Weekly Newsletter 3.19.23
Hi, I’m Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan!
I was sworn in last week, and it was a deep honor and privilege to take that oath.
I’m excited to help more people in more places and tackle new issues after serving the metro-Richmond area for 18 sessions in the Virginia General Assembly. As the first Black woman to represent Virginia, I feel the responsibility and privilege even more.
Over the next weeks and months, I will update you on happenings in our district and in Washington. First, I want to tell you a little bit about me and about my priorities to serve you.
I am Virginia born and raised. Born in Petersburg, I grew up in the Matoaca district of Chesterfield County, and I now live in the City of Richmond with my husband, David Mills and my two children, Jackson and Samantha. As the daughter of educators and community leaders who grew up during the Depression in the segregated South, I know that we must continually fight for progress and never give up. My parents raised me on their stories growing up seeing the best of government in the New Deal and the worst of government in Jim Crow, raising a family in the tumult of the 1960’s and 70’s, and the barriers they had to navigate along the way, including barriers to the voting box. Their stories and my own love of history taught me that with the right leaders and the support of so many, the government can be a positive force for change.
While in undergrad at the University of Richmond, I became involved in politics to make sure youth voices were heard, and I continued that work through law school and beyond. I was elected to the House of Delegates in 2005, the youngest woman elected at that time and in 2010 became the first member to be pregnant while serving. I channeled that experience as a mom to pass legislation about breastfeeding and making sure moms - and legislators – got the accommodations they need to nourish their babies. This is but one example of how I have used my unique life experiences to bring about needed change.
In 2017, after the late Congressman McEachin became the Congressman for this district, I was elected to his seat in the Senate of Virginia. Now, I have the privilege to follow in his footsteps in Congress and build on his legacy.
Throughout my 18 sessions in the Virginia General Assembly, I have prioritized equity, justice, fairness and opportunity, leading to legislative accomplishments in equal rights, voting rights, addressing climate change, healthcare, public education, strengthening homeowner and tenant protections, reforming our justice system, protecting Virginians from predatory lenders, and expanding workers’ rights, particularly domestic workers.
I am eager to get to work in Congress to expand my portfolio and continue to make a real difference in people’s lives.
THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
New Caucus Membership
Congress has quite a few caucuses, centered on issues or constituency groups. This last week, I joined two caucuses that I strongly believe will help my work in Congress and in serving you.
I joined the renowned Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which is dedicated to ensuring that Black Americans and other marginalized groups can succeed and participate in achieving the American dream. Many of the CBC’s goals align with objectives I worked towards in the Virginia General Assembly, including criminal justice reform, voting rights, creating the strongest public education system, protecting workers and building an economy that works for all.
I also joined the New Democrat Coalition, colloquially known as the New Dem Caucus. New Dems are committed to problem-solving and using innovative solutions to advance legislation while overcoming partisanship. New Dems are particularly focused on policies that will grow our economy, create jobs, and lower costs for hardworking families while challenging outmoded partisan approaches to governing.
I am excited to work closely with both caucuses to make a positive difference! There are several additional caucuses I plan to join in the coming weeks, and I look forward to sharing more information about them.
Committee Assignments
At my request, I have been named to the House Armed Services Committee. Our Armed forces are very important to this district, with Fort Lee located in Petersburg, other military installations in the Commonwealth, and the Pentagon in Northern Virginia. This committee is responsible for funding and oversight of the Department of Defense (DoD), as well as substantial portions of the Department of Energy. I am proud to sit on both the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, where I had my first hearing focused on priorities for Special Operations Forces in the upcoming year. I am eager to begin work to ensure our military has the budget and supplies they need to keep us safe and to be prepared for any eventuality.
I’ve also been named to the House Science, Space and Technology (SST) Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal scientific research and development that is not defense related. The committee also has jurisdiction over several agencies, including NASA and the National Weather Service, which has a location in Wakefield. Within this committee, I sit on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. I’m excited to learn about the cutting-edge research happening on the federal level and how I can work to bring that research to Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District.
LETTERS AND LEGISLATION
One of My First Votes: Covid Information Declassification
I joined my colleagues last week in voting to declassify information about the origins of COVID-19. I’m pleased that this bill passed the House unanimously. The public, doctors and research scientists, deserve to know the available information about the origin and causes of the coronavirus pandemic. If we are to continue to resolve this pandemic and prevent further pandemics, information needs to be accessible. Moreover, if we want Americans to trust the government, our advice and our remedies such as vaccines during a pandemic, we need to make information available and accessible. I encourage President Biden to sign this legislation.
FBI Headquarters
Last week, I signed a bipartisan letter with several of my Virginia colleagues to encourage the FBI to build their new headquarters in Springfield, Virginia. Other FBI sites are in Virginia, offering proximity to existing intelligence sites. Moreover, Virginia meets other criteria for the headquarters, including a very diverse community in Northern Virginia with a readily available and talented workforce. The federal government already owns the land in Springfield, so building there will save the government resources.
Maryland is also competing for the new headquarters, but we strongly believe that the Springfield site better meets the criteria, would be more economical, and could create up to 7500 good-paying jobs.
DISTRICT DEADLINES
Community Project Funding
Community Project Funding is a process through the annual appropriations bill in which congressional representatives can apply for federal funding to help localities in their district meet critical needs. My office is already in the process of gathering and sorting through requests for this funding, hosting webinars for interested entities, and conducting outreach to localities, universities, and other public institutions. Before submitting our requests to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration, we want to hear from everyone who has funding needs so we can make the best determinations and meet the needs of our district. The decision to fund the requests is up to the committee’s discretion, so we are working to build the most compelling applications possible.
You can learn more and submit an application here. Deadline to submit is March 19th, 2023.
WHAT YOU MISSED
Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment from Biden Administration
As a State Senator, I worked very hard to ensure Virginia was doing its part to address climate change and leave a healthier earth to our children and grandchildren. As your representative, I will continue that work, and I am pleased to see President Biden’s recent announcement for major federal funding to help support our environmental goals.
Unfortunately, gasoline-powered vehicles are responsible for too many dangerous emissions, contributing to climate change and pollution. Fortunately, the cost of owning an electric vehicle has decreased and the availability and variety of electric powered vehicles has expanded. However, the number of charging stations used to charge the vehicles has lagged. To help ameliorate this issue, the federal government is sending $2.5 billion dollars to states to build charging infrastructure, and I’m excited to report that Virginia will receive $100 million over the next five years to purchase and install these public charging stations for electric vehicles, thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act from 2021. These monies will greatly facilitate Virginia’s transition to a healthier environment, reducing the impacts of climate change and ensuring healthier air.
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan