Jennifer McClellan

Congress must reverse the largest cuts to our healthcare safety net in American history in the Republicans’ Big Ugly Law (HR 1) and reinstate the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act in order to reverse the healthcare crisis that threatens over 300,000 Virginians. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I fought against the Medicaid cuts and advocated for extension of the enhanced premium tax credits under the ACA in a 26.5 hour hearing on HR 1. Over the past year, I have traveled across my district and the Commonwealth to discuss the impact of these and other federal funding cuts with patients, providers, and communities. Outside of reversing the cuts made by congressional Republicans and reinstating the enhanced premium tax credits, we must also work to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand access to comprehensive healthcare services, including reproductive and mental health services, close the coverage gap to ensure individuals can receive preventative care before they develop a serious condition that requires hospitalization, and more. In addition to these efforts, Congress must go even further. In July, I unveiled my All American Family Agenda, a legislative framework designed for a post-HR 1 world, where the Big Ugly Law’s cuts are reversed. The agenda centers on two pillars and involves (1) supporting family formation by strengthening reproductive and family planning freedom, improving maternal health nationwide, and supporting every path to parenthood, and (2) strengthening family well-being by making family life economically accessible and supporting working parents and caregivers.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs

Far too many demographics face disparate health outcomes caused by a lack of access to comprehensive healthcare services. Those challenges have been made worse by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans’ HR 1. Since passage of the bill, I have traveled across the Commonwealth to discuss its impacts on rural hospitals, clinics, and communities. Unfortunately, rural providers have already closed or cut services as a result of federal funding cuts in HR 1 and beyond. Three Augusta Health clinics closed and Farmville’s Centra Southside Community Hospital closed its labor and delivery department citing Medicaid cuts. The Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care has identified 13 hospitals at risk of closure when the cuts take full effect in January, including Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center in the Fourth District. We must immediately repeal the HR 1 Medicaid cuts, invest in our rural providers, support telehealth service options, and ensure health insurance coverage for rural communities.

Maternal health remains a personal issue for me. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation in the world. Black women in the United States are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes that white women. More importantly – and concerning – the vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable. I almost became a part of the statistics when I nearly died during childbirth with my daughter after my placenta ruptured 9 weeks before my due date. We must codify Roe as the law of the land to keep politicians out of private medical choices, give providers access to the full spectrum of reproductive care options and protect those in need of emergency care. We must also support policies to specifically address the maternal mortality crisis. In Congress, I introduced the Child Care Assistance for Maternal Health Act to help low-income and vulnerable mothers access short-term childcare during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. I also cosponsor the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a package of 14 bills to address every driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in our nation. In July, I also unveiled my All American Family Agenda, a legislative framework designed for a post-HR 1 world, where Republicans’ Medicaid cuts have been reversed. This agenda is centered on two pillars: (1) supporting family formation by strengthening women’s choice and family planning freedom, improving maternal health nationwide, and supporting every path to parenthood, and (2) strengthening family well-being by making family life economically accessible and supporting working parents and caregivers.

For mental healthcare, we must do more to expand access to mental health services, addiction treatment, and crisis support services. In 2025, I introduced H.R. 3266, the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act, legislation to address mental health and substance use disorder facility shortages. The bill would establish a new loan and loan guarantee program within the Department of Health and Human Services to build or renovate mental health or substance use disorder treatment facilities. I also introduced H.R. 10240, the Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act, to expand insurance coverage for crisis response services, including mobile crisis response teams, 988 Lifeline calls, and short-term crisis receiving and stabilization under public and private insurance.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs

American households have on average 21 devices connected to the Internet, from smart phones and tablets to TVs, thermostats and even refrigerators. This number will only grow as AI becomes more intertwined in our daily lives. As a result, data centers could account for up to 12% of U.S. electricity use within a few years. Today, the costs of that growth overburdens consumers and small businesses instead of the data centers that drive the demand. That is why I have cosponsored legislation, such as the Ratepayer Protection Act, to require state utility regulators to ensure that data centers pay for the costs of building new power generation, transmission lines, and other upgrades to serve large-load customers, such as data centers, as the Virginia State Corporation Commission did by establishing a new rate class for hyperscale data centers in Dominion’s service territory. I also have cosponsored the Load Forecasting Enhancement Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state utility commissions to better coordinate load forecasting to prevent underbuilding infrastructure or overcharging consumers for unneeded capacity. And I have cosponsored the Power to the People Act, which would create clear FERC guidelines and rules ensuring that local communities do not bear the cost of data center build out. We must ensure that we continue to meet our technological demands while protecting consumers from bearing the financial burden. We must also ensure we do not overburden our grid or our environment, which is why we must continue to invest in clean-energy technologies to meet growing demand while protecting the planet for future generations.

I have also condemned the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attempts to undermine the Clean Air Act by allowing data centers, fossil fuel plants and other major facilities evade the Clean Air Act regulations. Specifically, I urged the agency to withdraw a proposed rulemaking that would allow major polluting facilities—including data centers and fossil fuel plants—to begin construction activities without securing air quality permits required under federal law. Communities should not be forced to bear additional pollution because EPA chose to prioritize the financial interests of developers and fossil fuel companies over the Clean Air Act’s public-health protections.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs

I fully support efforts to address teacher shortages, especially in STEM, and ensure every child has access to a quality education. I co-lead H.R. 1331, the Teacher and School Leader Quality Partnership Grants Act, which aims to address educator shortages by reauthorizing funding through 2031 and expanding preparation and personal development programs. I also cosponsor H.R. 2094, the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act, to establish a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforce officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. This bill intends to address housing accessibility which contributes to educator shortages. I also cosponsor H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration and Science (WATERS) Act, to provide statutory authority for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office’s watershed education and training program for elementary and secondary schools. Finally, in November 2026, I intend to introduce new legislation to specifically address the STEM educator workforce and expand professional development opportunities for STEM educators.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs

From the beginning of the second Trump Administration, I have spoken out against the haphazard and reckless cuts to crucial federal investments in key programs that support scientific research and development. As lawmakers, we have a duty to appropriate funding conscientiously and invest in the programs that will improve American research and development, competitiveness, and public health, and I believe our federal science agencies deserve robust federal funding to support their work. As a former member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I routinely supported proposals for federal funding and legislative support to bolster science, technology, and STEM programs.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs

From the beginning of the second Trump Administration, I have consistently pushed back against the Administration and DOGE’s reckless and haphazard attacks on our federal workforce. I vehemently disagree with DOGE’s gutting of our federal workforce and believe Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority as a co-equal branch of government and serve as a check on this Administration. I would support robust funding to restore our federal workforce.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs

Lawmakers cannot and should not legislate in a vacuum. We need to ensure we solicit and incorporate diverse, credible, and evidence-backed perspectives that will help guide our policymaking processes and ensure we are developing intentional policies that appropriately address the challenge we seek to solve. As a Member of Congress, I believe one of my biggest responsibilities is communicating and informing my constituents about my work in Washington, why it matters, and how it impacts their lives. Often, this also involves explaining complex and nuanced challenges that continuously evolve. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to communicate accurately and keep our constituencies apprised of evolving situations – and I work to do that every day through my communications, whether newsletters or social media or public appearances.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare, Voting Rights, Energy & Environmental Policy, Lowering Costs