2 Years of Accomplishments in 2 Minutes | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Summary

In this reflection on their first term, the speaker highlights major legislative wins, including the Green New Deal, opioid addiction funding, and new housing initiatives. They discuss social reforms, such as raising wages for federal contractors and expanding safety programs for immigrants. A strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic is detailed, alongside efforts to hold big corporations accountable and protect vulnerable communities. The speaker also reflects on their re-election success and the collective effort that made these achievements possible. It's a call for continued support and action moving into the future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Successfully passed legislation to allocate $5 million to treat opioid addiction, funded by shifting resources from the DEA.
• 😀 Secured $10 million for the cleanup of toxic bombardment sites in Vieques, Puerto Rico, improving public health in the region.
• 😀 Repealed the Faircloth Amendment in the House, opening the door for new public housing projects in the U.S. after decades.
• 😀 Introduced the Green New Deal alongside Senator Ed Markey, with 115 co-sponsors in the House and Senate.
• 😀 Regional versions of the Green New Deal were adopted by 10 local governments, including New York City, Austin, and Los Angeles.
• 😀 Launched the Green New Deal for Public Housing, proposing up to $180 billion in investment and creating 250,000 jobs annually.
• 😀 Authored the Just Society bills to modernize the federal poverty standard, improve immigrant access to safety programs, and raise wages.
• 😀 Co-introduced the Loan Shark Prevention Act with Senator Sanders, aiming to cap credit card interest rates at 15%.
• 😀 Worked to protect taxi drivers from predatory lending practices, including securing a bailout for those targeted by deceptive loan schemes.
• 😀 Introduced the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Act to provide up to $10,000 in funeral expenses for families affected by the pandemic.

Q & A

What major legislative actions did the speaker accomplish during their first term?

The speaker passed several significant pieces of legislation, including $5 million for opioid addiction treatment, $10 million for toxic site cleanup in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and the repeal of the Faircloth Amendment, which facilitates the construction of public housing. Additionally, they introduced the Green New Deal and secured 115 co-sponsors in the House and Senate.

How did the speaker contribute to environmental policy during their term?

The speaker introduced the Green New Deal, a comprehensive policy aimed at addressing climate change and creating jobs. The plan was adopted regionally in various cities and states, and the speaker also unveiled the Green New Deal for Public Housing, which would invest up to $180 billion over 10 years and create 250,000 jobs per year.

What is the 'Just Society' suite of bills mentioned by the speaker?

The 'Just Society' suite of bills is a set of legislative proposals designed to modernize the federal poverty standard, expand social safety programs for immigrants, raise the federal minimum wage for contractors, strengthen tenant protections, and ease re-entry for formerly incarcerated individuals.

What were the speaker's efforts regarding predatory lending and financial fairness?

The speaker introduced the Loan Shark Prevention Act with Senator Bernie Sanders to cap credit card interest rates at 15%. They also called for a bailout for taxi cab drivers affected by predatory lending schemes and worked to address issues in New York City's taxi medallion lending practices.

How did the speaker address the impact of COVID-19 in their district?

The speaker organized a comprehensive COVID-19 response operation in their district, which included 200,000 community check-in calls, 80,000 meals for families, 100,000 masks for essential workers, and launching a Homework Helpers program with 11,000 tutors for remote learning.

What actions did the speaker take related to immigrant rights and detention centers?

The speaker worked to stop the deportation of whistleblowers from the Irwin County Detention Center and traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border to expose abuses against immigrant families in detention, including the inhumanity of child separation policies.

How did the speaker approach campaign finance and corporate influence?

The speaker successfully ran for re-election without taking any corporate or lobbyist money, despite facing over $10 million in corporate-backed attacks. They prioritized small-dollar donations and grassroots support, refusing contributions from fossil fuel executives and corporate interests.

What was the speaker's role in the 2020 presidential campaign?

The speaker co-chaired the Climate Unity Task Force with Secretary John Kerry to help shape President-elect Biden's $2 trillion climate policy. They also raised significant funds for progressive causes, including nearly $600,000 for grassroots organizations in Georgia and over $1.5 million for swing district Democrats.

What were some of the investigations the speaker led during their first term?

The speaker's investigations included pressuring Big Pharma to reduce the price of PrEP for HIV prevention, exposing defense contractor price gouging, investigating Facebook's political advertising practices, and getting former President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, to testify about tax fraud.

What was the outcome of the speaker's work in their district regarding federal services?

The speaker helped over 1,000 constituents in the Bronx and Queens with various federal services, including VA benefits, social security, and immigration visas. They also attended over 600 events and hosted 25 town halls to stay connected with their community.