February 2018 Congressional Update

Dear Friends,

February was here and then gone before we knew it. I’ve been keeping myself busy both in D.C. and at home in the district! Here are some updates on what I’ve been up to.

Best,

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.

A Message from Congresswoman Alma Adams

In the U.S., 33 percent of recent high school graduates are either unemployed or unable to find full-time jobs. Road To Hire is playing an instrumental role in turning this troubling trend around for young people living in the Charlotte metropolitan area. On February 2nd, I visited the South Charlotte campus of Road To Hire, an organization whose mission is to provide an opportunity for young people, ages 18–25, to develop professional skills and move up the economic ladder, even if they cannot afford a four-year college degree.

So far, 195 young people have been through the program and, in 2018, they hope to train 350 more. I’m thankful for the great work this organization is doing to capitalize on all of the young talent we have to offer in Mecklenburg County!

As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I attended the committee hearing of USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue on February 6th. As the Farm Bill of 2014 is set to expire this September, I joined my colleagues to ask the Secretary about his priorities for the next Farm Bill. This meeting gave us a platform to ensure that our district’s needs — funding for our 1890 Land Grant Universities and SNAP — were acknowledged and accounted for in the upcoming bill.

Our nation’s veterans and their families have made great sacrifices to protect the freedoms this nation affords all of us. On February 14th, to show our appreciation, my team and I delivered valentines to the VA center in Salisbury.

Sexual assault is far too prevalent across all college campuses in the United States, and it’s time that something is done about it. NAFEO, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, invited me to a round table where I had the opportunity to speak about this alarming and pervasive issue at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It was inspiring to be surrounded by such passion for improving young people’s educational experience, and I look forward to seeing what more this organization will accomplish.

Microsoft continues to be a strong partner for HBCUs with their commitment to leveling the playing field. On February 14th, they further demonstrated this by inviting me and Representative Bradley Byrne, co-chair of the Congressional Bi-partisan HBCU Caucus, for a roundtable discussion. We discussed how to address the skills gap, what the “future of work” looks like in the tech field, and the potential for innovation our schools offer. We are proud to continue working with Microsoft to move our schools — and by extension, our communities — forward!

On February 14th, my female colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, came together for #WearRedDay as a part of American Heart Month. 1 in 3 women are living with heart disease. In Congress, we wanted to show that we appreciate the unique challenges they face, and acknowledge the work we have left to do to tackle this disease.

In Fiscal Year 2017, less than 2% of federal dollars went toward African American owned businesses, this despite recent efforts to increase the chances that minority- owned businesses are fairly considered for federal contracts. On February 15th, the Democrats on the Small Business Committee held a roundtable discussion on Black business ownership. America is strengthened by its economic diversity, and I’m committed to ensuring our economy is operating at its full potential.

Over 110 years ago, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle founded Alpha Kappa Alpha, a service-based sorority that worked to empower the African American community. Lyle has been nominated for a Black Heritage Postal Stamp in recognition of her impact on the world. On February 15th, AKAs in Congress hosted an event to honor our founder by letting it be known that #SheDeservesAStamp.

Over 162,000 people in Mecklenburg County struggle with hunger every day. Feeding America and the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) hosted the National Anti-Hunger Conference Breakfast and invited me to speak. There, in front hunger advocates nationwide, I reiterated my commitment to ending hunger in our district and across our nation. FRAC and the other hunger advocates did not just come to hear me speak, they came to capitol hill to urge legislators to support the Closing The Meal Gap Act of 2017, a bill that I introduced last year (read more here). They believe, like I do, that not one citizen of the world’s wealthiest country should have to wonder when their next meal will come.

I stopped by the Second Annual HBCU Fly-In luncheon, hosted by Congressional Republicans, to discuss the need to work together on bipartisan legislation to address the challenges facing HBCUs. I was also pleased to announce the introduction of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Partnership Challenge and Engagement Survey at the event. Intel is the first corporation to take the Challenge and pledge to increase engagement with HBCUs and the students they serve in order to diversify our workforce. Our schools and the students they serve can no longer tolerate talk without action. It’s time we get serious about passing bipartisan legislation such as the HBCU Capital Financing Act, the Carryover Act, and greater support for 1890 land-grant universities through the Farm Bill to address the needs of our institutions.

District Corner

• We joined the community to hear city representatives discuss how we can build an inclusive city at a forum hosted by WFAE:.
• Staff attended a human trafficking awareness training session held at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and hosted by airline ambassadors.
• Staff attended a Know Your Rights forum hosted by the NAACP. Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump and Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather shared ways to keep our entire community safe.
• One Meck came together to celebrate the launch of the Blue Line extension.

Legislative Update

Introduced Bills

H.Res.746 — Supporting the goal and ideal of increasing the number of African American women and girls in the engineering profession.
Learn more

H.R. 4984 — The Carryover Equity Act
Learn more

Key Letters

Letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) asking them to examine whether Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are receiving adequate support from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help develop successful entrepreneurs: Congresswoman Adams spearheaded this letter to the GAO, sent on February 27th, requesting they examine whether SBA is reaching out to HBCUs as part of the agency’s mission to promote small businesses.

Letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Budget Committee regarding funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): This letter was sent on February 31st, expressing the views of the House Agriculture Democrats that SNAP’s structure must be maintained and that any attempts to cut funding or place additional burdens on those looking to access these modest benefits should be rejected.

Letter to the Department of Treasury expressing regarding reports that the Administration is planning to loosen financial institutions’ Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements: On February 6th, this letter was sent to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin expressing concern about any efforts to curtail the CRA banking requirements at the expense of the poor.

Letter to the Secretary of Labor expressing concern about Lanor’s new rule regarding workers’ tips: Sent on February 5th, this letter expressed concerns with the DOL’s proposal to change tip regulations that would allow employers to pocket workers’ tips. The letter urges the DOL to withdraw this proposed rule and to continue enforcing current rules relating to the retention of tips received by employees.

Letter to the Chairwoman of Education and the Workforce Committee requesting hearings on school shootings: This letter, sent on February 15th, asked Chairwoman Virginia Foxx to hold hearings in the Education and the Workforce Committee regarding school shootings and how lawmakers can work to prevent this public health epidemic. The Committee has not had a hearing to address school shootings since February of 2013.

Letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary regarding the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule: This letter, sent on February 5th, asked Secretary Carson to fully implement the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule in order to ensure full housing equity. It also asked for justification for HUD’s recent decision to delay the rule’s implementation until 2025.

Key Co-sponsorships

H.R. 5087 — The Assault Weapons Ban of 2018 (Rep. Cicilline)
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H.R. 1017 — Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2017 (Rep. Dent)
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H.R. 4444 — The Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (Rep. Neal)
Learn more

H.R. 2150 — Flags of Convenience Don’t Fly Here Act (Rep. DeFazio)
Learn more

H.R. 3464 — The Background Check Completion Act of 2017 (Rep. Clyburn)
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H.R. 5011 — The Election Security Act (Rep. Thompson)
Learn more

Grants CornerDo you need assistance with a grant or would you like to receive our grants newsletter? Please email Quanisha Collins at Quanisha.Collins@mail.house.gov or call(704) 344–9950. For more information please visit my website here.

In Your Community