THE LONG GAME: Biden to deliver SOTU; Modernization subcommittee
President Biden will deliver his second State of the Union (SOTU) address Tuesday night. Based on signals sent by the White House and his allies, the speech will likely focus on accomplishments of the past two years rather than on major new policy proposals. As Biden told the Democratic National Committee on Friday, “jobs are up, wages are up, inflation is down, and COVID no longer controls our lives.” Just in time for the speech, the White House received a major boost when a new report showed an unexpected surge in hiring, with more than 500,000 jobs added in January. Biden is likely to call on Congress to raise the nation’s debt limit, a rebuke to House Republicans seeking to impose spending cuts in exchange for avoiding default. He will also address his decision to shoot down a Chinese balloon that had entered U.S. airspace and discuss the need for sustained support of Ukraine. In the days following the speech, Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of the Cabinet are scheduled to travel across the country to hold more than 30 events to tout the administration’s accomplishments.
The work of the so-called “ModCom”— the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress tasked with “fixing” Congress—will continue. Now, the panel will become a subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration. The select committee was first established in 2018 and until the end of 2022, made more than 200 recommendations designed to update the chamber’s technology, logistics and even culture. According to Roll Call, 45 of those recommendations have been fully implemented and another 87 have been partially implemented. Among them was a push to bring back a more transparent version of earmarks and to raise salaries of some staff members. In keeping with the bipartisan approach that has marked the committee’s work, the composition of the panel—which will be chaired by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK)-- will be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
Washington Watch is published weekly when Congress is in session. Published monthly during extended recess or adjournment.
Spotlight on Puerto Rico
Salinas residents plead for action to fight contamination
Salinas, a town with nearly 26,000 residents, has long been one of Puerto Rico’s most contaminated regions and has one of the highest rates of cancer in Puerto Rico. The town sits around a coal-burning plant, two thermoelectric plants, and other industrial factories that produce parts of major appliances. Toxic ash and chemicals from nearby power plants have been blamed for a range of health problems, including cancer and Alzheimer’s. Last year, the EPA announced that the town has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of a cancer-causing gas called ethylene oxide, and the town also has high concentrations of styrene and sulfur dioxide in its air and water. In response, emboldened residents are demanding clean-up from the federal government and penalties for the companies responsible for contaminating the region. The EPA is pledging stricter regulations of toxic chemicals nationwide this year, but some say it will be too little too late for area residents.
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to hold hearing on territories
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing this Thursday, February 9 at 10 AM in Room 366 Dirksen. The hearing is the first of the year in which the panel will discuss the status of the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. The hearing will be broadcast live on the committee's website and a video of the full hearing, along with full witness testimony, will be released afterward.
FEMA awards $18.5 million to for new Juncos reservoir
FEMA has approved an $18.5 million grant for the first phase of construction of a new reservoir in the Valenciano River to expand the water treatment plant there. The new reservoir will be in Juncos. Government officials praised the grant, citing the project as a priority to ensure that the nearly 140,000 people in the region gain access to clean water. Besides Juncos, the municipalities of Humacao, Caguas, San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Gurabo are expected to benefit from the project. With this grant, FEMA has now committed over $29 billion under its Public Assistance program, plus $1.6 billion under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, to increase the Island’s resiliency amidst natural disasters and decades of underfunding of public infrastructure.
Puerto Rico begins port expansion project
The Puerto Rican government announced last week that it has finally initiated a project to dredge, deepen, and widen the San Juan Port and upgrade its facilities, a project that has been on hold for a number of years. The project is launching thanks to a new agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Puerto Rico’s port authority. The project will widen and deepen inland channels in the port, expanding cruise terminals and areas for marine cargo operators. The construction contract will be made public in March, with awards granted in May and completion targeted for the summer of 2024. Total cost of the project is estimated at $58.7 million.
View From The White House
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday a plan to limit sugars and sodium content, while increasing whole grains, in the 15 million school breakfasts and 30 million lunches provided to students each day.
The Interior Department said Thursday that $580 million in funds will be distributed to 15 Native American tribal governments to settle water rights claims.
In a move announced during a meeting of the President’s Competition Council, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a new rule that would reduce late fees paid by credit card users from $30 to $8, which could save consumers as much as $9 billion per year.
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