Congressman Steven Horsford Announces Las Vegas Vaccination Leader Reverend Kelcey West as Virtual Guest for President Biden's Joint Address to Congress

NORTH LAS VEGAS, NEV. — Congressman Steven Horsford is thrilled to announce that Reverend Kelcey West, M. Div. will join him as a virtual guest to President Biden's Joint Address to Congress on Wednesday, April 28.

Reverend West is the pastor of Nehemiah Ministries Christian Church in Las Vegas. As a community and faith leader, he has been a powerful voice in Clark County's "Back to Life" campaign, which seeks to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black Nevadans and emphasize the importance of the vaccine.

"As we work to crush the COVID-19 pandemic, faith leaders like Reverend West are playing a key role in our efforts to get vaccines in every arm," said Congressman Steven Horsford. "Reverend West has used his platform and his voice to build trust in the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in our hardest-hit communities. I am deeply grateful for his efforts, and proud to have him as my virtual guest for President Biden's first Joint Address to Congress."

The Joint Address, which is President Biden's first speech to a Joint Session of Congress, marks 100 days into the president's first term. In the past, Members of Congress have often invited constituents to join them as guests to such speeches. While COVID-19 safety protocols have limited this year's in-person attendance, Congressman Horsford said that inviting Reverend West is an important way to demonstrate the resilience and strength of Nevada's Fourth District.

Before the president's address to Congress, Congressman Horsford and Reverend West will hold a brief Facebook Live event at 5:30 PM PT to highlight President Biden's priorities for low-income communities and discuss how the First 100 Days of his term have affected people in Nevada's Fourth District. The event can be viewed on Congressman Horsford's Facebook page here.

BACKGROUND ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

100 days into Congressman Horsford's work with the Biden administration, the American Rescue Plan is delivering shots in arms, money in pockets, children in schools, and people in jobs.

SHOTS IN ARMS

• Nevada has delivered more than 1.8 million vaccine doses and counting, with 767,988 Nevadans fully vaccinated as of Monday, April 26, 2021.
  • More than 30 percent of Nevadans 16+ are now vaccinated against the virus.
• In March, Congressman Horsford announced that his office secured more than $2.7 million for Community Health Centers in Nevada's Fourth District to help them distribute vaccines and respond to the pandemic.

MONEY IN POCKETS

• The American Rescue Plan provides Economic Impact Payments to more than 1.8 million Nevada adults and 750,900 children. Most eligible families are receiving $1,400 per family member.
• Beginning in July, the American Rescue Plan will provide monthly payments of $250-$300 to families with children. 92% of families (177,100 children) in Nevada's Fourth District will be eligible to receive these payments.
• With Congressman Horsford's advocacy, the American Rescue Plan extended the $300/week unemployment benefit through September. Without the American Rescue Plan, these benefits would have expired in March, leaving thousands of families struggling across Nevada.

CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS

• The American Rescue Plan will invest more than $1.5 billion in Nevada to help schools safely return to full-time in-person instruction and make up for lost learning time.
• This funding includes $362 million for Nevada childcare providers and $3.5 million for Nevada Head Start programs to keep childcare facilities open and lower costs for working families.

PEOPLE IN JOBS

• The economy created nearly 1 million jobs in March. In Nevada and across the country, stronger economic growth and successful vaccination campaigns have contributed to a significant rise in hospitality and construction jobs.

Media Contact
Geneva Kropper | geneva.kropper@mail.house.gov | 202-849-0251