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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement on the death of Donovan Lewis:

“I am horrified to see another young, unarmed Black man killed by police in our city. In this painful loss, my heart goes out to his family. Donovan Lewis was shot by the officer less than one second after his bedroom door was opened. It appears to be clear the officer involved did not take the necessary time to assess the situation before choosing to employ deadly force. Following the shooting, Mayor Ginther and Chief Bryant have remained transparent and acted swiftly, ordering BCI to conduct an independent investigation. As we await their findings, I stand with the Columbus community in our calls for justice and accountability.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) joined her Democratic colleagues in voting to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that will lower families’ household costs, create millions of good-paying jobs, and deliver the most significant climate legislation in history, all while dramatically reducing the deficit.

“Today’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act may prove the most impactful of the many substantial legislative accomplishments made on behalf of everyday Americans during the Biden Era,” said Beatty. “This is the most significant piece of climate legislation in history, a life-changing investment in American health care, and a reinvestment in American energy that also fights inflation without increasing taxes for average American families. We are creating jobs and making sure the money families bring home can stretch as far as it used to. While some in Washington quietly cheer on inflation and deny the very existence of the climate crisis, Democrats are delivering solutions to the issues imperiling our future.”

Highlights of the Inflation Reduction Act include:

●      Combating climate change and pollution with new grants, incentives, and tax credits

●      Lowering the cost of health care by extending ACA subsidies

●      Capping Medicare out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 per year

●      Fighting inflation and lowering the deficit by $300 billion

Leading economists, including Nobel Prize winners and former Treasury secretaries, Council of Economic Advisors chairs and a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) director,agreethat by reducing the deficit, the Act will place downward pressure on inflation. The nonpartisanCommittee for a Responsible Federal Budget andMoody’s Analytics also conclude that the Act will reduce inflationary pressure. CBO estimated ahead of the Senate vote that the Act will reduce the deficit by more than$300 billionover the next decade, while the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that it will reduce the deficit by almost$2 trillionover two decades.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) voted to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan bill to bolster American semiconductor chip production. Beatty was intimately involved in the crafting and negotiation of the CHIPS and Science Act, working to ensure Central Ohio institutions and communities would benefit from the funding. Critically, Beatty secured language in the final bill to ensure funding makes its way to historically underserved communities and businesses.

“For Ohioans, the importance of the CHIPS and Science Act cannot be overstated,” said Beatty. “Even beyond the thousands of jobs it will generate in Central Ohio, this is an investment in American technological and manufacturing dominance. By bringing computer chip production back to the US, we will lower costs for Americans, create thousands of good-paying union jobs, bolster STEM R&D, and end our dangerous dependence on foreign manufacturers. Coupled with Intel’s historic investment, this funding will rebuild America’s rich manufacturing tradition and usher in a new Silicon Heartland. I am grateful to the Partnership, our local business community, and our local government leaders for coming together to support this legislation.” 

The CHIPS and Science Act will deliver a powerful investment in America’s global competitiveness – creating jobs, slashing kitchen table costs, ending dependence on foreign manufacturers, and turbocharging American innovation. It is estimated the legislation will create nearly 100,000 new American Davis-Bacon jobs.

“The CHIPS and Science Act is a win for Ohio workers and our local communities that will see massive job creation while driving down inflation,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. “We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives and the leadership of Congresswoman Joyce Beatty in securing passage of the CHIPS Act to drive domestic semiconductor production, ensuring access to current and future critical technologies that increase our economic and national security.”

The bill also includes major investments in the National Science Foundation for cutting edge research and development, expanding opportunities for STEM education at Ohio institutions like Central State University, Columbus State Community College, and The Ohio State University. 

“Investment in the domestic semiconductor industry is critical to keeping our nation strong and competitive,” said Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson. “This bill recognizes the importance of realizing that goal by making strategic investments in research and development, overcoming supply chain challenges, and cultivating the workforce of the future. Ohio State is deeply committed to playing a key role in economic growth both locally – particularly related to the Silicon Heartland initiative – and across the U.S., and we are grateful to Representative Joyce Beatty for her support.”

