Weekly Newsletter, 09.23.24
With government funding running out September 30th, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans wasted the last two weeks on hyper-partisan messaging bills that they know will never pass the Senate. While House Democrats stood ready to pass a bill extending current funding through the end of the year while Congress finishes work on the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government for another year, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans spent two weeks combating the Chinese Communist Party and the “woke” agenda.
Yes, really.
From “China Week” to “Woke Week,” Speaker Johnson and extreme MAGA Republicans pushed a slate of bills that failed to meet our nation’s national security needs, undermined our global competitive advantage, and unnecessarily targeted protections for retirees, immigrants, and other minority communities. All of these bills are dead on arrival in the Senate and do little more than give Republicans the opportunity to throw red meat to their extreme right base.
The Speaker then tried to pass a six-month funding bill, tied to a voter suppression bill disguised as a bill to prevent non-citizens from voting, knowing he did not have the votes. Several Republicans, including House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Roger (R-AL), oppose a six-month funding bill, because it threatens our military readiness and jeopardizes the Department of Defense’s operations and acquisitions. In addition to preferring a three-month extension, House Democrats oppose The SAVE Act tied to the Speaker’s funding bill, which implements burdensome proof-of-citizenship requirements to register to vote. Under their bill, eligible voters could not register to vote using state-issued IDs (such as driver’s licenses), military, or Tribal IDs. The only acceptable forms of proof of citizenship under the bill cost money, such as a passport. That is a modern-day poll tax on American citizens.
I spoke on the House floor against the SAVE Act, which I voted against prior to the August recess. I also voted against the Speaker’s funding bill, which failed to pass. You can read the Appropriations Committee Democrats’ fact sheet on the failed bill here.
Fortunately, over the weekend, Speaker Johnson finally released a bill to extend current funding to December 20th. We will hopefully pass the bill this week before heading into recess until after Election Day.
Meanwhile, here’s what else you may have missed since we returned from recess.
IN WASHINGTON
Commemorating National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day
September is Suicide Prevention Month, which promotes awareness and education about the warning signs of suicide and suicide prevention strategies. In the United States, firearms are the most common method of death by suicide and the largest share of gun deaths. I joined Congresswoman Julia Brownley and 70 House Democrats to introduce a resolution designating September 10th as National Firearm Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness to firearm suicides and promote safe gun storage. Safe and secure firearm storage will help reduce unintentional firearm deaths and firearm suicide deaths. Veterans and youth are particularly at risk of firearm suicide, with 71% of veteran suicide deaths resulting from firearm use, and 75% of youth firearm suicides – where storage could be identified – occurring when the gun was stored loaded and unlocked. You can read our resolution here and learn more about the resolution in the video below.
Science Committee Hearing on FAA Licensing for Commercial Space Travel
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee recently held a hearing with space experts and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss licensing requirements for commercial space innovation. The commercial space industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, increasing over $200 billion in the past 14 years. Estimates indicate the industry could reach $1 trillion by 2030. As commercial space launches and other operations become more common, we must ensure Congress implements the necessary safeguard to maintain public safety. During the committee hearing, I questioned FAA officials on the steps the agency is taking to ensure safe space launches and support a regular launch cadence at NASA Wallops in Virginia.
Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicle Showcase
Thanks to the hard work of congressional Democrats and the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States has taken historic action to accelerate our transition to cleaner, more sustainable technologies. These include offering EV tax credits, building out our public charging stations network, implementing new vehicle emissions standards, and incentivizing companies to begin building out their EV offerings. As we continue our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must electrify our heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) fleet. Despite only representing one in ten vehicles on the roads, HDVs contribute more than half of all transportation-related emissions.
Last week, I joined my Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) colleagues to host an HDV EV Showcase, where we discussed our ongoing efforts to electrify our nation’s HDVs and highlighted the important efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration. We got to check out new electric school buses, vans, and even an EV ice cream truck! I’ll continue working with my Democratic colleagues to promote EV technologies and help ensure a greener future for our children and grandchildren.
IN THE DISTRICT
Launching the Veteran of the Year Program
Last week, I launched my annual Veteran of the Year Program. This district program is an incredible opportunity to recognize and celebrate the service and dedication of veterans in Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District. Last year, I named Chief Warrant Officer Four Charles H. Talley, Jr. the Veteran of the Year for his 34 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army and his ongoing service as the Quality Assurance Manager for the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at Fort Gregg-Adams. If you know a veteran who continues to give back to our community and deserves to be recognized, please nominate them for this year’s Veteran of the Year. The deadline to nominate is Friday, October 25th. Additional information can be found on my website.
New Federal Funding for VSU Research and Collaboration
I recently announced that Virginia State University (VSU) would receive nearly $700,000 to support its new Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Research and Collaboration Exchange Project. The grant was awarded through the National Science Foundation’s Advancing Research Capacity Through Exploration and Innovation Program. VSU seeks to create an online HBCU-focused platform to amplify existing research capacity by connecting researchers across HBCUs to other investigators, projects, and equipment. This project will spur research innovation and create new opportunities for students. I commend VSU on its vision and commitment to HBCU collaboration nationwide!
Speaking at Virginia Organizing’s Grassroots Community Day
Over the weekend, I joined Virginia Organizing for its annual Grassroots Community Day. I discussed the importance of voting rights and the need to make your voices heard in this election. In a government by, of, and for the people, your vote is your power.
This is also a reminder that early voting has officially begun in Virginia. You can vote between now and November 2nd when it is convenient for you. Visit vote.gov to check your registration, register to vote, and find your nearest polling location.
REMINDERS
Military Service Academy Nominations
There are five military service academies: the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Interested high school students must receive a nomination from a member of Congress or the Vice President of the United States. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, a U.S. citizen, unmarried, and meet the necessary medical, physical, and academic requirements. If you are a current high school student or a parent of a student interested in one of our nation’s esteemed Military Service Academies, I encourage you to apply for a nomination. The deadline to submit an application for a Military Service Academy is Friday, October 11th at 5:00pm. Additional information can be found on my website.
Casework 101 Forum
My office offers a range of constituent services, including one-on-one help with constituents experiencing an issue with a federal agency. Since I was sworn in on March 7th, 2023, my office has successfully returned nearly $3 million in missing benefits to constituents. If you are experiencing an issue with a federal agency or would like to learn more about the various services my office provides, I encourage you to attend an upcoming Casework 101 Forum. The event will be held at 100 Athletic Field Road in Lawrenceville on Thursday, October 3rd at 6:00pm.
