Weekly Newsletter 8.15.23
It’s August recess for Congress, so things are quieter than usual in Washington. However, my staff and I are still hard at work for you! Here is a recap of what we were up to last week.
THIS WEEK IN THE DISTRICT
Brunswick Farms to Families Luncheon
While farming is a significant portion of the Brunswick economy, many families there lack access to fresh food. County Supervisor Bernard L. Jones, Sr. helped found Brunswick Farms to Families to tackle this problem by encouraging local farmers to plant fruits and vegetables instead of tobacco and timber, facilitating donations of fresh food to community food pantries, and establishing demonstration gardens to educate residents on raising their own food, and partnering with community organizations to provide agricultural education services to small farmers and county youth. Last week, I joined Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and sixth generation farmer Joseph Guthrie as a speaker at the second annual Farms to Families luncheon. We also visited the organization’s Alberta Community Raised Garden Bed. You can learn more about Farms to Families and its work here.
I had hoped to share an update at the luncheon on theAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4368), one of 11 pending House appropriations acts that must be passed by September 30th. As I previously reported, we recessed without considering this bill because House Republicanscould not agree on which proposed amendments could proceed to the floor.
Similarly, I could not share an update on the 2023 Farm Bill, a crucial reauthorization bill that comes up every five years to fund an array of agricultural and food programs and address evolving issues facing the agriculture industry and food access more broadly. Unfortunately, neither the House or Senate have released a draft of the Farm Bill text, due in large part to disagreements within the Republican party. However, several crucial programs such as nutrition assistance and farm commodity support will expire on September 30th. The clock is ticking and hopefully we will see the text before we return to Washington on September 12th. Learn more about these two bills here.
As Virginia’s largest private industry, agriculture has an economic impact of $82.3 billion annually, providing more than 381,800 jobs in the Commonwealth, and $43.8 billion in value-added impact. Agriculture is a critical component of the economy of the Fourth District, and while I am not a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I am fortunate to be a member of the New Democrat Coalition Farm Bill Task Force, which endorsed five core policy principles for the Farm Bill last month. The Task Force seeks to work with members, the Agriculture Committee, and relevant stakeholders to ensure Congress passes a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports the agricultural economy, nutrition, climate, and rural communities.
THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Supplemental Funding Request
Last week, The Biden-Harris Administration unveiled a new $40 billion supplemental funding request that includes $24 billion in new economic and military aid for Ukraine, $12 billion for domestic disaster relief, $4 billion for border security and streamlining immigration processes, and nearly $800 million to address the flow of illicit fentanyl into the country.
It has been over a year and a half since Russia launched its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s military recently launched its counteroffensive and has continued to stave off Moscow’s troops. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure Ukraine receives the aid necessary to continue its defense for democracy and sovereignty.
Just over the past week, The Biden-Harris Administration has approved disaster declarations for Hawaii in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Maui and for Montana, Mississippi, and New Jersey for recent catastrophic weather-related events. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that it will face a $4.3 billion shortfall by September 30th. The supplemental disaster relief will help support the increasing number of communities impacted by extreme weather events and other natural disasters.
CHIPS and Science Act Anniversary
August 9th marked the one-year anniversary of the CHIPS and Science Act. Although semiconductors were invented in the United States, today we produce only about 10 percent of global supply—and none of the most advanced chips. The CHIPS and Science Act aims to change this by driving American competitiveness, making American supply chains more resilient, and supporting our national security and access to key technologies. This bipartisan legislation invests nearly $53 billion in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development, and workforce. The law also created a 25 percent tax credit for capital investments in semiconductor manufacturing. Learn more about key milestones in the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of CHIPS and Science Act here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
In Person Town Hall - September 6th
Mark your calendars! I’m very excited to announce an in-person town hall on September 6th at Reynolds Community College on Parham Road in the Lipman Auditorium. I look forward to updating you on my work, hearing your priorities and answering questions. Please RSVP here.