May 31, 2019
Weekly Wrap-Up: Update on the bills I’ve worked on
During my first five months in Congress, my team and I have been working hard to introduce, cosponsor, and support many bills addressing some of the top priority issues for Central Virginians. I wanted to take a moment this week to update you on the status of some of those bills. My office receives many questions about where legislation goes after it is introduced by a member of the House, and below I provide more insight on that process.
Additionally, please keep scrolling for an opportunity to give me feedback on the type of events and updates you would like to see more of as an active member of our Seventh District community.
Thank you, as always, for sharing in the work I’m doing for the people of Central Virginia.
IN VIRGINIA’S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has attended 193 events in the district and completed 149 constituent services cases.
If you need help with passport services, the IRS, Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal agency, please click here to visit our website and contact our district team. They would be happy to make sure you are treated fairly and that your request is addressed in a timely manner.
TOWN HALL TRACKER: AMELIA COUNTY
Thank you for another excellent county-wide town hall! I relish these opportunities to hear directly from my constituents. So far, I’ve held open town halls in Goochland, Spotsylvania, Nottoway, Henrico, Louisa, and Amelia. Over the coming months, we have scheduled town halls for Culpeper, Powhatan, Chesterfield, and Orange. Details for these events will always be posted on my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Remember, you can always call my office for assistance at (202) 225–2815.
This week, my team and I took the time to think about how we can best make ourselves available to all our communities in the Seventh District. Take the survey below to tell me what kinds of events and updates you would find most helpful:
https://spanberger.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=13
HERE’S WHERE A FEW OF OUR KEY BILLS ARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
(Original Cosponsor) H.R. 7 — Paycheck Fairness Act: works to close the gender wage gap, protect workers
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
(Introduced) H.R. 1177 — Stop STUPIDITY Act: prevents future government shutdowns, prevents federal employees from missing paychecks
Referred to the House Appropriations Committee
(Cosponsor) H.R. 8 — Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019: requires a completed background check for all firearm purchases
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
(Cosponsor) H.R. 1 — For the People Act: strengthens government transparency, reduces the role of special interests and dark money, includes my election security amendment to ensure that each American’s voice in their government is heard without foreign interference
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
(Original Cosponsor) H.R. 9 — Climate Action Now Act: addresses the national security and military preparedness issues caused by the impacts of climate change
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
(Original Cosponsor) H.R. 5 — Equality Act: expands protections for LGBTQ Americans to prevent discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas of daily life
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
H.R. 1585 — Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019: renews protections and support programs for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
(Introduced) H.R. 2115 — Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act: increases transparency and competition to drive down the cost of prescription drugs
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee.
(Cosponsor) H.R. 2000 — Medicare X Choice Act: empowers Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices within Part D
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee.
(Introduced) No bill number yet — Secure 5G and Beyond Act: requires the administration to develop a national strategy for protecting American consumers, maximizing national security, and remaining competitive with China in 5G technology
Introduced earlier this month; awaiting next steps. House companion bill to an identical bill introduced in the Senate by Republican Sen. John Cornyn (TX).
(Cosponsor) H.R. 1994 — Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019: makes it easier for small business employees, workers in apprenticeship programs, and home health workers to save for retirement. Also corrects a grave error in the recent Republican tax bill that raised taxes on military survivors and families
Passed by the House, currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
LOOK BACK: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Thank you to everyone who took time this Memorial Day weekend to add their signatures and remembrances to our book at the Virginia War Memorial. It was an incredible experience to watch people line up to add their names and to hear so many stories of sacrifice, service, and survival.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Culpeper Star Exponent/Washington Post/Charlottesville Daily Progress: After flipping red Virginia district, Rep. Abigail Spanberger is pulled left, right
Fox News: Reps. Cunningham, Spanberger, Sherrill, Torres Small: Rural Americans need high-speed internet, too
MY WEEK IN PHOTOS
Meeting with Performance Food Group
Memorial Day, Virginia War Memorial
Memorial Day, Virginia War Memorial
Memorial Day, Virginia War Memorial
Memorial Day, Virginia War Memorial
If my office can assist or serve you, please don’t hesitate to call us at (202) 225–2815 in Washington or (804) 401–4110 in Henrico.
Sincerely,
Abigail
