This week, our district was shaken by a devastating mass shooting in Richmond. In Washington, legislative business came to a halt, as extreme Republicans blocked all votes on the floor. To get real-time updates, be sure to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

On Tuesday, moments after the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony ended, as friends and family gathered for hugs and selfies, gunshots rang out in Monroe Park. Graduate Shawn Jackson and his stepfather Renzo Smith were killed. Five additional people were shot. Others sustained injuries, including Shawn’s 9 year old sister Reyna Jackson Smith, who was hit by a car fleeing the scene. What should have been a joyous occasion turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. Students whose freshmen year was cut short by the COVID pandemic now have their graduation memories marred by trauma. 

The day after the shooting, I took to the House floor to say enough is enough and to beg my House colleagues to do something to address the gun violence epidemic.

If you wish to financially support the Smith family in this very difficult time, please consider donating to the RPS Trauma Healing Response Fund. Established by the RPS Education Foundation, this fund manages donations to aid RPS victims of gun violence and their families.

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter kicking off gun violence awareness month, I am working in Congress to address gun violence just as I did as a state legislator, both to pass common sense gun reform laws and invest in addressing the root causes of gun violence. Just days before my special election, I voted on the Virginia Senate budget that included my amendment to invest $24 million in the Firearm Violence and Intervention and Prevention Fund that I established in the 2022 budget. The General Assembly adjourned the 2023 session without passing a new budget, but I call on my former colleagues to include that funding in the next budget they pass. 

As we mourn Shawn and Renzo and seek to comfort their family and friends, as well as the Richmond Public School family to which I belong, I remain committed to addressing the gun violence epidemic in Congress.

This week, the House was supposed to take up four Republican priority bills intended more to feed their messaging machine than actually address the real problems facing everyday Americans. However, 12 far-right Republicans voted against a procedural resolution establishing the rules for those votes. This was essentially a temper tantrum in anger at Speaker McCarthy over some perceived broken promises made when he was elected Speaker. As a result of their infighting－which Speaker Mcarthy characterized as chaos－the House gridlocked, could not proceed to any floor votes, and went home two days ahead of schedule. From taking 15 votes to elect a speaker, to debt ceiling brinkmanship, and now this, House Republicans keep showing their inability to govern. 

This week the Science, Space and Technology Committee held a hearing on advancing American leadership in quantum technology. Quantum technology research has guided the development of lasers, magnetic resonating imaging (MRI), superconducting magnets, light emitting diodes, transistors, semiconductors/microprocessors, electron microscopy, and more. Quantum mechanics also creates the potential for enormous leaps in crucial areas like computing, precise measurement, cryptography, and impenetrable communications. 

As quantum technologies are changing our nation’s economic, strategic, and scientific landscape, Congress must navigate difficult policy questions on emerging technologies.  Moreover, there is a global race among nations to develop operational quantum platforms across a variety of applications. This week’s hearing focused on evaluating the first five years of the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA), the economic value of quantum science and its applications, the national security importance of developing quantum capabilities, and policies that should be considered in the next five years. The hearing was intended to help inform legislation to reauthorize NQIA programs that expire on September 30, 2023.

This issue is of particular importance to Virginia, which is home to the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, which conducts groundbreaking nuclear and particle physics research. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Jefferson Lab, where engineers recently used an innovative photon detection system to solve challenges in quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum cryptography. This is just one example of the potential for quantum information science to help us solve previously unsolvable problems and better understand the fundamental building blocks of matter.

During the committee hearing, I asked questions about how Congress can support quantum computing for climate-saving applications, the national security risks posed by quantum computing, and how we can ensure students interested in quantum studies have the resources to succeed in the field. 

In addition to legislative business, while in Washington I often meet with constituents and organizations from the Fourth District to hear their priorities and views on legislation. This week, I met with President Quentin Johnson of Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC). Two of SVCC’s seven locations are in the Fourth District in Brunswick County and Emporia. Dr. Johnson and I discussed their community project funding request to support SVCC’s In-Demand Technical Training Learning Project, which will expand trade career offerings in precision machining, electricity and HVAC, welding, and information technology at their Southside Virginia Education Center in Emporia.

Members of the Hampton Roads and Greater Richmond Chambers of Commerce came to the Hill to meet with members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation from their regions. I shared an update on my first three months in office and discussed their legislative priorities around support for the military and veterans, infrastructure, energy policy, workforce development, and childcare.

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities also came to the Hill to meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, it was a pleasure to meet fellow Divine 9 members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Iota Phi Theta fraternities to discuss their priorities, and take a picture on the Capitol steps.

FInally, as a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, I also had the opportunity to meet astronauts from the SpaceX Dragon Crew-5 who have returned from their mission transporting crew members to the International Space Station.

Meetings like this help me represent the Fourth District better by hearing from stakeholders impacted by the legislation we address. To schedule your own meeting with me or my staff, visit here.

This week, I had the honor to be the Commencement speaker for East Coast Polytechnic Institute (ECPI) University. ECPI offers degree programs in information technology, electronics engineering technology, health sciences, nursing, business, criminal justice, and culinary arts through its colleges located here in Virginia and North Carolina. This year, the first culinary arts students received their degrees, and it was exciting to join in their celebration.

If you’re having an issue with a federal agency such as a missing tax return, disagreement over owed benefits, or delayed passport, my capable, experienced constituent services representatives are here to help. Although they are happy to engage virtually or in our Richmond congressional district office, they will be traveling throughout the district hosting “Mobile McClellan” events, so constituents can come see them without having to drive to Richmond or my new satellite office in Brunswick. Please register in advance so we know how many constituents to plan for at one of these locations:

 

Charles City County

June 14th - 2:00-4:00 pm

Heritage Public Library Conference Room

10780 Courthouse Road, Charles City, VA 23030

Register here.

Emporia

June 20th: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Emporia City Hall

201 South Main St, Emporia 23847

Register here.

 

Ettrick

June 20th: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Mayes-Colbert Ettrick Recreation Center

Ettrick Park

20621 Woodpecker Road, South Chesterfield 23803

Register here.

Stay tuned for additional dates, locations, and times. My staff is eager to help!

Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics will offer free dental, vision, and medical care at the Greensville County High School at 403 Harding Street in Emporia on June 24th and 25th starting at 6am each day. Free services provided include dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and X-rays, eye exams, health screenings, eyeglass prescriptions and glasses made onsite, women’s health exams and general medical exams. No ID is required. Parking lots are open the night before for “early birds.” For more information, visit here.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jennifer McClellan

Member of Congress

Contact Me

Washington DC Office
2417 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6365

Richmond District Office
110 North Robinson Street

Suite 403
Richmond, VA 23220

Phone: (804) 486-1840