From: Councilmember Kenyan R.
McDuffie
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 10:11 AM
Subject: Ward 5 Report: News from the last Council Legislative Meeting
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Neighbors,
On Tuesday, the Council held its final Legislative Meeting of
Council Period 22 and it may have been one of the busiest council
periods in recent years. My colleagues and I worked diligently to
pass legislation that will make our city more equitable, healthy,
and environmentally friendly. Tuesday's agenda was brimming with
complex and critical measures, but I’ll highlight three: “Sports
Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018,” “The East End Equity Act,”
and the “Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act.”
Equity
The “Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018” will legalize
sports betting in the District. I authored a significant amendment
that will require this new industry to open the doors of
opportunity to our minority- and women-owned local businesses. I am
also proud to have shaped the law to ensure that a major portion of
the revenues generated from sports betting will be dedicated to
fund the NEAR Act’s public health-based violence prevention
strategies.
Health
Earlier this year we rolled up our sleeves to fight for health care
access and keeping Providence Hospital open. On Tuesday, I was
again fighting alongside hospital workers working to ensure
equitable access to health care across all of DC, as I advocated
successfully to pass the “East End Equity Act.” The bill includes
an amendment that I co-introduced which will ensure that Howard
University’s College of Medicine has an academic affiliation
agreement to satisfy its accreditation standards and allow Howard
to continue building upon its legacy of producing top African
American health care professionals to serve the District and the
global community.
Environment
With the entire community fighting together, not only were we able
to advance toward resolving the long-standing environmental justice
issue that is the W Street Trash Transfer Station, we achieved even
more to improve the District's air, water, and environment. As the
Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, I
worked with stakeholders to champion and pass the “CleanEnergy DC
Omnibus Amendment Act.” With the passage of the bill, we set forth
the most aggressive renewable energy portfolio standards in the
country. The bill mandates that the District use 100% renewable
energy by 2032. Many believe this bill will be a model for our
region and the nation.
For more details on each of these bill see below.
In Service,
Kenyan
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In this
issue of the Ward 5 Report:
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The Sports
Wagering Lottery Amendment Act passed
incorporating Councilmember McDuffie's amendment to ensure this new
industry includes a robust program to include women- and
minority-owned small local businesses. As Chair of Committee of
Business and Economic Development, Councilmember McDuffie crafted
the amendment to incentivize firms already in the industry, largely
located outside the District, to partner with CBEs and SBEs. It
also establishes the Sports Wagering Small Business Development
Program which will facilitate training and capacity building
programs and requires the District of Columbia Auditor to evaluate
the performance of the sports wagering platform.
The legislation already included a provision championed by
Councilmember McDuffie to require that half of the proceeds be
reinvested in the public safety of our communities in the form of
violence interruption and trauma-informed public safety
initiatives. Councilmember McDuffie, author of the District's
innovative public safety legislation, the Neighborhood Engagement
Achieves Results (NEAR) Act, has a long record of supporting a
public health approach to preventing violent crime.
With the passage of the legislation, Councilmember McDuffie said: “This new industry
offers the opportunity to be intentional about who operates and
ultimately profits from sports wagering in the District. I am proud
to have authored this amendment that will create opportunities for
our minority- and women-owned small businesses. Despite progress,
the District of Columbia still has a staggering wealth gap between
white residents and residents of color. It is my hope that, with
this amendment, the sports wagering industry will move us closer to
closing that gap.”
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The Clean
Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act places the
District of Columbia as a national leader in the fight against
climate change by supporting increased investment in solar energy,
higher energy efficiency standards for DC’s office buildings, and
expansion of the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund, of which a
percentage must be used to benefit low-income residents, including
energy bill assistance, energy efficiency, and weatherization.
McDuffie's committee added provisions to support workforce
development and created the Sustainable Energy Infrastructure
Capacity Building and Pipeline Program, which would prepare Certified
Business Enterprises, including women- and minority-owned
businesses, with the tools to compete for and win contracts in
renewable energy.
With passage of this legislation, Councilmember McDuffie
said: “I
am proud that the District of Columbia is leading the nation on
environmental justice and will have 100% renewable energy by 2032.
I want to thank Councilmember Cheh and her committee, as well as
the community of advocates, for their work on this legislation
which sets aggressive benchmarks for energy efficiency, balanced
with increased benefits for low-income residents, investments in
workforce development, and stringent CBE requirements..”
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Thank you to the hundreds of
neighbors who attended last night's Ward 5 Holiday Party. It was
another great event which garnered over a truck load of toys for
needy children in our community. We thank the Women's Wing
organization for faciliating the toy drive.
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Advisory
Neighborhood Commissioners
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Below are
the winners of their respective elections for Advisory Neighborhood
Commissioner. will serve a two-year term starting January 2,
2019. Commissioners-elect who have not served as ANC previously are
indicated with a *. To this class as well as retiring Commissioners
who will not be back: thank you for your service to our community.
Check which Single Member District you live in here.
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