Funding from the bill will in part go to support the construction of Intel’s planned semiconductor plant, scheduled to begin construction in New Albany, Ohio, in the coming months. The plant is expected to create 3,000 permanent Intel jobs and an additional 7,000 construction jobs over the course of the build, and support tens of thousands of additional local long-term jobs across a broad array of suppliers and partners. At full buildout, the total investment in the site could grow to as much as $100 billion over the next decade, making it one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, legislation authored by U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) to provide Americans a public draft of the upcoming twenty dollar note featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman passed the House as part of a six-bill appropriations minibus. The provision was adopted as an amendment to the bill, H.R. 8294. First announced in 2016, work on the “Tubman Twenty” was paused under the Trump Administration. While the Biden Administration pledged to accelerate the rollout, Americans have still not seen any official designs for the long-promised note.

“Six years after Americans celebrated Harriet Tubman’s selection to replace Andrew Jackson on the twenty dollar bill, we are no closer to knowing when we will see the bill or what it will look like,” said Beatty. “After the Trump Administration paused work on the redesign, people are rightfully concerned this much-needed update to our currency may never see the light of day. I’m proud I was able to include language in the appropriations minibus pushing Treasury to release a design. This will move the bill one step closer to circulation.”

Beatty continued, “As we work to dismantle systemic racism, replacing slave-owner Andrew Jackson with a heroic Black woman like Harriet Tubman is an easy move. Americans are excited to see this update, and I am hopeful they will soon see the progress the Treasury is making.”

Throughout her time in Congress, Beatty has fought to secure a woman on our nation's currency. In June 2015, she introduced the original Woman on the Twenty Act, directing the Secretary of Treasury to create a citizens' panel to recommend a woman to be placed on a $20 bill. That same year, she spoke from the House floor in support of putting Harriet Tubman on the new $20. In April 2016, Beatty wrote a letter then- Treasury Secretary Jack Lew calling on the Department to fast track the new note and have it in circulation by 2020. In 2017, Beatty wrote then-Secretary Mnuchin, urging him to recommit to the redesign of the twenty-dollar bill featuring Harriet Tubman. In 2019, Beatty led a press conference, joined by a group of more than 30 Members of Congress, on the steps of the U.S. Department of Treasury to demand the change. This Congress, she took her actions a step further, authoring an updated version of the Woman on the Twenty Act to prohibit any new $20s from being printed without an image of Tubman. In July 2021, Beatty sent a letter to Secretary Janet Yellen calling on the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide an updated timeline for the reveal and circulation of all Federal Reserve notes currently undergoing the redesign process.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 8294, a package of six government funding bills which included funding for eight projects in Ohio’s Third Congressional District. Secured by U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03), the language directs $10,485,000 in federal spending to impactful community projects across Central Ohio. 

“I was proud to vote with my Congressional colleagues to pass a robust government funding package which includes over $10 million  for vital projects across Ohio's 3rd Congressional District,” said Beatty. “From youth services to transit hubs to student safety, this money will be seen and felt across Franklin County and make our region a better, safer place for us all.”

Specifically, the legislation directs:

• $750,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio to renovate the J. Ashburn Jr. Boys & Girls Club to serve youth in the community.
• $500,000 to Central Ohio Community Land Trust to restore the historic Edna Building.
• $3,000,000 to Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) to support the construction of a multi-service mobility/transit center in the Rickenbacker area.
• $1,000,000 to Directions for Youth & Families for the Crittenton Community Center, which will provide services to more families, children, and adults who reside in a social service desert.
• $2,000,000 to Franklin County Engineer to improve safety for children walking to school, improve mobility, and connect Linden residents to the bus rapid transit line on the Ferris Road Corridor.
• $650,000 to IMPACT Community Action to facilitate the procurement of necessary solar and practical educational equipment, planning, and design services to renovate space for the Columbus Region Solar Lab
• $1,585,000 to City of Reynoldsburg to improve pedestrian safety, and enhance the streetscape on the East Main Street historic area of Reynoldsburg.
• $1,000,000 to Zora’s House to serve Ohio women as a center for innovation, empowerment, and economic recovery. 

Also included in the funding bill was Beatty-authored legislation to expedite the production of the next generation of twenty-dollar bills featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Seven additional funding requests submitted by Beatty have been approved by the House Appropriations Committee and await floor votes as part of separate government funding bills.

Fiscal Year 2023 is the second time in over a decade that Community Funding Projects have authorized individual Members of Congress to direct federal spending to specific projects within their district. In Fiscal Year 2022, Beatty secured over $5 million for Central Ohio Projects.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, in response to continued right-wing threats to Ohio’s personal liberties, Rep. Beatty voted to enshrine marriage equality into federal law.  The Respect for Marriage Act will officially repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a defunct and discriminatory statute excluding same-sex couples from marriage under federal law.  This legislation will also codify new protections ensuring that no married couple can be denied protections and benefits under federal law based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.

