RLC Weekly: Equitable, Sustainable Impact

December 8, 2023
In The News

Dear Colleagues,

Every American deserves to see and feel the progress Democrats are making to address climate change, create jobs, and lower energy costs. As we enter the final weeks of 2023, House Democrats and the Regional Leadership Council (RLC) were hard at work ensuring the Investing in America agenda’s impact is equitable and sustainable. Here are a few examples:

Bringing Non-Profits to the Table

As new funding streams become available thanks to the Investing in America agenda, it is more important than ever that all Americans have the tools they need to ensure their communities can access these federal dollars. Last week, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) convened the League of Conservation Voters, Rewiring America, and roughly 40 non-profit organizations to discuss funding opportunities she helped deliver in the last Congress. Resources from Rep. Frankel’s event are found here. 

All Aboard for More Transit Rail!

This week, House Democrats and the RLC welcomed a slew of public transit investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Colorado, Virginia, Ohio, and more! In addition to President Biden announcing the largest high-speed passenger rail investment since the creation of Amtrak, there was a $500,000 investment to bring passenger rail from Reading, Pennsylvania to New York. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), RLC Leader Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) helped lay the groundwork for this funding.

"Whether passengers use these new rail lines for their daily commute or for leisure," Rep. Dean said, "increased access to Philadelphia and New York – especially for the more rural areas of our community like Reading, Pottstown, and Phoenixville – is an investment in the people and communities that need it most." See more from Reps. Dean and Houlahan here and here.

Saving Money This Winter

Rain or shine, the Investing in America Agenda is delivering for the American people. This week, House Democrat Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01) informed her constituents about the ways Democrats are ensuring they can save money on energy bills this winter. In the email above, Rep. Pingree highlights how the Inflation Reduction Act is helping families retrofit their homes and lower utility bills. This great example condenses the full list of benefits the IRS provides to eligible Americans. The RLC will continue finding ways to communicate these savings to Americans in every corner of the country. 

What Else?

  • The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the availability of almost $2.3 billion in funding to expand and modernize intercity passenger rail nationwide, marking one of the largest investments in 50 years to expand intercity passenger rail across America.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected 14 organizations to receive a total of $7 million in grants for environmental job training programs. This represents a second wave of funding towards the EPA’s Brownfields Jobs Training Program, helping these recipients continue to build a skilled workforce that cleans up and mitigates pollution from brownfield sites. Read more about it here.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also issued a strong final rule to sharply reduce methane emissions and other harmful air pollution at many existing and all future oil and natural gas operations nationwide. This announcement follows the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement of $350 million in formula grant funding to help monitor and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. More information on the final rule can be found 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.