay tuned to my social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X) for updates as we get to work Wednesday! 

Last week, we passed the FAA Reauthorization Act, celebrated Infrastructure Week and the robust federal investments President Biden, Vice President Harris, and congressional Democrats delivered through a once-in-a-generation infrastructure bill last Congress. I also presented community project funding to Henrico County to help them close the digital divide in the Varina District. Meanwhile, House Republicans passed another round of divisive, hyper-partisan messaging bills for National Police Week as part of an attempt to look “tough on crime” without actually doing anything to prevent crime. 

THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON

House Passes FAA Reauthorization Act

Last week, the House passed H.R. 3935, the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024” reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board for five years. President Biden signed the bill shortly thereafter.

There was a lot in this bipartisan bill to support, as outlined in this joint statement from House Transportation and Infrastructure leadership. I advocated for and successfully secured increased funding for the Airport Improvement Project to support the planning and development of public-use airports, like Richmond International in our district. I also secured an important provision to codify the Transition Plan for PFAS Firefighting Foam to help mitigate PFAS contamination and protect communities. You can learn more about the bill here.

Unfortunately, the bill also included a provision adding new flights at DCA National Airport that the House previously rejected. Today, DCA’s primary runway is the busiest in the United States, leading to significant delays and cancellations. Local congressional leaders, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that operates DCA, the FAA, and the Department of Transportation have all warned that adding more flights at the airport would raise safety concerns and lead to increased delays and cancellations. These safety concerns were only heightened by a recent near miss at the airport. As a result of this provision, I voted no on the bill. I signed onto this joint statement by regional representatives outlining our concerns in greater detail.

New Bill to Help Students Afford Parking and Transportation 

Over the past 40 years, the cost of higher education has increased by 180%. As students and families face rising tuition rates and housing costs, 529 College Saving Plans have increasingly helped families address the costs of tuition and housing. Unfortunately, those plans do not cover transportation and parking costs. To fix that, I introduced the Accessible College Campus and Expanded Student Savings (ACCESS) Act with Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) last week. 

Many students need to commute to school and park on campus, which can add to the financial strain they experience. My ACCESS Act will allow 529 Savings Plans to be used for transportation and parking expenses at higher education institutions and apprenticeship programs. This legislation seeks to provide students with a little breathing room and make college and apprenticeship programs more accessible and affordable. You can check out a quick summary on my bill here. 

Celebrating Infrastructure Week 

Last week was Infrastructure Week! Three years ago, under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, congressional Democrats passed one of the largest infrastructure bills in our nation’s history: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Since then, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced nearly $454 billion in federal investments for 56,000 projects nationwide to rebuild and modernize America’s infrastructure, create new jobs, and strengthen our communities. 

We are seeing the impacts here in Virginia’s Fourth. Thanks to this transformative legislation, our district has received: 

• $7.6 million in Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program grants to improve mobility in communities along I-64 and I-95. 
   
• $18.4 million for the Arthur Ashe Bridge replacement that crosses the CSX railroads between the Diamond District and Scott’s Edition
   
• $500,000 to restore the S-Line railway and improve rail connectivity between Richmond and Raleigh.
   
• $6.9 million to Richmond International Airport through airport infrastructure grants.
   
• $10 million to the Greater Richmond Transit Company for the purchase of low and zero-emissions buses.
   
• $3.2 million to eliminate or improve safety at railroad crossings between Richmond and D.C.

I look forward to continued collaboration with the Biden-Harris Administration to implement this legislation and bring federal funding back to our Commonwealth. Learn more about projects funded through the infrastructure law here.

THE WEEK IN THE DISTRICT 

Expanding Internet Access in Henrico County

Every year, Members of Congress submit local projects and priorities to the House Appropriations Committee for funding in the annual budget bills. Last year, I submitted 15 projects – the maximum number of submissions – and successfully secured over $15 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) for each.

In honor of Infrastructure Week, I kicked off my CPF tour in Henrico County to present local officials with a check for $725,000 to support Henrico’s Universal Broadband Deployment Project. This project will expand internet access to unserved rural parts of the County, primarily in Varina.

This federal funding, combined with funding from the IIJA, state and local funds, will support the deployment of high-speed internet to 412 unserved units and ensure every resident in Henrico County has broadband access. In our increasingly digital world, internet access is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. I am thrilled to bring this federal funding back to Virginia, and I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition. You can read more about the announcement in the Henrico Citizen.

Military Service Academy Day

Did you know acceptance to one of our nation’s Military Service Academies – the U.S. Military, Air Force, Naval, Merchant Marine, and Coast Guard – requires a nomination by a Member of Congress or the Vice President? Over the weekend, my office hosted a Military Service Academy Day at Virginia State University for high school students interested in attending one of the five academies. The event was a major success, with about 50 students in attendance! My Military Service Academy Coordinator, a West Point graduate, explained the application process to students and families. We were also joined by representatives from Senator Kaine’s office, the academies, and ROTC programs throughout Virginia. Thank you to all the students and parents who attended! I look forward to reviewing students’ applications in the coming months. 

If you missed the event and would like more information, you can visit my website. 

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REMINDERS

Congressional App Challenge

Fourth District students interested in STEM can now register for the Congressional App Challenge! Students can submit their original application to address a problem in our state, country, or across the globe between now and October 24, 2024. Find the application and more informationhere.

I look forward to hearing from you. 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!

Sincerely,

Rep. Jennifer McClellan
Member of Congress