Weekly Newsletter, 12.20.23

Congress adjourned for the year last week with House Republicans accomplishing very little beyond infighting over their extreme agenda and pushing a baseless impeachment inquiry at the behest of the former President. What was accomplished last week was done despite extreme MAGA Republican shenanigans, with House Democrats once again delivering the votes needed to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). When we return on January 9th, Congress will have 10 days to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Check out what else happened last week. 

THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON

2024 National Defense Authorization Act Heads to President Biden’s Desk

Last week, the House and Senate passed the Conference Report for the 2024 NDAA (H.R. 2670) resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill authorizing funding for the Defense department, our armed forces and supporting service members and their families. I supported the bipartisan version of the bill advanced by the House Armed Services Committee on a vote of 58-1, fought back against extreme MAGA amendments on the House floor, and voted against the hyper-partisan version that ultimately passed the House. I much preferred the Senate version of the bill passed in July. 

I supported the NDAA Conference Report, which fortunately rejected House Republican amendments that restricted essential reproductive and LGBTQ+ health care for service members and their families and undermined Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives and President Biden’s executive orders on climate change. Significant provisions include authorize:

• 5.2 percent pay raises for service members; 
• $361 million for construction, planning and design for new child development centers, and $70 million for educational agencies with military dependent students serving children with severe disabilities; 
• A record $150 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to invest in innovation, technology, and modernization initiatives, as well as historically underserved communities; 
• Increases access to mental and physical health care under TRICARE, reduces out-of-pocket costs, and expands delivery of health care benefits; and  
• $650 million worth of investments in energy resilience and energy conservation projects.

The final bill also included five provisions that I introduced as amendments to the NDAA or separate bills: 

• Traction Alopecia Study: Directs the Department of Defense to conduct a study into the feasibility of implementing novel treatments for service members, particularly Black women, who suffer from traction alopecia and scalp damage caused by the military’s strict grooming standards. 
• Extension Deadline for U.S.S. George Washington: Provides the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Defense the necessary time to conclude its investigation into the contributing factors behind the suicides committed by Navy servicemembers aboard the U.S.S. George Washington in Newport News, Virginia. 
• Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Training Study: Directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study into mental health awareness and suicide prevention training in the military and to offer recommendations that close existing gaps. 
• MilitaryOne Source Study: Requires the Department of Defense to conduct a study into the efficacy, utility, and accessibility of the One Source Program, which aims to connect servicemembers and their families with various services and resources. 
• NATO Resolution: Mybipartisan, bicameral legislation to prevent any U.S. President from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO without congressional approval. 

You can read a summary of the final NDAA here and the full text of the bill here.

House Passes National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act Named for Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton

In September, Representative Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) announced that she was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a form of atypical Parkison’s “on steroids.” While she will retire at the end of her current term, Rep. Wexton has been committed to using her platform to raise awareness and fight for greater research of treatments and cures for Parkinson’s and Parkinsonisms.  

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan “Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act” to bring key federal agency stakeholders together with non federal experts, patients, and caregivers to build a national plan to prevent, treat, and cure Parkinson’s Disease. The bill is modeled after the National Alzheimer’s Project Act,  which has spurred major advances in the development and funding of research for treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and related dementias since it was signed in 2011.

I was deeply honored to deliver floor remarks on Rep. Wexton’s behalf, which you can watch here: 

Addressing Lead Contamination in Applesauce

In mid-November, the CDC issued an alert about lead-contaminated cinnamon applesauce products and encouraged parents to have their children tested for lead. In response, I led 15 of my colleagues in a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen, urging the agencies to address lead contamination in foods consumed by young children.  

Lead exposure can lead to an array of adverse health impacts, including vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, seizures, hearing loss, learning difficulties, and developmental delays. We called on the FDA and CDC to expedite their efforts on the Closer to Zero Plan, an initiative aimed at reducing environmental contaminants in food. We also called for stronger food standards and the release of any testing results related to the contaminated apple sauce pouches. This situation is extremely troubling and sheds a light on larger issues around the lack of federal standards for lead in most foods. I will continue to monitor this situation and fight to ensure the strongest lead standards to protect Americans, especially our babies and young children.   

