RLC Weekly: Rebuilding with Pride

February 16, 2024
In The News

Dear Colleagues,

With House Republicans showing little interest in overcoming challenges and passing common-sense legislation for the American people, House Democrats and the Regional Leadership Council (RLC) remain focused on advancing the Investing in America agenda to lower costs, build safer communities, and protect the American Dream for the next generation. Here's a few highlights from the week:

Rebuilding with Pride

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the Pacific Northwest this week to see the regional economic impact of the Investing in America agenda. He joined Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) for a tour of the I-5 Bridge replacement project, which RLC Leader Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) said would create over 43,000 jobs and invest billions into the local economy. Secretary Buttigieg also toured Cascadia Tech Academy with Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez to meet the next generation of American workers who are advancing American technology and building our infrastructure. Watch this video to see that visit.

In addition, many House Democrats used RLC research to spread the word about how Democratic investments are modernizing local airports. From Seattle to Ft. Lauderdale, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is giving America's airports a long overdue upgrade. See the scope of these investments on the RLC's X page.

Confronting Republican Attacks on Affordable Internet

As Democrats fight to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), House Democrats are making the case for this critically important program and how their constituents stand to lose internet access if Republican attacks are successful.

To that end, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21) and Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) spoke with local television outlets to show House Democrats are fighting to help working families make ends meet. Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) recorded this video with Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to highlight the benefits of this program in Nevada's 4th Congressional District. Members are encouraged to reference the RLC's district-level briefings on the success of this program as they work to lower costs for Americans in every corner of the country. 

Connecting Veterans to New Benefits

House Democrats continue to speak with Veterans and ensure legislation like the PACT Act is available to them. RLC Leader Grace Meng (NY-06) opened her district office to representatives of the VA and constituents to answer questions from Veterans about new, expanded benefits. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) and Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) delivered Valentine's Day cards to families, highlighting Democrats’ continued commitment to supporting service members and their families. The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs continues to release data showing the number of fulfilled PACT Act claims and the RLC encourages Members to find ways to engage Veterans and inform them about the laws House Democrats passed on their behalf.

What Else?

  • The Biden-Harris Administration recently invited nonprofits, federal partners, and philanthropists to the White House to find ways they can expand outreach on the Inflation Reduction Act. This outreach includes credits available to lower home energy costs at a time when the lowest-income families can be spending upwards of 30% of their income on energy bills. Find more information here.
  • The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will disburse $1 billion in funding to over 100 airports across the country. These grants will reach 44 states and three territories, funding sustainable, accessible, and expanded airport terminals, on-airport rail access projects, and airport-owned airport traffic control towers. Find more information on this announcement on social media 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.