Weekly Newsletter, 1.9.24
Happy 2024! Congress returns to session this week with many critical items still on our agenda. In just ten days, temporary funding for agriculture, energy and water, military construction and veterans affairs, transportation and housing and urban development related agencies expires. Remaining federal spending expires February 2nd.
Over the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced an agreement on topline spending for fiscal year (FY) 2024, which will allow the House and Senate to prepare full-year appropriations bills to avoid a government shutdown. The proposal represents a bipartisan compromise that holds FY 2024 funding at FY 2023 levels as outlined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act passed in June, while accelerating a $10 billion cut in IRS funding from FY 2025 to FY 2024 and rescinding $1.6 billion in unused COVID relief funding. You can read speaker Johnson’s letter to House members on the agreement here and a joint statement from Senate Leader Schumer and House Democratic Leader Jeffries here. I look forward to reviewing the full proposal in detail and working to pass bills to fund our government through 2024. The clock is ticking…
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON
ICYMI - Check Out My 2023 Year in Review
2023 was a busy year with many historic events, due in large part to Republicans’ dysfunction and infighting. We narrowly avoided a devastating default on our debt, averted two government shutdowns, witnessed the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House and his subsequent retirement from Congress, spent 3 weeks electing a new Speaker, and watched as George Santos became only the sixth Member of Congress in history to be expelled following the release of a deeply troubling, bipartisan House Ethics report. Despite the chaos, House Democrats continued to do everything in our power to deliver for the American people, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish.
Check out my 2023 Year in Review here.
Advocating for Continued Funding for Shipbuilding in Hampton Roads
Before the holiday, I joined members of the Hampton Roads delegation – Representatives Rob Wittman (VA-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Bobby Scott (VA-03) – in a letter urging Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Defense Department to ensure aircraft carrier procurement funding remains on track.
Home to several world-renowned shipyards, Hampton Roads plays a vital role in supporting the U.S. Navy and our national security priorities through shipbuilding. Now more than ever, we must do everything to ensure our nation maintains a consistent shipbuilding schedule. Advanced funding and a consistent four-year construction interval for our ships will save the nation more than $5 billion and create stability in the industry. You can read our full letter here.
Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Scales Back Southgate Project
Last week, Mountain Valley Pipeline announced a substantial reduction in the Southgate pipeline project. Initially proposed to run for 75 miles from southern Virginia into central North Carolina, MVP Southgate will be reduced by more than 40 miles to avoid a compressor station rejected by Virginia regulators due to environmental justice concerns.
This past year, I have helped lead several efforts to oppose the MVP Southgate Project and ensure impacted communities can engage in the decision-making process and voice their concerns. These efforts includes co-leading two separate letters to oppose MVP Southgate’s request to extend its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which is needed to complete construction of the pipeline, and calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend its public comment period when considering the extension request. I am pleased to see MVP scale back its Southgate pipeline. We must continue to do everything in our power to transition away from fossil fuels and adopt greener, more sustainable technologies.
Fifth Circuit Ruling About Emergency Room Abortion Services
Last week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas hospitals and doctors are not obligated to perform abortions under the long-standing national emergency-care law, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). For decades, EMTALA has required that hospitals provide emergency medical care and all necessary stabilizing treatments, including abortion care, to anyone who needs it. This ruling radically narrows EMTALA and singles out those who need abortion care as somehow not entitled to lifesaving emergency services.
In Texas and other states with total abortion bans in place, this decision undermines abortion access for those in life-threatening emergencies and forces doctors to make unthinkable choices between risking prison time or letting their patients die. This ruling is dangerous and jeopardizes the health and well-being of Americans in a post-Dobbs world. As a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus and a lifelong advocate for reproductive justice, I will continue fighting to protect reproductive freedom at the federal level to ensure decisions about abortion are left to patients and their providers.
THE WEEK IN THE DISTRICT
Deadline Approaching: Open Enrollment - Virginia Health Exchange
January 15th is the last day to enroll in the Virginia Marketplace Health Exchange for coverage beginning on February 1st. The Exchange is available to all Virginians thanks to legislation I carried in while in the Virginia General Assembly. You can visit marketplace.virginia.gov to review available, tailored health insurance plans.
Scholarship Opportunity for Virginia State University Students
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue food and agriculture career paths. USDA provides scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. The scholarship also includes work experience at USDA through summer internships. Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon completion of their degree.
As an 1890 land-grant university, Virginia State University students pursuing a degree in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines are eligible to apply. Interested students maysubmit their applications online. The application deadline is March 1, 2024.
Discrimination Financial Assistance Program for Farmers, Ranchers and Forest Owners
Throughout our nation’s history, Black farmers and other historically marginalized groups have faced discriminatory lending practices that drastically reduce economic mobility and contribute to the racial wealth gap. In 2022, USDA granted direct loans to only 36% of farmers who identified as Black. These are supposed to be the easiest loans to acquire and allow farmers who can’t get credit elsewhere to acquire land, farming equipment, and other resources. In contrast, 72% of white farmers who applied for direct loans in 2022 were approved.
Thanks to the hard work of congressional Democrats, the Inflation Reduction Act created a new program known as the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. Anyone who experienced discrimination in farm lending programs can apply for financial assistance. The application is free and help is available to every applicant.A list of those who can support applicants in person or virtually can be foundhere.
Taxes - Countdown to April 15, 2024!
It’s January so it’s time to start thinking about your 2023 income taxes. Fortunately, the IRS has put together some useful tips to get ready to file your taxes, which you can find here.
I look forward to hearing from you. Make sure to follow @RepMcClellan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Threadsto 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