Adams 🚨 Alert:

This week Congresswoman Adams commemorated Charlotte native 2nd Lt. Fred Brewer; takes key votes on House floor; Satellite office hours will take place in Huntersville this month.

Rep. Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. speaks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on December 6, 2023 to honor the return and re-interment of remains of Tuskegee Airman 2nd Lt. Fred L. Brewer, Jr.

Dear Constituents,

This week I commemorated Charlotte native and World War II pilot 2^nd Lt. Fred Lorenzo Brewer, Jr.; a US Army Air Forces commissioned officer who was killed in action on October 29, 1944. Rep. Adams gave a speech about 2^nd Lt. Brewer on the U.S. House floor to honor his sacrifice and the identification and return of his remains this year. Her remarks coincided with a memorial service at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for 2^nd Lt. Brewer in Charlotte on December 6, 2023. At the service, Rep. Adams’ office also presented the Brewer family with the U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on November 30^th, the day that 2^nd Lt. Brewer’s remains were flown to Charlotte. 

“December 7, 2023 will mark 82 years since the United States entered World War II, and we are still bringing our heroes home,” said Rep. Adams.

Please watch the full video here.

---

H.R. 5933 - Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT Act

I voted NO.

H.R.4468 - Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023

I voted NO.

---

Reps. Jeff Jackson and Alma Adams Introduce American Neighborhoods Protection Act

Washington — Reps. Jeff Jackson and Alma Adams introduced the American Neighborhoods Protection Act to protect family ownership of housing. Charlotte’s members of Congress joined forces to take on the issue driving up housing costs in Charlotte and across the country.

The issue of corporate-owned housing in Charlotte has received local and national attention. The New York Times reported that in 2021 and 2022, 50 percent of the homes that sold in the Bradfield Farms subdivision of the city were bought by large investors who paid cash while family buyers - who overwhelmingly rely on mortgages - were outbid. Roughly 20% of all homes in Charlotte are being bought by corporate investors.

This is a problem in rapidly growing cities across the country. Corporate investors are buying 21% of homes in Atlanta, 19% of homes in Memphis, and 18% of homes in Birmingham.

Please read the full press release here.

Cost Saving Benefits Provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

Winter is just around the corner, and so are the colder temperatures that mean turning up the heat and increasing the gas bill when so many families are already stretching their budgets as far as possible. But there’s good news: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Democrats in Congress and President Biden passed last year has made cost-saving benefits available right now, including:

• 30% back for the cost of many clean energy upgrades to your home, including solar panels, water heaters, and battery storage, no matter the price.

• Up to $1,200 to add insulation, install new exterior windows and doors, or other improvements that increase the energy efficiency of your home.

• Up to $2,000 for a new heat pump (which can provide efficient air conditioning and heating) as well as a heat-pump water heater.

• 30% off the cost of installing a new electric vehicle charger if you live in a rural or underserved community.

Starting on January 1, up to $7,500 in savings will be available right at point of sale when you buy a new electric vehicle and up to $4,000 for a used one. You’ll be able to get these credits at your car dealership, which means the discount will come right off the sticker price when you buy your EV.

You can visit this site to see a full list of benefits and find out which are currently available to best help you and your household.

---

Nonprofit Security Grant Program(NSGP) FY2024 Winter Webinar Series –

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) invites interested organizations to attend upcoming webinars regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The NSGP is a competitive grant awarded to nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, at risk of hate crimes, domestic terrorism, or other attacks. These funds can be used for facility security enhancements, active shooter training, and emergency response exercises and planning.

Please note that depending on the timing of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bill, final FY 2024 information on the NSGP may not be available at the time of the webinars. Interested nonprofits should maintain communication with their State Administrative Agency (SAA) for all deadlines and application requirements.

Please find a link to read more about this grant award here.

---

The application period is now open for a new financial assistance program under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. The application process will close on January 13, 2024. Borrowers will have the option to apply for assistance online via 22007apply.gov or through a paper-based form.

---

---

We are thankful for our Fall interns in both our Washington, D.C. and Charlotte offices. We are continuing the series of spotlighting our wonderful interns.

Deon Griffin, a recent graduate from Albany State University in Savannah, Georgia, holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He is currently a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation intern. During this time in Washington D.C., he has been actively engaged in community service and leadership opportunities. This includes volunteering with Black Men on the Hill and collaborating with Georgia Legal Services to address income gaps. In Spring 2024, Deon will begin pursuing a Master's in Public Administration at Georgia State University. His future goals include investigating the criminal justice system within the FBI in effort to creating a well-balanced justice system benefiting all Americans.

Turner Jones, a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, is a recent graduate from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Affairs. Turner came to understand the value of public service at a very young age. He became involved in politics following the 2015 massacre of nine black churchgoers by a white supremacist at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and decided then to dedicate his professional life to advancing progressive policies and equality for all Americans. Aside from politics, Turner is an accomplished classical singer who has performed throughout the Southeastern United States and internationally. Following his internship, Turner plans to continue working on Capitol Hill full-time.

---

“We mourn the loss this week of a mother and grandmother, cancer survivor, Supreme Court Justice and trailblazer for women, Mrs. Sandra Day O’Connor. 

Justice O’Connor was as much a pioneer in her jurisprudence, as she was for women in the American justice system. I always admired the courage and independence with which Justice O’Connor structured her opinions, reigning in a majority instead of timidly following in its footsteps, even if she didn’t always rule the way I wanted. Justice O’Connor proved to all of us that women don’t have to just agree with the men around them, particularly those in authority. We can stand up, we can have our own opinions, and we can chart our own course for America. On behalf of the people of North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District, I send my heartfelt condolences to Justice O’Connor’s three sons and six grandchildren. May she rest as well as she lived.” 

That’s where I’ll lay my hat for this week. Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Alma