Representative Gerry Connolly

Dear Neighbor,

Last night, I was proud to be there as President Biden addressed our nation. He delivered a powerful exhortation filled with common sense dreams, and there were echoes of FDR in the House Chamber.

Just as importantly, we witnessed history, with Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi joining President Biden on the dais.

As a nation, together, we have accomplished a lot over the President’s first hundred days. Here are some of the things we should be proud of:

President Biden's First 100 Days

Vaccines: In one of the greatest logistical accomplishments in modern history, we have administered over 200 million vaccines, doubling the President’s original goal. More than half of U.S. adults have gotten one shot and two-thirds of all seniors are fully vaccinated. Additionally, 100% of Americans are now eligible to be vaccinated and 90% now live within 5 miles of a vaccination site.

Direct Payments: We kept our promise to deliver $1400 per person in relief checks. Today, 160 million checks have gone out, with 85% of all Americans receiving assistance.

Jobs: President Biden and his administration created more new jobs in the first 100 days than any president in history, as the first to create more than 1 million new jobs in that time span. Additionally, we extended – on a bipartisan basis – the loan program for small businesses hard hit by the pandemic and provided relief to 4 million small businesses struggling to keep their doors open.

Child Poverty: We cut child poverty in half, and 30 million kids will avoid going hungry this summer thanks to the American Rescue Plan.

Tax Cuts: We cut taxes for families with children so that families – starting in July – will get up to a $3600 tax credit for each child under 18.

Health Care: We cut premiums for those who get health coverage from the Affordable Care Act, and have expanded the period to enroll in affordable health care.

Climate Change: President Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accords and, for the first time ever, the U.S. hosted a global climate summit for world leaders to make commitments to reduce their emissions.

Gun Violence: The Biden administration ordered the strongest executive actions on gun safety in 20 years, including the first-ever regulation of so-called ghost guns.

Housing: The Biden administration has extended the federal eviction moratorium put in place in response to COVID-19 through June 30. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan provided robust aid for renters and homeowners: $21.5 billion in emergency rental assistance to help millions of families keep up on their rent, and nearly $10 billion to help homeowners behind on their mortgage and utility payments avoid foreclosure and eviction.

Schools: The American Rescue Plan provided $122 billion, more than $2 billion of which went to Virginia, to help K-12 schools reopen safely and expand opportunity for students who need it most.

But our work isn’t done. In his vision for America, President Biden spoke about many priorities that we have already passed in the House and now wait for action in the Senate. These include:

The PRO Act to protect workers' right to organize.
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act to close the gun show loophole.
The Equality Act to finally guarantee equal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to root out systemic racism and bring structural change to American policing.

The United States is facing a once-in-a-generation crisis that demands a once-in-a-generation response. As President Biden made clear last night, we are falling behind and the world isn't waiting for us to catch up, let alone take the lead. But if we build on the progress of these first 100 days, I have no doubt we will.

Please take care of yourselves and each other. As always, my office stands ready to help if you or a loved one need assistance. Please don't hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071, or visit my website here.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress