McClellan to Join Children in Events and Trick-or-Treating in Science Museum 

RICHMOND - On Halloween, October 31, 2023, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan will hold her 16th annual Community Harvest Festival at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. 

The event will take place from 5:30 pm to 8pm and allow a safe space for children in the Richmond area to trick-or-treat and find community resources. Members of the community are invited.

The Science Museum of Virginia will also open up various exhibits and experiences for children to enjoy throughout the event. The exhibitions open include Speed, Boost, and LightPlace. The touring exhibition Wild Kratts®: Creature Power®!. Experiences in the Animal Lab, and Eco Lab. Astronomy shows in The Dome and hands-on activity in The Forge. The Rotunda will also have "Spooky Science"-themed live science demos. 

Details of the events are:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

McClellan to Host 16th Annual Community Harvest Festival

5:30pm to 8pm 

Science Museum of Virginia 

2500 W Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220

"Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment is Long Overdue"

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Vice Chair of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Caucus, joined ERA Caucus Co-Chairs Cori Bush (MO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and other members of the ERA Caucus in marching to the Senate floor to demand action on S.J. Res. 4.  Following the march, Congresswoman McClellan issued the following statement:

"One hundred years ago, the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced. It took Congress nearly fifty years to pass the legislation, at which point 38 states needed to ratify it. In 2020, I led the charge to make Virginia the 38th and final state to ratify the ERA; however, an arbitrary deadline imposed by Congress in the early 1970's has prohibited its publication in the U.S. Constitution. 

"Today, the U.S. Senate had the opportunity to pass S.J. Res. 4, remove the arbitrary deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, and finally allow the ERA to become the 28th Amendment. As Vice Chair of the ERA Caucus, I was proud to join ERA Caucus Co-Chairs Bush and Pressley and several of my ERA colleagues in demanding Senate action on this resolution. 

"Despite bipartisan support, 47 Republicans voted against the resolution and again tried to stop 100 years of progress in the fight for gender equality; however, we will not rest until these protections are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. I will continue to lead on this issue in Congress, as I did in the Virginia General Assembly, because our daughters and granddaughters deserve equal protections under the law." 

Passage of S.J. Res. 4 failed in the U.S. Senate with a vote of 51 to 47. 60 votes were needed to overcome the Senate filibuster. 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement addressing Speaker Kevin McCarthy's "Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023" debt ceiling proposal:

 "Speaker McCarthy's debt ceiling proposal is filled with cruel cuts that will hurt everyday Americans who rely on crucial federal programs and assistance. It is a dangerous and desperate attempt to advance spending cuts and policy wish lists while holding our nation's economy hostage. Raising the debt ceiling is about ensuring the United States can pay its bills and protecting the stability of our economy. 

"The 'Limit, Save, Grow Act' would cut funding for schools and strip away access to childcare, raise mortgage rates and kick thousands of families out of their homes, rip food assistance away from low-income and older Americans, and open the door for corporate polluters to poison our communities while undermining key climate and clean energy policies passed by Democrats last Congress. 

"We need to cleanly raise the debt ceiling without strings attached. Under the last President, congressional Democrats helped raise the debt ceiling three times without tying it to policy considerations or spending cuts. Republicans needs to stop the debt ceiling brinkmanship and help ensure we protect the full faith and credit of the United States. 

"A debt default would be catastrophic for our economy and everyday Americans. It would unnecessarily raise costs on car payments, student loans, mortgages, and credit card bills; seniors would lose access to their Social Security checks; veterans may stop receiving the benefits they rightfully earned; and people near retirement will lose tens of thousands in savings. 

"According to a recent report by the Joint Economic Committee, a debt default would have unimaginable consequences for Virginia's Fourth Congressional District. It would jeopardize Social Security payments for 98,000 families and disrupt roughly $164,000,000 dollars a month in Social Security income. It would also put 315,000 residents at risk for losing their health benefits through Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs coverage. Furthermore, it would cost Virginia families an additional $150 per month in mortgage payments and cause small businesses across the country to pay as much as $2,500 more in loan payments. 

"Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans need to stop the political posturing and come together with congressional Democrats to raise the debt ceiling. It's time they put the interests of the American people above the interests of their party." 

Open to All High School Students in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District

Richmond, VA – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the start of the Congressional Art Competition for high school students in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District. 

Hosted by the Congressional Institute, the annual competition seeks to cultivate artistic talent by challenging participants to create their own original piece of art. The winning artist will have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and will be invited to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congresswoman McClellan and attend the annual award ceremony.  

"I am excited to kick off my congressional district programs with the Congressional Art Competition," said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. "This competition is a fantastic opportunity for young artists to express themselves and showcase their artistic capabilities. I have every confidence that high school students in Virginia's Fourth will produce incredible work, and I look forward to seeing their submissions." 

The competition is open to any high school student (grades 9-12) who lives in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District. Artwork must be original, two-dimensional, and created solely by the participating student. Congresswoman McClellan will convene a panel of local judges to help determine the 2023 winner. 

The deadline to submit to the Office of Congresswoman McClellan is May 1st, 2023 by 4:30 PM. Read the full rules and eligibility requirements for the 2023 competition on the U.S. House website. For detailed submission guidelines and other information, please visit Congresswoman McClellan's website. 

McClellan Will Use Positions to Deliver Results for Virginia 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced she was named to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for the 118th Congress. 

The House Armed Services Committee has jurisdiction over the United States' defense policy, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, nonproliferation programs, and more.

"I am thrilled to be named to the House Armed Services Committee," said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. "This is a critical committee assignment given the Commonwealth's large active-duty and veteran populations and the prevalence of strategic military installations in Virginia's Fourth and across the Commonwealth. I look forward to advocating for our servicemembers and their families, maintaining America's national security, and ensuring our Commonwealth has the funding it needs to continue its role in supporting our national defense strategy."

"I am proud to welcome Representative Jennifer McClellan to the House Armed Services Committee. Virginia plays a critical role in our country's National Defense Strategy thanks to the high number of active duty servicemembers and military installations, as well as numerous military veterans that call the state home. McClellan's insight as an experienced legislator who served 18 sessions in the Virginia General Assembly and as the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress will provide a valuable addition to the Armed Services Committee," said Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over all energy research and development, all federally owned or operated non-military energy laboratories, astronautical research and development, civil aviation research and development, environmental research and development, marine research, commercial application of energy technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Weather Service (NWS), and more.

"The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee plays an integral role in driving research and innovation to maintain America's competitiveness on the international stage," said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. "I am excited to get to work on this committee to help expand opportunities in STEM for our next generation, including supporting university-research partnerships, increasing diversity, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration." 

"I'm excited to welcome Congresswoman McClellan to the Science Committee. As the first Black woman to represent Virginia, Representative McClellan is a history-making new Member of Congress. The Science Committee is the Committee of the future. I know Representative McClellan is dedicated to building a brighter future for all and I look forward to working with her to find solutions to our most pressing challenges with science at the forefront," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).