RLC Weekly: New Year, More Progress

January 12, 2024
In The News

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the first edition of RLC Weekly for 2024! House Democrats and the Regional Leadership Council (RLC) are starting the year strong by implementing the Investing in America agenda in every corner of the country. Our Regional Leaders and their Democratic colleagues continue to tell the story of how these historic investments are transforming their communities. Here are just some of the actions House Democrats took this month to hit the ground running during the second session of the 118th Congress:

Cleaner School Buses on the Way

This week, House Democrats informed constituents about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of $1 billion in grants from the Clean School Bus Program. This funding will allow for the purchase of over 2,700 clean school buses across 280 school districts. From hosting events with EPA Administrator Michael Regan, to engaging with constituents on social media, Members made clear to their communities that the Investing in America agenda passed by House Democrats is delivering cleaner air, safer communities, and good-paying jobs across the country. A full list of selectees for this announcement can be found here. More information on the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program can be found here.

Protecting America's Land and Water

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited the West Coast recently to tout implementation progress as it relates to wildfire prevention and clean drinking water. In this video, Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) welcomed the Secretary to Ventura to discuss how the city is making good on a $14 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure access to safe clean drinking water. 

Additionally, Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) joined Secretary Haaland for a tour in Inland Empire following the announcement of an $800,000 investment in wildfire prevention and public safety. From Rep. Aguilar: "This new funding – that’s made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – will further enhance our resiliency against wildfires and make our East Valley communities safer." See more from that visit here and here.

Enrolling Families in the Affordable Connectivity Program

During the district work period, RLC Leader Rep. Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) hosted an event to help increase Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollment in his community. This program has helped more than 22 million families nationwide save money on their internet bills, including 84,000 households in California's 29th Congressional District. As this program faces an uncertain future and negotiations over the Biden Administration’s supplemental request to continue the program are ongoing, the RLC continues to encourage Members to tout these savings and inform their constituents about the work House Democrats accomplished on their behalf in the 117th Congress. 

The White House released updated figures on the success of the Affordable Connectivity Program this week. Reach out to your RLC Leader for a toolkit and guidance in order to maximize outreach on this program.

Walking the Walk

With continued chaos and dysfunction enveloping the 118th Congress, RLC Leader Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) reminded readers of the Orlando Sentinel of the historic progress that Congressional Democrats made one year ago. As Rep. Soto said in this op-ed, "The contrasts are stark. In the 117th Congress, House Democrats led one of the most productive sessions in over 50 years. Now, the 118th Congress led by the Republican majority is the least productive in over 50 years. This contrast is rooted in dysfunction, as extreme MAGA Republicans have been unwilling to compromise for the good of the nation." Read the full piece here.

What Else?

  • Vice President Kamala Harris was in North Carolina this week to announce $285 million in funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for hiring and training mental health care counselors. See more here and here.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra shared that over 20 million people now have access to health care thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats continue to prioritize a legislative agenda that invests in all Americans. See more from Secretary Becerra 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.