It was another busy week in Washington as debt-ceiling negotiations between the White House and Congressional leaders dominated everything.
THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Debt Limit Update
Debt ceiling negotiations appear to be at a stalemate, as Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans continue to hold the American economy hostage to their demands for spending cuts and policy proposals that would be detrimental to hard working Americans. With each passing day of their intransigence, the chances of the federal government defaulting on its debts increases. As outlined in these updated reports from Moody’s Analytics and Joint Economic Committee Democrats, a default would be devastating for the American economy.
Last week, we got more insights into what a default would mean for Virginia, which has a large federal footprint. A Virginia Senate Finance Committee analysis shows that an extended default could cost the Commonwealth nearly 200,000 jobs, slash payrolls by 4.7%, and throw the economy into a recession. Even a brief default could cost Virginia an estimated 34,500 jobs and slash payroll by 0.83%. A default also jeopardizes federal grants awarded in the Commonwealth, over 4,000 federally-funded state employees, and millions of Virgnians who receive Social Security, Medicare, and veterans benefits.
For these reasons, I joined my Democratic colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force a floor vote to increase the debt limit should negotiations between President Biden and the so-far intransigent Republicans fail.
I also gave several floor speeches and press interviews this week to spell out the consequences of a default and the proposed Republican spending cuts, which you can see below.
My Democratic colleagues and I are happy and eager to debate policy and spending priorities as part of the appropriations process, but not as part of a scheme to hold the debt ceiling – and therefore, the American economy – hostage. Congress should immediately raise the debt ceiling and pay our bills already incurred. Then we can turn to debating policy and spending priorities going forward.
Addressing the Black Maternal Health Crisis
On the heels of Mother’s Day, we celebrated Women's Health Week. In 2010, I became the first member of the Virginia House of Delegates to be pregnant while in office. My experience gave me a unique perspective as a policymaker on the challenges facing expecting and new mothers. I used that perspective to pass The Pregnant Worker Fairness Act and bills to address the maternal mortality crisis, such as expanding Medicaid to cover women for a full year postpartum.
As a Black mother who almost died in childbirth 8 years ago, I am keenly aware that not only is there a maternal health crisis, but that it disproportionately impacts Black women. That’s why I joined several of my fellow Black Maternal Health Caucus members this week as an original cosponsor of The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Led by Representatives Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams, and Senator Cory Booker, The Momnibus consists of thirteen bills sponsored by Black Maternal Health Caucus Members that will:
Make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition;
Extend WIC eligibility in the postpartum and breastfeeding periods;
Provide funding to community-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity;
Increase funding for programs to improve maternal health care for veterans; Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives maternal health care and support from people they trust;
Improve data collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and inform solutions to address it;
Support moms with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders;
Improve maternal health care and support for incarcerated moms;
Invest in digital tools to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas;
Promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and non-clinical support during and after pregnancy;
Invest in federal programs to address maternal and infant health risks during public health emergencies;
Invest in community-based initiatives to reduce levels of and exposure to climate change-related risks for moms and babies; and
Promote maternal vaccinations to protect the health of moms and babies.
I also cosponsored The Justice for Incarcerated Pregnant People Act (H.R. 3344). Sponsored by Representative Ayanna Pressley, this bill encourages states to end the practice of shackling pregnant individuals. The bill also provides funding to create maternal health programs for incarcerated individuals, including access to doulas, healthy food and nutrition, mental health and substance use counseling. It also provides funding for alternative programs instead of incarceration for pregnant individuals and primary caretakers of young children. Finally, it creates the first ever significant study to help understand the maternal and health crisis among those who are incarcerated.
Addressing Mental Health in Our Armed Services
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have seen how the mental health needs of our service men and women have not been fully met. This week, I signed on as an original cosponsor of The Bipartisan Sailor Standard of Care Act. Introduced by Representatives Jennifer Kiggans, Bobby Scott, Rob Witman and Jimmy Panetta, this bill focuses on improving mental healthcare for the men and women serving in the United States Navy. Specifically, the bill:
Requires mandatory mental health provider billets for units with more than 15 limited duty sailors assigned;
Requires all sailors assigned to limited duty to receive an initial mental health screening by a certified mental healthcare provider, with subsequent screenings conducted every 60 days while sailors are assigned to limited duty;
Examines reimbursement rates for mental healthcare providers under TRICARE, the number of current and projected mental healthcare providers under TRICARE, and assess what, if any, additional authorities and resources are needed to effectively provide timely access to mental healthcare;
Requires the Navy to construct and manage a dashboard to track quality of life programs and their utilization rate. The quality-of-life issues tracked by this dashboard include childcare, healthcare, education, housing, and spouse employment;
Requires the Navy to study recent cases in which multiple suicides occurred within 30 days of each other at the same unit/command and establish a standard operating procedure for responding to multiple suicides; and
Requires the Navy to provide a briefing to Congress on the average number of days it takes to separate with limited duty sailors after it is determined the sailors are to be medically separated.
