Weekly Newsletter 11.7.23
We have 10 days until government funding runs out. Absent a new funding bill by midnight, November 18th, the government will shut down. You would think that after three weeks of infighting and finally electing a Speaker, House Republicans would settle down and focus on passing bipartisan funding bills that can get through the Senate. Instead, the infighting got personal on social media after the failures of Marjorie Taylor Green’s resolution to censure Rashida Tlaib and New York Republicans’ resolution to expel George Santos. In what was supposed to be an in-district work week, the Speaker put forth three hyper-partisan funding bills that included MAGA wish-list items, each of which is likely to fail in the Senate.
Here is what you may have missed this week.
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON
House Republican Funding Bills Devastate Working Families
Last week, House Republicans pushed through funding bills that slash critical investments in clean air and water, affordable housing, and critical infrastructure like roads and bridges. These cuts will raise costs for working families and block the critical investments we need to grow the middle class. The bills also contain poison pill riders eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs and allowinging discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community under the guise of religious liberty.
First, the House passed H.R. 4364, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2024 on a largely partisan vote. This typically non-controversial annual appropriations bill provides federal funding for Congress to serve our constituents, hire and retain talented staff, support Capitol Police Officers, and more. This year, extreme MAGA Republicans loaded the bill down with poison pill legislative riders that
- Undermine employment eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients,
- Eliminates a provision to combat climate change;
- Fails to facilitate funding for the collective bargaining rights prescribed to Congressional staffers;
- Eliminates dedicated funding for the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion and prohibits funding across the Legislative Branch for diversity, equity, and inclusion training or implementation; and
- Creates a license to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people under the guise of religious liberty.
The House also passed on a largely partisan basis H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act on a mostly partisan basis. I spoke against extreme, draconian cuts that undermine the historic climate and environmental justice provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act during a press conference with the Climate Action Campaign, Moms Clean Air Task Force, Defend Our Future, and several of my House Democratic colleagues. These provisions
- Slash Department of the Interior (DOI) funding by $697 million
- Cut Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding by $4 billion
- Decrease State and Tribal Assistance Grants funding by $1.9 billion
- Eliminate Environmental Justice funding entirely, a decrease of $102 million
The bill also includes culture war riders that prohibit funds for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, censoring commemoration of LGTBQI+ pride, and prohibiting the Smithsonian Institution from highlighting the contributions of American Latinos in U.S. history and culture.
I voted against both of these extreme partisan bills.
House Passes Partisan Israel Aid Bill With Conditions
As noted in my last newsletter, the Biden-Harris Administration sent Congress an emergency supplemental funding request for key national security priorities that comprehensively provides assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and innocent civilians in Gaza facing a growing humanitarian crisis. Instead of bringing that bill to the floor for a vote, House Republicans brought a bill that fails to meet the urgency of the moment, denies Ukraine the much-needed funding it needs to stave off Vladimir Putin’s unjustified and illegal invasion, and ignores the needs of Palestinians in Gaza. Furthermore, for the first time ever, the bill conditioned aid to our Israeli allies by demanding draconian funding cuts for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These cuts would significantly reduce the IRS’s ability to conduct oversight, paving the way for billionaires and ultra-wealthy corporations to avoid paying their fair share, while also increasing by $26.8 billion our national deficit.President Biden pledged to veto the legislation, and the Senate refuses to even consider this deeply flawed bill. For these reasons, I voted no on the bill and look forward to reviewing the Senate’s version, which will more fully address the needs of Israel, Ukraine, Palestinians in Gaza, and competition with the Chinese Communist Party.
Virginia Democratic Delegation Reiterates Call for Investigation into Youngkin Administration
Last week, the Virginia Democratic delegation wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch an investigation into the Youngkin Administration’s improper removal of 3,400 eligible voters from the voter rolls – ten times more than initially announced. This follows a letter we sent on October 6th after initial reports of the purge were reported.
THE WEEK IN THE DISTRICT
The Virginia Healthcare Exchange is Now Open
While in the Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Sickles and I passed legislation in 2020 to transition Virginia from the federal health benefits exchange under the Affordable Care Act to a state-based exchange. I am pleased to say the Virginia Healthcare Exchange is now up and running! Open Enrollment runs through January 15th!
The exchange allows the state to customize coverage or rate requirements as well as prioritize plans that offer benefits tailored to meet the health needs of communities in Virginia.
In 2022, I built on that progress andchampioned passage of a bill to improve access to the state-based exchange. My legislation directed the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange to develop a budget and plan to strengthen marketing and navigator services to ensure more Virginians had the necessary information and resources to save money on their health care through the exchange.
If you are looking for health insurance, I encourage you to check it out.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
Hiring Spring Interns
My office is hiring interns for the spring 2024 semester! If you are a college student, graduate student or recent graduate interested in a career in public service, a congressional internship will give you valuable experience and insight into our nation’s federal legislative process. This is a paid internship and candidates with ties to Virginia’s Fourth or our Commonwealth are encouraged to apply!
The deadline to submit an application is November 15th. For more information or to submit an application, please visit my website.
Upcoming Mobile McClellans
Looking for help with a federal agency without driving to Richmond or DC? You can register here to meet with my staff on November 21st from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Surry County Parks & Recreation, 205 Enos Farm Drive, Surry, VA 23883. Sign up today here.
Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment runs through December 7, 2023. During this time, Medicare enrollees can review and compare their options for health and prescription drug coverage. After checking options, they can enroll or switch plans for the coming year. Changes will take effect on January 1, 2024.
If you are satisfied with the current health care coverage and it will be available in 2024, then no need to take any action.
For more information or to compare plans, visitMedicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.