Sunday, June 11, 2023

Jake Auchincloss: An Update from Your Congressman for last 2 weeks

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW

I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed.

On the Hill

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Hearing

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Hearing: Earlier this week, as a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I heard testimony from survivors, experts, educators, gun owners, and law enforcement officials about the scourge of gun violence in this country. Their message was clear and compelling: we must politicize gun violence, because only voters can ultimately make the GOP see sense on this daily tragedy.

I approach the issue as the parent of young children, as a Marine veteran who trained & patrolled with assault weapons, and as a representative from Massachusetts, which has the most effective gun laws in the nation. Every day, I am fighting to make the Massachusetts model the national standard.

Final Debt Ceiling Update: Last week, I joined my colleagues in the House to vote to raise the debt ceiling. After unnecessary brinkmanship, the center held. Representatives from both parties came together to protect jobs & retirement accounts, trim spending, and preserve the full faith and credit of the United States. It is not the bill I would have drafted, but legislating in divided government requires compromise. You can watch my interview recapping the vote here.

Investing in the Bioeconomy: This week, I led my colleagues in a letter outlining best practices for how the Biden administration can program science funding. The Industrial Revolution was made possible when chemistry and physics became engineerable disciplines. With the advent of gene editing, biology is becoming an engineerable discipline, too. The possibilities for healthcare, agriculture, climate, industrials, and more – a 'bioeconomy' – are immense.

To capitalize on these opportunities in the life sciences, Congress must ensure public-private collaboration that helps industry to run fast within well-defined guardrails. One near-term counter-example is the bio-manufacturing of generic medicines for cancer and other diseases, where a breakdown in public-private cooperation has led to painful and unnecessary shortages. We must address this problem and prevent it from recurring.

Make your voice heard → Do you support investing in the bioeconomy?

Should investing in the bioeconomy be a priority for Congress?

Around the Fourth

Sharon Wear Orange: Last week, I spoke at a Wear Orange event in Sharon. As someone who fights in the trenches of congressional gun policy, it was motivating to see students, activists, and local elected officials come together for common sense gun safety.

Gun violence is a policy choice. Every day that Republicans in Congress reject popular, proven gun safety legislation like an assault weapon ban, universal background checks, red flag laws, and safe storage requirements, is a day when they choose the NRA over the safety of children and families. I'm committed to staying on offense until the GOP puts kids ahead of the gun lobby.

Habitat for Humanity Groundbreaking: After a couple weeks at home with our new daughter, there was no better way to get back on the road than to celebrate the groundbreaking of someone else's future home. Thanks to the terrific work of Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, volunteers and sponsors came together to build a new house for a family in Norton.

In Massachusetts, our greatest challenge is the cost of housing. We need to be building more housing of all types – small single-family lots, big multi-family complexes, and accessory dwelling units – to reverse rising costs.

CPS Technologies: I also toured precision manufacturer CPS Technologies to see how recent investments in infrastructure and semiconductor manufacturing are driving innovation and job creation here in Massachusetts.

I always ask employers the same question, and get the same answer:
"What's keeping you in the Bay State?"
– "Talent."

Massachusetts must continue to invest in its students and workers to stay competitive in the coming decade.

Chamber of Commerce: I joined the Charles River Regional Chamber to honor Joe Prestejohn, the longtime owner of Cabot's Ice Cream in Newton. Cabot's has been a Newton staple for decades and Joe's lifetime of exemplary service and business leadership is a big reason why. Congratulations Joe!