A number of sailors assigned to the USS George Washington, which has been docked in Norfolk since 2017, have died by suicide in the last year. Unfortunately, these sailors are not alone, as several sailors assigned to other ships undergoing refueling and complex overhaul and at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk have died by suicide within the past five years. A recent report issued by the Navy acknowledges that it has not met the mental health needs of its sailors. We can and must do better by our service members.
George Santos
As you’ve likely heard by now, Representative George Santos was charged with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. These charges stem from allegations that he duped donors, stole from his campaign and lied to Congress about being a millionaire, all while cheating to collect unemployment benefits he didn’t deserve. In addition, he confessed to theft in Brazil and was ordered to pay a fine and reimburse the merchant who he defrauded.
This week, Representative Robert Garcia introduced a resolution to expel Mr. Santos from Congress, which takes a two-thirds vote of House members. Rather than taking that vote, House Republicans referred the petition to the House Ethics Committee. I voted against this motion, which took a simple majority, because it was merely a ploy to avoid accountability on whether Mr. Santos should remain a member of Congress.
He should not. While Mr. Santos is entitled to a fair trial, the behavior he has already admitted is unethical, unacceptable and unbecoming of a member of Congress.
Mr. Santos’ troubles are not over, though, as he is scheduled back in court in New York on June 30th.
IN THE DISTRICT
Virginia Businesses Step Up to Address Climate Change
In 2021, the Community Climate Collaborative initiated the Green Business Alliance, an alliance of sixteen Central Virginia businesses committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2025. This week, I was pleased to join the Alliance as they welcomed another eleven businesses making this important pledge. Government has an important role to play in addressing climate change, which is why I am proud of my work as the Senate of Virginia patron of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which made Virginia the first state in the South to adopt a 100% clean energy standard. The 117th Congress also made significant strides in addressing climate change through The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. But the private sector must be a key partner in this existential fight to leave a habitable Earth for our children and grandchildren. I applaud the members of the Green Business Alliance for their commitment to this fight.
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Mobile McClellan in Emporia: Constituent Services – Help with a Federal Agency
If you have a problem with a federal agency, such as missing veterans benefits, a lost tax return , a never arrived visa or passport, my very able and experienced constituent services staff is eager to help. To initiate the process, please visit my website and follow the instructions. Federal law requires that we have a signed privacy form to open a case.
Because our congressional district is so large, our district staff will be traveling into various communities periodically. We call these events “Mobile McClellan." The first will be in Emporia on Tuesday, June 20th at the City Hall Building, 201 South Main Street, Emporia 23847. Parking will be available next to the post office.Future Mobile McClellans in Emporia will be on every third Tuesday from 10am to 2pm.
Stay tuned for additional Mobile McClellan locations and announcements!
Congressional Art Contest Winners
I’m pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Fourth District Art Contest for high school students. Congratulations to our first place winner, Joshua Crenshaw, a senior from Varina High School in Henrico . His piece, “Just Sitting,” was created using charcoal on paper and will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Alana Moore, a freshman from Brunswick (County) High School, took second place with her painting, “Warfield,” and Mareit Nester, a senior from Clover Hill High School, in Chesterfield took third place with her photograph “Flourishing in Darkness.”
I was so impressed by the creativity, talent and thought-provoking submissions. I want to commend Joshua on his talent and ability. I enjoyed calling and congratulating him.
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Congressional App Challenge
The 2023 Congressional App Challenge is now open! This program, highlighting the importance and value of computer science and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), is open to all middle and high schoolers who reside or attend school in the Fourth District. The winning app will be on display in the Capitol.
You can read more information and rules here. The deadline to submit an app is November 1, 2023. Students may enter individually or in teams of four.
Last month, I had the opportunity to meet with the 2022 Congressional App Challenge winners from Virginia’s Fourth. These students attend Code RVA Regional High School. We discussed their winning app, Tiresias, which helps visually-impaired individuals navigate and identify objects they encounter in their daily lives.
