THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
House Passes FY25 National Defense Authorization Act
After months of delay, the House finally passed the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA), reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions passed earlier this year. As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I helped develop and voted for the base text for the FY25 NDAA out of our committee. The original bipartisan bill focused on improving the quality of life of our service members and advancing our national security priorities.
The bill passed out of committee 57-1, and included robust investments in health care, housing, childcare, military spousal support, and civilian workforce benefits. The bill also included:
- 14.5% pay raise for all junior enlisted service members
- 4.5% pay increase for all other service members
- Eliminated copays for contraceptives
- Authorized over $100 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)
- Increased funding for PFAS remediation
- Incorporated my Improving TAP for Guard and Reserve Servicemembers Act, legislation to provide the Reserve Components of our Armed Forces with tailored guidance and technical assistance to support their transition back to civilian life.
Unsurprisingly, Speaker Johnson used the FY25 NDAA as a vehicle for the MAGA culture war wishlist and loaded the bill down with amendments to dismantle DEI initiatives; limit service members and their families’ access to reproductive health care; ban TRICARE coverage for gender-affirming care; abandon Ukraine and our NATO allies; and more. Thankfully, nearly all of these provisions were stripped from the bill during negotiations with the Senate; however, the final version of the bill included a stripped-down Republican ban on TRICARE coverage for gender-affirming care for minors that could lead to sterilization. The bill included no such ban for service members or adult family members. While I adamantly oppose this provision, I voted for the FY25 NDAA to meet the quality of life priorities of our service members and military families and to protect our national security priorities.
You can read the full bill text of the FY25 NDAA here and a section-by-section summary here.
Legislation Expanding Amtrak Funding Opportunities
States utilize the Federal Rail Administration’s (FRA) Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, the MEGA Grant Program, and the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program to fund most of its projects, whether that’s constructing a new passenger rail system or updating an existing station. Our nation’s passenger rails provide Americans with a convenient, more affordable transportation option. It also helps minimize congestion on our highways and lower vehicle emissions by reducing the number of vehicles on on the road.
While Amtrak can apply for grant funding, states must also provide a partial funding match of at least 20% of the total cost of a project under current law. This non-federal share can pose significant challenges to applicants, and Amtrak has limited ability to help generate those funds. Last week, I introduced the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act to empower Amtrak to use its annual subsidy funding to cover the nonfederal share of grant applications. This commonsense change will unlock billions in potential funding, streamline processes, and make it easier for Amtrak to complete future projects. I’m grateful to the Rail Passengers Association for their endorsement, and I look forward to advocating for this legislation in the future. Check out the Amtrak Grant Flexibility Act’s bill text and one-pager.
New Resolution to Affirm Our Nation’s Commitment to Ending Pediatric HIV/AIDS
In 2023, 39,000,000 worldwide lived with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Women make up nearly half of all cases. Children make up approximately 1.4 million cases, the vast majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Each year, an estimated 1.3 million women and girls living with HIV become pregnant.
Without intervention, mothers living with HIV face a much greater risk at transmitting the virus to their child during pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding. The United States, in collaboration with our global allies and partners, has made important progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide. Last week, I introduced a resolution with Congresswoman Barbara Lee to affirm the United States’ commitment to ending pediatric HIV/AIDS. We have the medical knowledge and resources to end pediatric HIV/AIDS, but we must continue to act and promote HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. You can read the bill text of H.Res.1613 here.
The MENTOR Act – Supporting Researchers’ Mental Health
Did you know that 50% of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers experience depression, anxiety, and burnout symptoms during their training? Despite their invaluable contributions to our universities, many graduate students and postdoctoral researchers consider leaving their work altogether due to mental health concerns. If we want to recruit and retain the best talent at our universities, we must do more to support these individuals while they conduct their research and pursue their education.
Last week, I joined Congressman Paul Tonko to introduce the Mental Health Enhancement, Navigation, and Treatment for Our Researchers (MENTOR) Act. Our bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to implement comprehensive guidelines for federal research agencies to improve the mental health and mentorship of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Our bill also promotes continuous evaluation through data collected, spearheaded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). You can read the MENTOR Act bill text here.
President Biden, Publish the ERA Now!
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was introduced 101 years ago. Over the course of the last century, brave individuals have fought to advance the ERA and publish it as the next amendment in the U.S. Constitution to ensure the United States lives up to its promise of Liberty and Justice for all. Throughout these efforts, women of color have been on the frontlines of the fight for gender equality under the law, even though they were the last to benefit and told to march in the back.
While in the Virginia General Assembly, I led the fight to make Virginia the 38th and final state necessary to ratify the ERA. With the state ratification requirement fulfilled, the ERA should now be the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; however, an arbitrary deadline has stopped the Archivist of the Capitol from publishing it. As a Vice Chair of the Congressional ERA Caucus, I joined by caucus colleagues last week to urge President Biden to take immediate action to publish the ERA. As we witness widespread attacks on personal freedoms and liberties, including reproductive health care, voting rights, women service members in combat, and more, we must continue our efforts to enshrine gender equality in the law.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Nikki Giovanni
Last week, we lost a groundbreaking literary giant, Nikki Giovanni. She was a leading voice in the 1960’s Black Arts Movement and was known as the “Poet of the Black Revolution.” As a young girl, I could see myself reflected in much of her work. Throughout her life, Nikki Giovanni uplifted the experience of Black Americans, especially women, and sought to empower others through her poetry, platform, and teaching. She taught at several universities, including Rutgers University and Queens College, before her long tenure at Virginia Tech, where she worked until her retirement in 2022 as a distinguished professor.
Nikki Giovanni was a trailblazer and one of my favorite poets. Last week, I honored her life and legacy on the House Floor by reciting my favorite poem, Ego Tripping. Watch my tribute to Nikki Giovanni below.
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