Meng-Regional Leadership Council Holds Meeting with White House
April 3, 2023
Congresswoman and participants discuss efforts to implement historic laws and ensure they’re felt by New Yorkers and Americans throughout the country
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she and her fellow Congressmembers on the Regional Leadership Council met at the White House with key officials in the Biden-Harris Administration to discuss their efforts to implement historic laws that Democrats enacted over the past two years during the 117th session of Congress.
The Regional Leadership Council was launched in January by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to help act as a liaison to the White House, and promote and implement legislation signed into law by President Biden. These include the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Honoring our PACT Act and other measures. The panel consists of 12 Members of Congress, all responsible for different regions of the country, and Meng is responsible for New York. It is chaired by Rep. Steny Hoyer, the former Majority Leader of the House.
The meeting coincides with the Administration's Investing in America tour, where President Biden and members of his Cabinet are traveling across the country over the course of three weeks to highlight the impact these landmark laws are having on the lives of hardworking Americans. In addition to Meng, Hoyer, and members of the Council, the participants of the meeting included Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs Louisa Terrell, Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian and Senior Advisors to the President Mitch Landrieu and John Podesta.
Members of the Regional Leadership Council, led by Chairman Hoyer, laid out their three-part plan to ensure that those in New York and every corner of the country know and feel the impact of these transformative laws: identify, implement and inform. Whether delivering information to local stakeholders, making new programs and grants more accessible, or communicating the positive effects of these laws to the American people, the Regional Leadership Council and the Biden-Harris Administration will coordinate to ensure the American people can feel the impact of these historic measures.
The Council and Biden Administration will also continue to highlight what's at stake in terms of private sector investment, jobs, and lower health care and prescription drug costs if Republicans in Congress get their way and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and slash funding for manufacturing, innovation, and research. The meeting made it clear that the Regional Leadership Council and Biden Administration's cooperation will remain steadfast in the weeks, months and years to come.
"Thank you to the White House officials who met with us to talk about ensuring that New Yorkers and Americans across the nation feel the benefits from the crucial and historic laws made possible by Democrats," said Congresswoman Meng. "These laws are greatly impacting our city, state and country and will do so for many years to come. I am thrilled to work with our partners in the Biden-Harris Administration to make sure that those in New York and throughout the country – in all 435 congressional districts – are aware of these laws, and how they're helping them and their communities."
"From lowering health-care costs to rebuilding America's crumbling infrastructure, creating millions of quality jobs, and promoting community safety, Democrats delivered results in the 117th Congress," said Chairman Hoyer after the meeting. "I was pleased to meet with our partners in the Biden-Harris Administration to talk about what the Regional Leadership Council can do to help ensure that we continue to deliver For The People. Regardless of who they are and where they live, Americans deserve to see how their tax dollars are being invested to improve their lives, their communities, and their economy. The Regional Leadership Council stands at the forefront of that effort, and we are glad to have enthused partners in the White House ready to help deliver these federal funds to create economic opportunity in every region. We remain hard at work to make sure that new bridges and factories go up, costs go down, and workers and families across the country have the tools they need to Make It In America."
"The historic legislation Democrats helped shepherd through Congress and that President Biden signed into law are benefiting families and strengthening communities across America," said Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Regional Leadership Council to ensure as many Americans as possible feel the impacts of these historic bills – from accessing good-paying jobs they can raise a family on, to lower health care, internet, and energy costs, to expanded benefits for veterans and mental health services for students and families."
Issues:Economy and Small Business