“I am proud to have voted to protect marriage equality in Ohio and across the country,” said Rep. Beatty. “With the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Republican-appointed supermajority tossed out nearly 50 years of legal precedent, weakening the Constitutional right to privacy, and threatening the health of American women.  Now, right-wing extremists are leading a cruel assault on even more of Ohio’s hard-won freedoms – including the right to marry the person they love.  The bipartisan, bicameral Respect for Marriage Act will enshrine marriage equality into federal law and prohibit state officials from discriminating against same-sex and interracial couples.”

Following the Supreme Court’s heart-wrenching decision overturning Roe v. Wade, right-wing extremists have set their sights on other rulings upholding basic rights and freedoms.  In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Court to consider overturning other landmark rulings, including the Obergefell v. Hodges decision recognizing the Constitutional right to marriage equality.  

The Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to combat this assault on Ohio’s freedoms:

• Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will require the federal government to fully recognize any marriage considered valid in the state where it was performed – providing same-sex and interracial couples additional certainty that they will continue to receive equal treatment under federal law.
• Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided the Defense of Marriage Act, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books.  The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal this statute once and for all.
• Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.

“This legislation is a key step forward in House Democrats’ fight against the right-wing assault on freedom,” continued Rep. Beatty.  “Last week, our Majority advanced two landmark bills defending reproductive health freedoms – and later this week, we will vote on legislation upholding Americans’ basic right to access contraception.  While Republicans seek to punish and control our most personal decisions, Democrats remain fully committed to preserving the rights and dignities of every person, everywhere.”

The Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women’s Law Center and PFLAG.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) released the following statement expressing her support for the Active Shooter Alert Act. The bill, which passed the House on a 260-169 vote, will establish an  AMBER alert style system to provide life-saving information during emergency situations involving active shooters.  

“Gun violence has spread like a plague through our nation. I have made a promise to the American people to do all I can to stop this public health crisis, and voting yes on the Active Shooter Alert System Act will take us one step closer to the meaningful gun reform we need,” said Beatty. “Just like AMBER Alerts help locate abducted children, this would provide time-sensitive information to community members in the event of an emergency involving an active shooter. This system, combined with mandatory data collection on responses to incidents involving gun violence, will provide rapid notifications to better protect American families. I find it baffling that my Republican colleagues previously blocked this commonsense, bipartisan bill, but I applaud Democratic leadership for moving forward and succeeding with today’s vote.”

Today is the second time the Active Shooter Alert Act has received a floor vote. On June 22, 2022, the House considered the bill under suspension, but failed to secure two-thirds of the vote despite bipartisan support. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) was honored by Bethune-Cookman University with the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Award, the highest honor awarded by the university. This came on the eve of the official unveiling of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s statue in the U.S. Capitol. 

“Dr. McLeod Bethune paved the way for Black women across this nation and was a champion for racial and gender equality,” said Beatty. “To put it simply, without the work of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, I would not be standing before you today as a strong, HBCU-educated Black woman and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. I am proud to take up the mantle of women like Dr. McLeod Bethune and forge ahead in defense of our rights as a people.”

In a letter to Congresswoman Beatty, Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees Chairman Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., lauded Beatty’s work to carry on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s legacy. 

“You have been a pioneer and unwavering champion on so many issues, particularly education, healthcare, financial literacy, voting rights, and social justice. You have courageously built upon Dr. Bethune’s work for civil rights and universal suffrage,” said Perry. “After the murder of George Floyd, you joined protesters in Columbus, where you were pepper-sprayed by police in May 2020. When voting rights legislation was stalled in the U.S. Senate last year, you led a group of advocates into the Hart Senate Office Building, where you were arrested. Your advocacy in the face of personal danger epitomizes your deep moral courage.”

The namesake and founder of Bethune-Cookman University, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was a pioneering Black educator and civil rights activist who, among other accomplishments, founded the National Council of Negro Women and served as Director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 2018, the Florida State legislature chose Bethune to replace Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith as one of Florida’s two statues in the  National Statuary Hall Collection, located in the U.S. Capitol. After a 4-year approval, design, and construction process, the statue was formally installed and unveiled today at a ceremony attended by Beatty and other Congressional leaders.

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