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MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
FLOOR ACTION
House Passes Davids’ Bipartisan Legislation to Help Female Entrepreneurs
The House passed Rep. Sharice Davids’ (KS-03) bipartisan Women’s Business Center Improvement Act, which improves access to resources and opportunities for female entrepreneurs. This legislation increases funding for the Women’s Business Center Program from its current level at $18 million annually to $31.5 million. Women Business Centers operate across the country and provide a full range of critical counseling and technical training services for small businesses primarily owned by women.
House Passes Craig’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Small Business Mentorship
The House passed Rep. Angie Craig’s (MN-02) bipartisan SCORE for Small Businesses Act of 2019, which improves oversight and efficiency within the Small Business Administration’s SCORE Program to ensure the program focuses on better serving rural areas, disadvantaged communities, and traditionally underserved populations.
House Passes Connolly’s Bipartisan Legislation to Support Georgia
The House passed Rep. Gerry Connolly’s (VA-11) bipartisan Georgia Support Act which asserts the United States’ continued support for the independence and sovereignty of Georgia, recognizes Georgia’s commitment to democratic values including free and fair elections, and affirms U.S. opposition to Russian aggression in the region.
House Passes Pappas’ Bipartisan Legislation to Honor POW/MIA Soldiers
The House passed Rep. Chris Pappas’s (NH-01) bipartisan POW/MIA Flag Act which requires POW/MIA flag be displayed alongside the American flag at certain federal buildings and memorials to honor all prisoners of war and those missing in action, as well as the 81,000 service members who remain unaccounted for from conflicts since World War II. Watch his Floor speech here.
BILL INTRODUCTIONS
Bera Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Help Ease Working College Students’ Burdens
NDC Leadership Member Ami Bera (CA-07) introduced the bicameral Working Students Act which allows students who must work to complete their degrees more quickly and with less debt by increasing the level of income a student can make before it affects their eligibility for financial aid.
Brindisi, Craig Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Mental Health Resources for Farmers
Reps. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) and Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced the bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act which helps address the growing rate of suicide in rural parts of the country. The bill would implement a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and USDA to create public awareness campaigns, a Farmer-Facing Employee Training Program, and would instruct the Secretary of Agriculture to coordinate with state, local, and nongovernmental stakeholders to collaborate and determine best practices for responding to farm and ranch mental stress.
Carbajal Introduces Legislation to Create Infrastructure Bank
NDC Infrastructure Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) introduced the National Infrastructure Investment Corporation (NIIC) Act to create a national infrastructure bank, which will help leverage private dollars to give local governments another way to fund critical infrastructure projects, without requiring direct federal spending.
Rice Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Prevent Domestic Abusers from Buying Guns
NDC Leadership Member Kathleen Rice (NY-04) introduced the bipartisan Domestic Violence Records Reporting Improvement Act which would help prevent domestic abusers from purchasing firearms by creating incentives for states to provide complete domestic violence records to federal background check databases.
Aguilar Introduces Bill to Respond to Domestic Terror Attacks
NDC Whip Pete Aguilar (CA-31) introduced the Reporting Efficiently to Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism (REPORT) Act which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress after an act of terrorism occurs in the United States.
Bustos, Craig, Spanberger Introduce Rebuild Rural America Act
Reps. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Angie Craig (MN-02), and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) introduced the Rebuild Rural America Act. This legislation would improve the way that the federal government supports economic development projects in small towns and rural communities to better fit their specific needs.
MEMBER HAPPENINGS
O’Halleran: Fighting to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs via Pinal Central
Rep. Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) penned an op-ed in Pinal Central addressing the need to lower prescription drug costs for Americans: “No one should ever have to make the choice between the medication they need and putting food on the table. I’m working hard to ensure this is a reality for all Americans.”
Shalala, Murphy, Soto, Mucarsel-Powell, Wasserman Schultz Lead Letter Urging Congress to Fund Venezuelan Relief Efforts
Reps. Donna Shalala (FL-27), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Darren Soto (FL-09), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators, urging them to fully fund efforts that would defend democracy and promote the rule of law in Venezuela.
Wild Discusses Challenges with Mental Health Care
Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07) sat down with a reporter from National Journal to discuss mental health care challenges, suicide prevention policy, and her own personal experience with suicide. Read more in her Q&A.
Mucarsel-Powell Hosts Two Events:
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