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Thursday, December 20, 2018

Ward 5 Report: News from the last Council legislative meeting

From: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 10:11 AM
Subject: Ward 5 Report: News from the last Council Legislative Meeting

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



Legislative Update


Councilmember McDuffie talks to Howard University Medical students before Tuesday's legislative meeting. Watch Councilmember McDuffie's remarks on the East End Equity Act here.

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.”


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..”


Kenyan in the Community


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.




Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners


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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