U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Virginia
Amid Transition to 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, House Passes Spanberger Legislation to Increase Support for VA Suicide Prevention Coordinators
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 20, 2022:
The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger's legislation to increase federal support for veteran suicide prevention as the Veterans Crisis Line transitions to the universal 9-8-8 hotline.
Last Saturday, the United States transitioned the previous Veterans Crisis Line and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 9-8-8 - an easy-to-remember, t
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Egypt Human Rights Caucus Co-Chair Statements on Investigative Report Confirming Widespread, Lengthy Pretrial Detentions
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following statement on July 20, 2022, with Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey:
Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), co-chairs of Congress' Egypt Human Rights Caucus, issued the following statement today on new investigative reporting by the New York Times which confirms that thousands of prisoners have been held in pretrial detention, often for very long periods of time:
"The New York Times' reporting confirms what we
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Rep Luria Advances Pay Raise for Disabled Veterans for 4th Straight Year
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 20, 2022:
Rep. Elaine Luria's (D-VA) bipartisan Veterans' Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2022 to increase compensation and benefits for disabled veterans and their families passed the House Veterans Affairs' Committee (HVAC) mark up yesterday.
In May, Rep. Luria introduced the Veterans' COLA Act of 2022 (https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=VA02EL&crop=15
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Rep. Beyer Votes to Codify Supreme Court Marriage Equality Decision
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 19, 2022:
Rep. Don Beyer today voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, federal legislation to codify marriage equality protections. The House held the vote partially in response to Justice Clarence Thomas' concurrence in Dobbs, the case that overturned Roe v. Wade, in which Thomas urged the Supreme Court to "reconsider" its Obergefell v. Hodges ruling which established marriage equality protections in a
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Rep. Connolly Statement on USPS Decision to Accelerate, Increase EV Purchases
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following statement on July 20, 2022:
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Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Postal Service's announcement on its electric vehicle fleet.
"Today's USPS announcement that it will accelerate and increase its purchase of electric vehicles for its aging fleet is important progress.
"Investing in an outdated
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Rep. McKinley, Colleagues Send Letter to FERC in Support of the Mountain Valley Pipeline
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. David McKinley, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 20, 2022:
Congressman David B. McKinley (WV-1) - along with West Virginia Delegation members Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Congresswoman Carol Miller - signed a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging them to support the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and approve i
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Rep. Miller Op-Ed: West Virginia Can't Afford a New Small Business Tax
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 20, 2022:
Congresswoman Miller today penned an op-ed for the Huntington Herald Dispatch titled, "West Virginia Can't Afford a New Small Business Tax."
West Virginia Can't Afford a New Small Business Tax
By: Rep. Carol Miller
West Virginia small businesses have been through a lot over the last two years: pandemic closures, loss of sales, worker shortages, supply chain disruptions, skyrocketing
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Rep. Mooney Announces Funding for Cacapon State Park
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Alex Mooney, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release:
Congressman Alex X. Mooney announced over $2.8 Million in funding for West Virginia's Second Congressional District distributed by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). This grant awards the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, South Charleston, West Virginia, to develop and expand recreational mountain biking infrastructure in the state's Eastern Panhandle
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Rep. Panetta Votes to Protect Marriage Equality With Respect for Marriage Act
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-California, issued the following news release:
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) voted for the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act. This legislation would enshrine the equality of same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law as guaranteed by the Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia decisions. Both the Senate and House introduced this legislation after Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Supreme Court to consider overtu
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Rep. Scott Fact Sheet: 'Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act'
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following fact sheet on July 19, 2022:
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Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
President Biden and Congressional Democrats acted decisively to prevent millions of infants and children from going hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFRCA) expanded nutrition programs to serve students and families safely during the pandemic by:
* G
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Rep. Scott Fact Sheet:'Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Section by Section'
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following fact sheet on July 20, 2022:
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Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Section by Section
Title I -- Expanding Access to School Meals
Section 101. Emergency Waivers or Modifications
This section provides the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) with the authority to waive certain statutory or regulatory requirements under certain child nutrition programs on a state-by-s
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Rep. Scott Votes to Pass Government Funding Bill to Invest in Families, Communities
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) voted to pass H.R. 8294, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Agriculture and Rural Development; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior and Environment; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for FY 2023. This package of six government funding bills focuses on helping families and communities a
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Rep. Scott: Nutrition Leaders Introduce Comprehensive Proposal to Address and Prevent Child Hunger
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following news release:
Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced a comprehensive, evidence-driven reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs that meets the needs of children and families.
