Legislative Recap: What You Might Have Missed
Legislation Introduced
Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2021
Equal justice under the law cannot be achieved when the deck is stacked against those who do not have access to counsel. The Office of Access to Justice will help our most vulnerable citizens, the courts, and lawmakers, by identifying best practices and efficiencies, making recommendations to improve services, and addressing gaps in the patchwork of underfunded legal services agencies, pro bono volunteers, and self-help upon which low-income Americans and the courts rely.
Committee Activity
Committee on House Administration Hearing — The Elections Clause: Constitutional Interpretation And Congressional Exercise
In drafting our Constitution, the Founders squarely placed the responsibility of overseeing our elections in the federal government’s lap. They did this in part because they foresaw the potential for states to negatively impact federal elections through unjust or discriminatory laws or regulations, and unfortunately, their prediction has been proven right.
When left to their own devices, we’ve seen numerous states pass discriminatory election policies to disenfranchise entire classes of voters for partisan electoral gain.
Today, our elections are still under attack at the state level. State governments are prepping partisan gerrymandered congressional maps and responding to false claims of election fraud with blatantly discriminatory election legislation packages.
Congress clearly has the ability as prescribed by the Constitution and historical precedent to proceed in passing legislation to protect the right to vote, and we should not be derelict in our duty to use this power when necessary.
I had the opportunity to ask Professor Jack Rakove about Congress’s duty to act in regulating federal elections. Listen here.
Rules Committee Roundtable — Ending Hunger in America: Local Innovations to Inform a National Strategy
Last month, I welcomed Chairman McGovern to my district, Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We examined the local solutions to hunger deployed across the Philadelphia region and how we can use these innovative models to inform federal policy.
I was grateful for the opportunity to speak to panelists about local solutions like those we looked at on that trip to give us a roadmap as we work to break down silos and promote innovative solutions to the hunger crisis at the federal level.
What else you might have missed
Welcomed President Biden to Philly
It was an honor to welcome the president to the birthplace of American democracy, where he addressed the urgent need to protect voting rights. Restrictive voting laws are being pushed across the country — including in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The need for federal protections has never been more clear.
We will not give up our fight to bring the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to President Biden’s desk.
Announced $7.9 million in funding for the Head Start Program at Delaware County Intermediate Unit
Access to high-quality early childhood education is critical to young learners and their families. By investing in programs like Head Start, which eliminates the cost burden of preschool for low-income families and helps prepare children for success in kindergarten, we are investing in our country’s future.
Announced $18.3 million in funding coming to Philadelphia International Airport
The funding will be used to improve Taxiway P by making repairs to existing taxiway pavement and other upgrades to meet FAA standards.
Visited local businesses in Ardmore
