Twenty for 2020: The Work of a Freshman Democrat
Congratulations, you just got elected to Congress. Now what?
Our series, Twenty for 2020, helps illustrate the “what” beyond what many think is the job of member of Congress.
We’re following twenty freshman Democrats as they navigate their roles in the House. Stick with us as we follow their triumphs, challenges, and all the events that typically don’t make national news but do have an effect on the lives of those they represent. Read more here.
Rep. Harley Rouda (D-Calif.) sent a letter to officials asking for details on an outbreak of COVID-19 among firefighters in Orange County.
Rep. Gil Cisneros wants to see the federal government offer additional protections for renters, as the United States continues to struggle through the coronavirus pandemic. At the end of August, Cisneros joined a coalition of House members to demand the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Treasury, and Agriculture provide more protections for renters....
Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) said the funding would be used for repairs and would help create new jobs during the pandemic.
Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) voted last week to protect the United States Postal Service (USPS) from further cuts that would disproportionately affect rural communities. The USPS and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have come under fire in recent weeks after reports that cost-cutting measures led to mail delivery delays. A Senate report found there were...
Rep. Abby Finkenauer has announced nearly $750,000 in grants to support healthcare centers in her district. The federal government funding will go to the Crescent Community Health Center, Eastern Iowa Health Center, and the People’s Community Health Clinic. According to her office, the money will help the three health centers provide affordable and accessible healthcare to...
The Orange County Veterans Service Office (OCVSO) has been severely understaffed during the coronavirus pandemic, with only three out of seven staff positions filled. That has led to long wait times for veterans trying to claim their benefits. Rep. Harley Rouda (D-Calif.) has teamed up with other legislators to express their concerns, sending a letter...
Immunization rates have dropped to dangerously low levels during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Rep. Lauren Underwood has teamed up with other lawmakers to reverse this decline. Underwood introduced legislation that would prepare for the eventual creation of COVID-19 vaccine and encourage the community to use...