The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act builds on Congressional Democrats' work to expand sch
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Rep. Spanberger Backs Legislation to Protect the Right to Contraception
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 20, 2022:
U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today backed legislation to codify the right for Americans to access birth control into federal law. The U.S. House is expected to vote on this legislation later this week.
Spanberger cosponsored the Right to Contraception Act following the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which upended reproductive and
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Rep. Vargas Votes to Protect Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Juan Vargas, D-California, issued the following news release:
Congressmember Juan Vargas voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. This legislation would enshrine the marriage equality for same sex and interracial couples guaranteed by Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia for the purposes of federal law, repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and provide additional legal protections for marriage equality.
"I proudly voted for this legisla
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Sen. Manchin, Bipartisan Senate Colleagues Call on Secretary Granholm to Implement Direct Air Capture Hub Program as Congress Intended
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release and letter:
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined 9 bipartisan colleagues, led by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), in urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to implement the Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub Program established under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as originally intended by Congress. DOE's recent Noti
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Sen. Manchin, Bipartisan Senate Colleagues Call on Secretary Granholm to Implement Direct Air Capture Hub Program as Congress Intended
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release and joint letter on July 20, 2022:
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined 9 bipartisan colleagues, led by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), in urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to implement the Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub Program established under the bipartisan Infras
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Sen. Manchin, Colleagues Applaud Newly Proposed FCC Broadband Standard
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) newly proposed standard for broadband connections as 100 megabits per second (mbps) download or faster. The proposed change will improve Internet connectivity for families across West Virginia and the United States, particularly in rural communities.
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Sen. Warner: Senators Introduce Reforms to the Electoral Count Act of 1887
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
After months of bipartisan negotiations, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing two proposals which include legislation to reform and modernize the outdated Electoral Count Act of 1887 to ensure that the electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state's vote for President.
In addition to Sens.
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Sens. Manchin, Capito Announce $2.1M to Support Black Lung Clinics in West Virginia
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $2,196,939 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the Black Lung and Coal Miner Clinics Program in West Virginia. The funding will be available through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Reso
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Sens. Manchin, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Reforms to Electoral Count Act of 1887
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) led a group of bipartisan Senators in introducing the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act to reform and modernize the outdated Electoral Count Act of 1887. The legislation comes after months of bipartisan negotiations and will ensure the electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state's vote
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Sens. Manchin, Capito, Reps. McKinley, Miller Urge FERC to Approve Mountain Valley Pipeline Extension Request
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release and joint letter on July 20, 2022:
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S. Representatives David McKinley (R-WV) and Carol Miller (R-WV) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve the Mountain Valley Pipeline's pending r
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Sens. Manchin, Capito, Reps. McKinley, Miller Urge FERC to Approve Mountain Valley Pipeline's Extension Request
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release and letter:
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S. Representatives David McKinley (R-WV) and Carol Miller (R-WV) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve the Mountain Valley Pipeline's pending request for a four-year extension.
"At a time when energy prices are soaring, it is im
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Sens. Warner, Burr Introduce Bill to Support Renewable Natural Gas Vehicles, Promote Economic Growth
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced the Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act, bipartisan legislation to provide a tax credit for heavy-duty vehicles that use renewable natural gas, further supporting clean and efficient and transportation across the country.
"Renewable natural gas is a clean, affordable, and reliable fuel source that can help lower emissions from heavy-duty vehicles,
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Sens. Warner, Kaine Introduce Bill to Protect Americans' Right to Contraception
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in introducing the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would codify Americans' right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its decision in Griswold v. Connecticut.
The introduction follows Justice Clarence Thom
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Sens. Warner, Kaine Introduce Bill to Protect Americans' Right to Contraception
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in introducing the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would codify Americans' right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its decision in Griswold v. Connecticut.
The introduction follows Justice Clarence
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Sens. Warner, Kaine Join Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services--like birth control, cancer screenings, and more--by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the Title X Family Planning Progr
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Sens. Warner, Kaine Join Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services--like birth control, cancer screenings, and more--by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the Title X Family Planning P
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Statement From the Office of Sen. Leahy
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Office of Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vermont, issued the following statement:
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"Senator Leahy has continued to make progress in his rehabilitation after surgery on June 30 to repair and replace a fractured hip that he suffered from a fall at his house in McLean, Virginia.
"On Tuesday, Senator Leahy's surgical team found it necessary to perform an additional surgery to help advance his recovery.
"Senator Leahy was back in his rehabilitation room by Tuesday evenin
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