Addressing Graduate and Postdoctoral STEM Financial Instability 

As a member of the House Science, Space and Technology (SST) Committee, I am working to diversify the STEM workforce and address long-standing barriers to entry. One of those barriers is the financial instability faced by graduate and postdoctoral STEM researchers. These scholars play an important role in STEM research and development in the United States science, and the recruitment, training, and retention of these early-career researchers are essential to fulfilling the potential of the CHIPS and Science Act and ensuring that the United States remains the global leader in science and technology. However, increases in costs and personal expenses needed to pursue a STEM career have led to unsustainable levels of financial instability for some researchers.

To address this issue, I introduced the Relieving Economic Strain to Enhance American Resilience and Competitiveness in Higher Education and Research (RESEARCHER) Act in June, which will:

• Direct the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to develop a set of policy guidelines for federal research agencies to address the financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers;
• Require federal research agencies to develop and implement policies based on OSTP’s guidelines; and
• Amend the CHIPS and Science Act to supplement data collection on financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers and allow the National Science Foundation to award grants to research this issue.

Last week,  I led a letter with SST Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and SST Subcommittee on Research and Technology Ranking Member Haley Stevens (MI-11) to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral STEM scholars. I look forward to the GAO taking on this important study, which will provide valuable information on financial insecurity and the extent to which underrepresented groups may be disproportionately impacted by the financial strain of seeking advanced STEM training.  

SEEC Endorses My Soil Carbon Sequestration Act 

Last week, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) endorsed my bipartisan Coordination for Soil Carbon Research and Monitoring Act. My legislation would streamline existing federal efforts around soil carbon sequestration and close gaps in research and monitoring. Soil carbon sequestration, also known as “carbon farming” or “regenerative agriculture,” refers to land management processes to promote the absorption of carbon into soil. Experts estimate that soil could store almost 5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide worldwide each year. I am grateful to receive SEEC’s endorsement on this legislation, as we continue our efforts to address the climate crisis. 

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Commemorating 100 Years of the Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment

December 13th marked the 100th Anniversary of the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the House of Representatives. To commemorate the anniversary, I joined ERA Caucus Co-Chair Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and members of the ERA Coalition at a press conference calling on federal officials to take the necessary steps to publish the ERA in the Constitution.

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While in the Virginia General Assembly, I carried the legislation making Virginia the 38th state to ratify the ERA. Now in Congress, I am working to get the ERA over the finish line as a Vice Chair of the first-ever ERA Caucus. Now more than ever, we must continue our efforts to ensure equal protections under the law. It is past time the Archivist publishes the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. 

“Moments with McClellan” – Whip Katherine Clark 

I am excited to announce Episode 2 of my new social media series, Moments with McClellan. This episode featured the highest ranking woman Democrat in the House, Whip Katherine Clark. Whip Clark and I are both mothers and attorneys from a Commonwealth; we both worked in our state legislatures prior to Congress; and we both came to Congress through a special election. Check out our conversation below. 

THE WEEK IN THE DISTRICT 

Addressing United States Postal Service Issues

Over the past few months, my office has been inundated with reports of mail delivery issues, including late and missing deliveries, mail theft, and more. As a result, I convened a meeting with Gerald Roane, the Virginia District Manager of the United States Postal Service (USPS), Commonwealth Attorney Colette McEachin, and a representative from Tim Kaine’s office to discuss the challenges our constituents face and the steps USPS is taking to rectify the situation. 

To follow up on the meeting, Senators Warner, Kaine, and I sent a letter to Mr. Roane, reiterating our concerns and calling for increased transparency regarding the recent mail delivery issues. We called on Mr. Roane to hold a town hall, where constituents can express their concerns and get answers to their questions. 

Thankfully, constituents are beginning to report consistent mail delivery, and USPS is working to clear their backlog. This is important progress, but my office will continue to do everything in our power to ensure timely and accurate mail services for Richmonders.If you or someone you know has mail issues, my office is here to help. You can begin the process by filling out a privacy release form, and one of my experienced constituent caseworkers will be in contact with 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. 

I wish everyone a peaceful, joyful and blessed holiday season. I hope you have the opportunity to spend it with friends and loved ones. We will resume our weekly newsletter in January 2024. Merry Christmas to all celebrating, and Happy New Year!