Legislative Wins
Congresswoman Bush is working tirelessly to deliver policies that change and save lives in Missouri’s First District. Her legislative record is a testament to her dedication to addressing the pressing issues faced by St. Louis and is creating change people can feel in MO-01.
President Biden has Signed 5 Pieces of Legislation by Congresswoman Bush into Law
Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection Act
This bill was championed by Congresswoman Bush and Senator Markey, and was included in the Inflation Reduction Act , which was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022. The IRA’s Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection Act provision allocates $60 million for public data collection on environmental and climate inequities, aiding the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress in ensuring that at least 40% of investments for a sustainable future benefit Black and brown communities, like St. Louis, that have been historically harmed by environmental injustices.
Honoring Our PACT Act Amendment re Radioactive Waste Exposure
In August 2022, President Biden signed the Honoring Our PACT Act into law, enhancing healthcare access for 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service. The law included a provision introduced by Congresswoman Bush for the National Academy of Sciences to study the health impacts of radioactive waste exposure from the Manhattan Project on veterans in St. Louis and across the country.
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
Congresswoman Bush introduced two amendments to the Violence Against Women Act, which were signed into law in 2022.
- The first ensures that survivors of domestic violence who seek help from the Office on Violence Against Women’s (OVW) transitional housing programs would be protected from unfair eviction. This helps ensure that survivors don’t lose housing due to crimes perpetrated against them by abusers.
- The second requires the Attorney General to release public reports on police sexual misconduct.
Emergency Disaster Assistance for the Federal Transit Administration
When the government spending bill for 2022 was signed into law, Congresswoman Bush, alongside former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, secured $214 million for public transportation systems impacted by natural disasters nationwide. This included over $27 million for Bi-State Development Agency in St. Louis to support the recovery needs following the devastating 2022 floods in St. Louis.
Energy Security and Independence Act
In July 2022, the House passed H.R. 8294, a fiscal year 2023 spending bill that included Congresswoman Bush’s Energy Security and Independence Act. This legislation would allocate an additional $100 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy under the Defense Production Act, which helps accelerate the production and deployment of technologies like solar power, heat pumps, and insulation, while creating more jobs and strengthening supply chains. President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic manufacturing of renewable energy and the Department of Energy has supported projects under this authority using funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Legislation passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives
National Apprenticeship Act Amendments
In February 2021, the House passed H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act, incorporating two amendments by Congresswoman Bush. The first amendment expanded eligibility for child care services to formerly incarcerated individuals entering the workforce through registered apprenticeships. The second, co-led alongside Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez, Barragán, Pressley, and Tlaib, designated renewable energy jobs as qualifying for nontraditional apprenticeship grants.
FY2022 LHHS / Energy & Water / THUD Amendments
In July 2021, the House passed H.R. 4502, a $620 billion appropriations package for fiscal year 2022, covering multiple departments. This bill included five amendments introduced by Congresswoman Bush:
- Additional funding for the HUD voucher program for domestic violence survivors and the unhoused;
- Increased funding for health services for the unhoused;
- Funding for a GAO study on non-punitive behavioral health crisis response;
- Increased funding for the Zero Emissions Bus program, and;
- Increased funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act Amendment
In October 2021, the House passed H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021, which included an amendment by Congresswoman Bush that ensures that organizations that address domestic violence can provide housing and shelter services as part of primary and secondary prevention programs.
America COMPETES Act Amendments
In February 2022, the House passed H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act, legislation that addresses U.S. technology and communications, foreign relations and national security, domestic manufacturing, education, trade, and other matters. The bill included six amendments by Congresswoman Bush, including efforts to
- Expand global COVID-19 response efforts;
- Assess environmental impacts of fossil fuel pollution and plastic on sea life;
- Facilitate credit transfers for students in STEM pathways to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs;
- Codify the Biden Administration’s commitment to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030;
- Support solar component manufacturing; and
- Study the impacts of regulations and sanctions in Afghanistan.
Honoring Our PACT Act Amendments
As noted above, the final version of the Honoring Our PACT Act, signed into law, included a provision by Congresswoman Bush addressing radioactive waste exposure from the Manhattan Project. The House-passed version of the Act also featured three other amendments by Congresswoman Bush:
- A requirement for the Department of Defense to review all known cases of toxic exposure on military bases globally;
- Inclusion of race and ethnicity in a study on cancer rates among veterans; and
- Consideration of various demographic factors in a medical study of post-9/11 veterans.
For the People Act
In March 2021, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which aimed to significantly expand voting rights and strengthen democratic institutions. The bill included an amendment by Congresswoman Bush that expanded accessibility requirements for ballot drop box locations to ensure that unhoused communities can participate in federal elections.
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act
In May 2021, the House passed H.R. 2547, the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, aimed at providing additional financial protections for consumers and restricting debt collection activities. Included in the bill was an amendment by Congresswoman Bush directing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to analyze debt collection complaint data during the pandemic, focusing on medical debt and debts owed by servicemembers. The CFPB would have to then report enforcement actions and strategies to Congress within six months and request data on default judgments from eligible debt collectors.
INVEST in America Act Amendment
In July 2021, the House passed H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act, which provided significant investments in the nation’s infrastructure and served as the foundation of what would later become the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Act included an amendment by Congresswoman Bush, requiring the EPA Administrator to review efforts to remediate radiological contamination at Coldwater Creek and post public signage to prevent exposure risks. This amendment, based on the Congresswoman’s Coldwater Creek Signage Act, was introduced in collaboration with local St. Louis advocates and community organizations.
Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act Amendment
In June 2022, the House passed H.R. 2543, the Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act, which addressed access to financial services, diversity in financial institutions, and related issues. The bill included an amendment by Congresswoman Bush directing the Federal Reserve to study the intersection of age, race, ethnicity, and education level in relation to labor trends.
FY2022 NDAA Amendment
In September 2021, the House passed H.R. 4350, the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorized Department of Defense activities and programs for FY2022. The bill included an amendment by Congresswoman Bush, based on her Coldwater Creek Signage Act, requiring the EPA Administrator to review remediation efforts of Manhattan Project waste at Coldwater Creek and post public signage warning residents of exposure risks. This amendment, based on the Congresswoman’s Coldwater Creek Signage Act, was introduced in collaboration with local St. Louis advocates and community organizations.
Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act
In May 2022, the House passed H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, establishing new requirements to broaden information availability on domestic terrorism and its link to hate crimes. The legislation included a provision by Congresswoman Bush, which refined the definition of domestic terrorism, safeguarded First Amendment activities, and bolstered oversight of domestic terrorism investigations to protect civil rights and liberties.
Technical Correction to U.S. Code
In June 2021, the House passed H.R. 3241, introduced by Congresswoman Bush, which made technical amendments related to title 54 (National Park Service and Related Programs).