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Staff Contacts
Jonathan Willingham
Chief of Staff
Michael Porcello
Legislative Director
Dee Smith
Deputy Chief of Staff and Constituent Services Director
Kelly Whittier
Communications Director
Abigail McLean
Scheduler
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Dear Neighbors,
We are now officially one week into the fall season and, while I had a great time with you at special Ward 3 summer events and neighborhood block parties, this was a productive and busy summer. Now that the Council is back in session, I'm eager to advance legislation that I've been working on over the past two months and move my existing bills through the legislative process. While I highlight recent legislative introductions later on in this email, I would like to take a moment here to flag an important upcoming street and sidewalk safety hearing. At this hearing, my committee will consider a number of important road infrastructure, bike lane, and pedestrian safety bills that I hope will enhance the District's existing Vision Zero program--a program that envisions a transportation system that experiences zero deaths and major injuries. The hearing notice, which includes time/location details as well as instructions on how sign up to testify, is posted online and I hope to have your input as we craft stronger policies for safer streets and sidewalks this fall.
There is another fall event that I would like to highlight for all Ward 3 residents, and that is the Ward 3 Democrats' Short Term Family Housing Book Drive. The Dems are collecting new children's books from now through November 1st for the children and families who will stay at the short term family housing facility currently being built on Idaho Ave. This is a wonderful way to welcome new families to our community, and I hope you'll join me in collecting varied and beloved books for the drive. For more details on where and how to donate, please see Ward3Democrats.org.
Regards,
Mary
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Honoring the District's First Responders |
Above: (Left) Councilmember Cheh leads a moment of silence in honor of those lost on the eighteenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. (Center) Neighbors joined Councilmember Cheh at every firehouse in Ward 3 to express gratitude and deliver cupcakes and baked goods to local firefighters. (Left) Councilmember Cheh was joined by Mayor Muriel Bowser, FEMS Chief Gregory Dean, MPD Chief Peter Newsham, DC Firefighters Association President Dabney Hudson, and Councilmembers Charles Allen and Jack Evans to honor the District's first responders with a Ceremonial Resolution presentation at Engine 16. |
Legislative Update: Focusing on Health
Banning Flavored E-Cigarettes in the District: Councilmember Cheh introduced the “Flavored Electronic Smoking Device Prohibition Amendment Act” to curb youth vaping and addiction to electronic tobacco products. Introduced with a majority of the Council, this legislation will prohibit the sale or distribution of any flavored electronic smoking devices, such as flavored e-cigarettes, flavored e-liquids, and flavored e-cigars. Over the past few years, e-cigarette use has exploded among young people and continues to rise at an exponential pace. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, over the last year, e-cigarette use rose by 78% among high school students and 48% among middle school students nationwide. Of those users, 97% used flavored products in the past month and 70% cite the flavors,such as the popular cotton candy and gummy bear flavors, as a key reason for e-cigarette use.
For more on this effort, see The Washington Post, DCist, and The DC Line
Protecting Residents from Surprise Medical Billing: Most District residents have insurance, but that insurance does not always cover circumstances where a patient receives care from a doctor or hospital outside of their insurance network. Sometimes, patients will go to an in-network hospital, only to unknowingly receive some part of their care from an out-of-network doctor, resulting in surprise medical bills. These bills, also called balance bills, are often thousands of dollars and can financially devastate a family. That's why Councilmember Cheh introduced legislation to prohibit surprise billing in the District and to hold a patient harmless for bills beyond the patient's normal in-network cost-sharing agreement. Instead, payment disputes would be handled exclusively by the health care providers and insurers--leaving the patient to focus on what is most important: his or her health and recovery.
Ensuring Access to Biosimilars: Biologic drugs are pharmaceuticals derived from livings cells or tissues and are increasingly prescribed to treat a variety of diseases and conditions such as various cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and diabetes. The advantage of dispensing a biosimilar drug is the same as dispensing a generic drug: they tend to be significantly cheaper for patients and, through competition, can lead to overall lower drug prices. On September 17th, Councilmember Cheh introduced legislation to allow pharmacists to substitute a biosimilar for a brand name biologic, just as they are permitted to do in nearly every other state. This change will provide District residents with improved access to life-saving medication and expand treatment options for conditions where traditional drugs have proven ineffective.
