The October recess is over, and the House returned to Washington to close out our work in the 118th Congress. We still have a lot to tackle before the end of the year, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an extension of the Farm Bill, and our annual appropriations bills. As you may recall, government funding was extended through December 20th, so that is our new deadline to pass spending bills before a government shutdown. We have a lot to accomplish and limited time, so stay tuned here and at @RepMcClellan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads for updates. 

IN THE DISTRICT

Congratulations to Our 2024 Veteran of the Year, Lt. Col. Curt Powell!

On Monday, we celebrated Veterans Day, and I attended the annual ceremony held at the Virginia War Memorial. I thank all of our veterans and their families for their selfless service to our nation.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, I announced the 2024 Virginia 4th District Veteran of the Year, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Curt Powell. A 23-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Lt. Col. Powell served through combat deployments in Somalia and Lebanon. He then served as a White House Advance Officer under President Clinton, where he planned and directed Marine One presidential missions. Today, he continues to give back to our community as the founder of a mentorship program at the Chesterfield Veteran Treatment Docket. Lt. Col. Powell and eight other veterans he recruited and trained serve as mentors and provide support and guidance to Virginian veterans in their post-service life. I thank Lt. Col. Powell for his lifetime of service to our nation and congratulate him as our 2024 Veteran of the Year for Virginia’s Fourth. 

Applications Open For My Inaugural Youth Advisory Council 

Throughout our nation’s history, young people have helped move our nation forward, demanding change and pushing our country to live up to its founding promises. Too often, however, our political processes in Washington can seem far-removed and disconnected from everyday life. As your Congresswoman, I want to help ensure our youth have the ability to learn about the democratic process, share their perspective, and have their voices heard. That’s why I announced a new Youth Advisory Council program to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the inner-workings of a congressional office and give them a platform to communicate with my staff and me about the issues that matter to them.

Any student who currently resides or attends high school in Virginia’s 4th Congressional District can apply to participate. Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with my staff and me as we delve into the legislative process, constituent casework, and congressional communications. Applications are currently open and the deadline to apply is December 30, 2024. You can learn more about the program on my website. 

New Grant Awards to Improve Virginia’s Rail System and Richmond International Airport

Virginia will receive millions in new federal grant funding to upgrade our Commonwealth’s infrastructure systems. Through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, Virginia will receive two grants, totaling over $11 million, to improve safety and accessibility of Virginia’s rail systems. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority will receive $5,836,000 to make upgrades at the Staples Mills Stations, ensure the station complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and support future efforts to increase capacity. The Buckingham Branch Railroad Company will receive $6,000,000 to improve the safety and service of 83 miles of track on the Piedmont Subdivision, which provides service in communities like Richmond and Charlottesville.

Thanks to DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Terminals Program, Richmond International Airport (RIC) will also receive $2,225,000 to design a new, consolidated passenger screening checkpoint. RIC reported record passenger traffic last year and will continue to grow in the coming years. This upgrade will support current and future operations, which contribute millions to our local economies here in Central Virginia. I look forward to seeing the impact of this new federal funding in the coming years. 

Visiting the Nottoway Tribe in Virginia’s Fourth 

During the recess, I visited with the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia’s Community House and Interpretive Center in Southampton County and met with Chief Lynette Allston and Tribal Council Chair Denise Walters. During this visit, we discussed the Tribe’s history and efforts to receive federal recognition. Recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2010, the Nottoway people first appear in the written record in 1650, when merchant and colonist Edward Bland encountered two Nottoway towns on the Nottoway River. These  Iroquoaian-speaking people lived in dispersed communities along the Nottoway River in present-day Dinwiddie, Isle of Wight, Nottoway, Sussex, and Southampton counties. I look forward to working with the Nottoway Tribe as they seek federal recognition. 

Moments with McClellan Ep. 10 – Virginia State University President Abdullah Makola

The latest episode of Moments with McClellan is now available! My guest on Episode 10 was none other than Virginia State University’s (VSU) President Abdullah Makola. President Makola has served as VSU’s President since 2016. We discussed everything from our shared love of VSU, to his favorite pastimes, and more. 

IN WASHINGTON

Leading 20 Members to Safeguard Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives in the NDAA 

As mentioned above, Congress must pass the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) NDAA by the end of the calendar year to authorize funding for the Department of Defense and all U.S. Armed Forces operations. I recently led 20 Members of Congress to urge House and Senate Armed Services leadership to reject any efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives in the upcoming NDAA. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have witnessed congressional Republicans take every opportunity to demonize and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within our nation’s armed forces.

I know firsthand how dangerous these efforts can be and how they can undermine our ability to recruit and retain a diverse military force. Many of my uncles served in the military during World War II but were only allowed to cook – not fight – because at that time, our military saw Black service members as only capable of manual labor. After their service, they brought home stories to their children about the discrimination they faced and the threats they felt. We must cultivate a welcoming, tolerant, and inclusive environment to strengthen our recruitment efforts and safeguard our military readiness. You can read our full letter here.

You can also see my efforts on the floor to combat amendments to dismantle DOD DEI initiatives here, here, and here.

Discussing the Maternal Health Crisis with Stacey Abrams on Assembly Required

Last month, I joined Stacey Abrams on her new podcast, Assembly Required, to discuss our nation’s maternal health crisis and my work in Washington to address it. The United States has the worst maternal mortality rate of any high-income nation in the world. Black women face disproportionately higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. I know these risks firsthand, as I nearly died giving birth to my daughter, who was born prematurely and spent six weeks in the NICU at Henrico Doctors Hospital. Now, after Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justices overturned Roe v. Wade, many women have even fewer rights in restrictive states and are dying of preventable, treatable pregnancy complications, because doctors cannot legally give them the care they need. Stacey and I discussed the realities mothers face in our nation and my work in Washington to address the disparities in maternal health, expand access to comprehensive reproductive and neonatal care, and restore Roe. Check out our conversation here. 

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