Dear colleagues, This District Work Period was an opportunity for Members to show Americans how House Democrats are working to lower costs and build safer communities through President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The Regional Leadership Council (RLC) is excited to share a few highlights from this week and provide you with key implementation updates.
Expanding Free Tax Filing Nationwide
The RLC applauded the U.S. Department of the Treasury's announcement that they will make the Direct File program permanently available, beginning in the upcoming tax filing year. Last Friday , the RLC met with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian and the U.S. Department of the Treasury Chief Implementation Officer for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Laurel Blatchford for a discussion on how to expand the success of this program. Here are the key takeaways:
Over 140,000 taxpayers took advantage of the free program – exceeding the Internal Revenue Services’s (IRS) goal.These taxpayers saved over $5.6 million in tax filing fees, claiming nearly $90 million in tax refunds. 86 percent of these participants said that their experience with Direct File strengthened their trust in the IRS.
The Department of Treasury continues to partner with the Regional Leadership Council to implement the policies that Democrats passed last Congress and lower everyday costs for working families. Be sure to read RLC Chair Steny H. Hoyer's (MD-05) full statement on Direct File here .
Standing Up for the Affordable Connectivity Program
Many House Democrats highlighted the consequences of House Republicans' refusal to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which expires at the end of this month. From California to Michigan, House Democrats shared district-level data to highlight the impact of the ACP. In addition, Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) spoke to CBS NewsRep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) spoke with local news in Tampa Bay
Delivering Cleaner, Safer School Bus Rides for Students
House Democrats across the country highlighted the local impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition announcement. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security , welcomed EPA Administrator Michael Regan and local leaders to tour new buses in Jackson, Mississippi. He posted on his social media that this funding will ensure "kids will have cleaner, safer rides." See more on the local impact on this announcement from RLC Leader Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02) RLC Leader Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) , Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38) , and Rep. Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) follow the RLC on social media.
What Else?
The White House launched a new Climate Capital Guidebook , which provides a one-stop shop for all the clean energy grants made available to small- and medium-sized business. Read more on the White House's recent climate actions here . The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has announced $179 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support Western water supply and resilience through the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program. This includes funding to create the nation's largest water recycling plant in Southern California, which Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-31) hopes will "act as a blueprint for other regions, encouraging the development of regional drought-proof projects." Read more from Rep. Napolitano here . The Federal Transit Administration announced $343 million in federal funding for the All Stations Accessibility Program. This funding will make it easier for people with disabilities and mobility needs to access rail transit systems through essential upgrades. Read more on this announcement here .
For more updates on how to help implement the Investing in America agenda locally, please follow us on social media and share your story on how these investments are making a difference in your community. You can also visit our website for additional resources that will help track these historic investments.