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New Documentary Series:
DC Solar Stories- Councilmember Cheh featured as creator of Solar for All
The goal of the Solar for All program is to equip 100,000 households with the benefits of solar energy by 2032. In this four part series, produced by the Department on Energy and the Environment (DOEE), we learn why this program got started and how D.C.'s model can help guide other jurisdictions in growing their solar capacity.
Watch the First Episode
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Legislative Update: Supporting Public School Teachers
Supporting Teachers with a $500 Tax Credit: At the Council's first fall Legislative Meeting, Councilmember Cheh reintroduced legislation to provide a $500 tax credit for public and charter school teachers who use personal dollars to cover the expenses of classroom supplies and equipment.
DC Public Schools currently provides every teacher with a $200 gift card for classroom supplies at the start of each school year. While that funding is intended to cover costs for the entire year, teachers report that $200 quickly falls short of their classroom needs. And, while the federal and District tax codes currently include a small tax deduction for teachers for education-related expenses, most teachers find that their salaries aren’t high enough to justify itemizing deductions on their tax returns. Under Councilmember Cheh's bill, teachers would be able to claim a $500 tax credit for costs related to purchasing supplies, instructional materials, or equipment in addition to any expenses incurred by a teacher for professional development.
“It is no secret that District teachers make many personal and financial sacrifices for our students—many spending hundreds of dollars throughout the school year on vital classroom supplies or even food for their students. These supplies are essential to ensuring students’ success and our teachers should not have to sacrifice their take home pay to provide for their classrooms. With this legislation, the District has the opportunity to provide real financial relief to those teachers who again and again reach into their own pockets to support our students,” said Councilmember Cheh.
To follow and support the "Educator Expense Tax Credit Amendment Act," subscribe online here: B23-0431.
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A Productive and Busy Summer |
Above: (Top Row) Councilmember Cheh conducted her 13th annual school readiness tour with parents, DC Public School leadership, DC State Board of Education President and Ward 3 representative Ruth Wattenberg, and Department of General Services staff. The tours encompass a thorough inspection of each school to identify any outstanding school needs and to ensure that facilities are prepared and ready for students by the first day of school.
(Bottom Left) Councilmember Cheh met with faith leaders from the Muslim and Sikh communities to discuss strengthening civic engagement at the Ward 3-based Sikh Gurdwara. (Bottom Center) Councilmember Cheh swears in and welcomes Jeremy Del Moral as the newest ANC Commissioner representing 3D10 on ANC 3D. (Bottom Right) Councilmember Cheh speaks at the International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine to discuss her legislation to include nutrition training as part of local physicians' continuing education requirements.
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In the News:
The Catholic Standard - Annual Unity Walk reminds people 'we are intended to live in harmony'
...Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh urged participants to rebuke the negativity and hatred in society. Cheh said the Unity Walk reminded participants “we are walking every day. If you want to be generous, then act generously; if you want to be kind then show kindness.” She urged the walkers to “keep walking every day and realize the values that we cherish every day.”
Read the Full Story
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Growing Support for Cheh's Care for LGBTQ Seniors Bill |
On September 18th, 32 local organizations submitted a letter to the Council in support of Councilmember Cheh's Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2019. The legislation addresses the significant barriers to healthcare access for LGBTQ+ seniors and it has yet to receive a hearing. To learn more about this health and wellness effort, please see the letter of support below: |
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Bring a Share Table to your school! |
The DC Food Project is a local non-profit aimed at reducing food waste in schools while also increasing access to healthy foods for all students through the Share Table initiative.
A Share Table is a place where students may leave unopened and/or sealed foods that they choose not to eat during school breakfast and lunch, thereby providing an opportunity for other students to take additional helpings of food that would otherwise be thrown away. While serving a greater need for nutrition and food access within local schools, these tables also help in the reduction of food waste.
To learn more about this effort or to bring a Share Table to your school, please see the link below:
DC Food Project
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Above: (Left) Councilmember Cheh meets with US Women's National Team Champions and Washington Spirit players Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle at this summer's Ward 3 Day with the Washington Nationals. (Top Right) Councilmember Cheh celebrated the National Night Out with Second District Commander Duncan Bedlion and neighbors at the Guy Mason Recreation Center. (Bottom Right) Councilmember Cheh selects the raffle winner at the 29th Shakespeare Theatre Company Free For All performance of Hamlet. |
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