RLC Weekly: Investing in Hope

March 1, 2024
In The News

Dear Colleagues,

As Democrats work tirelessly to build a more perfect union, the investments made in the 117th Congress continue to give American families hope. Thanks to the leadership of House Democrats, health care costs are lower, jobs are coming back, and communities are safer. Here are some of the highlights from this week:

Building Safer Communities

In their latest grants webinar, RLC Leader Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) and his office informed local leaders about available grants funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Justice (DOJ). The virtual meeting discussed funding related to improving school safety, community violence prevention, and firefighter safety. Reach out to you RLC Leader to learn how to maximize outreach on legislation like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which provides historic funding for school security.

Creating a Healthy Economy

This week was a testement to the monumental impact of President Biden's clean energy plan. In California, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm joined Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12) in celebrating the expansion of a battery manufacturing facility in the region. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is implementing the final phase of the $1 billion investment to clean up over 100 Superfund sites across the country. See how RLC Leader Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) touted the news here. The Regional Leadership Council encourages Members to continue sharing their story and highlight how climate investments are making a difference locally.

Touting Local Success

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) provided local leaders in the American Society of Civil Engineers with an update on how the Investing in America agenda is creating new jobs and building a more resilient economy in their community. Rep. Houlahan highlighted the success of three critical infrastructure and energy projects that have already reached her area, sharing this update on her social media page as well.

What Else?

  • The White House announced new actions to lower housing costs, including a first-of-its-kind $225 million funding opportunity to support manufactured housing communities. The factsheet is liked here.
  • 65 talented professionals from the Economic Development Administration's Economic Recovery Corps will soon deploy across the country to enhance economic development capacity in under-resourced communities. See which communities and local organizations will have this opportunity here.
  • The Department of Transportation has posted a notice of $1 billion in funding for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. More information 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.