Cori Bush in Action

My Record

Legislation Enacted Into Law

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.

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 “IRA”, which was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022. The IRA’s Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection 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 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 spearheaded by Congresswoman Bush for the National Academy of Sciences to study the health impacts of radioactive waste exposure from the Manhattan Project on veterans, with a focus on those in St. Louis. 

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

In March 2022, President Biden signed into law the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which strengthened efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence. Two provisions spearheaded by Congresswoman Bush were included in the law: (1) protected domestic violence survivors in transitional housing from evictions and (2) mandated DOJ reporting on sexual assault incidents involving law enforcement.

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 historic and devastating 2022 floods in St. Louis. 

Legislation Passed by 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 made child care an eligible service for 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:

  1. additional funding for the HUD voucher program for domestic violence survivors and the unhoused;
  2. increased funding for health services for the unhoused;
  3. funding for a GAO study on non-punitive behavioral health crisis response;
  4. increased funding for the Zero Emissions Bus program, and;
  5. 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 domestic violence coalitions 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

  1. expand global COVID-19 response efforts; 
  2. assess environmental impacts of fossil fuel pollution and plastic on sea life;
  3. facilitate credit transfers for students in STEM pathways to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
  4. codify the Biden Administration’s commitment to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030; 
  5. support solar component manufacturing, and; 
  6. 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: 

  1. a requirement for the Department of Defense to review all known cases of toxic exposure on military bases globally; 
  2. inclusion of race and ethnicity in a study on cancer rates among veterans, and;
  3. 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 radiological contamination at Coldwater Creek and post public signage to prevent exposure risks for residents. This amendment was introduced in collaboration with activists, community members, and 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, sponsored by Congresswoman Bush, which made technical amendments related to title 54 (National Park Service and Related Programs), enacted as a new positive law title in December 2014.