ICYMI: NDC Chair DelBene, NDC Rep. Strickland Join NewDEAL Leaders to Discuss COVID-19 Relief for Communities

New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and NDC Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) joined New DEAL Leaders Mayor Cassie Franklin (Everett, WA), Senator Marko Liias (Majority Floor Leader, D-Lynnwood), and NewDEAL Communications and Policy Director, Jonathon Dworkin, to discuss the NDC’s role in advancing critical state, local, and tribal funding in the American Rescue Plan to support the local and national response to COVID-19.

NDC Chair DelBene addressed the urgent need to pass additional state and local funding in the American Rescue Plan:

“My district, where we had the first-known cases and deaths of COVID-19, has been combatting this virus for over a year now. Communities in my district and nationwide need more support, and that is our top priority. The House passed the American Rescue Plan last weekend, which is comprehensive legislation to help end the COVID-19 pandemic, provide economic relief to workers and families, safely reopen our schools, and get Americans back to work safely. With a pandemic still raging and weak economic data, this bill meets the moment of this crisis to support our workers, families, small businesses, and the public health response. Included in this package is a one-year expansion of the Child Tax Credit to provide families with regular payments and make the credit fully refundable, which allows lower-income families access to the full benefit. This provision is modeled after the American Family Act, a bill I introduced along with Reps. DeLauro and Torres, which would permanently expand the credit and lift an estimated four million children out of poverty.”

NDC Chair DelBene highlighted the NDC’s role in shaping the American Rescue Plan:

“New Dems helped shape the American Rescue Plan, including with New Dem-endorsed provisions, like a national recovery strategy, including funding for testing and vaccine manufacturing and distribution, and the longest extension of emergency unemployment insurance benefits in any COVID-19 package yet. We know more must be done. As this package is considered in the Senate, New Dems are pushing for the extension of emergency UI benefits through the end of the fiscal year, automatic stabilizers and other solutions to create equitable growth in distressed communities, and spur new centers of innovation across the nation. House passage of the American Rescue Plan advances the First Pillar in the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda: End the pandemic and get people back to work.”

NDC Rep. Strickland discussed the NDC’s work to support state and local communities:

“From city hall as a NewDEAL Leader to the halls of Congress as a New Democrat, it is my honor to be here today… On the 9^th of February, I was proud to sponsor a letter – I had about 50 of my colleagues sign on with me – and this was really imploring that we make sure that we maintain the $350 billion in the American Rescue Plan to ensure that local government, tribal governments, and counties are going to get access to these funds. As someone who came from local government, I fully understand that a population threshold of 50,000 isn’t going to cut it and is going to exclude a lot of communities. I’m glad to see that the provision includes for places for populations of 50,000 or more, and 50,000 or smaller, because this has to be an inclusive recovery.”

“I also want to emphasize that a lot of thought and care went into this package. It’s big, it’s comprehensive, but when your house is on fire, you have to use every resource you can to put the fire out. I am so honored to work with leaders like Suzan DelBene to work on this package. And I tell folks what’s so cool about being a New Democrat is that this is the shop where policy actually happens in Congress, this is the shop where we write things, and they are more likely to pass and become laws.”

In addition to the funding for state, local, and tribal governments, the NDC helped shape the American Rescue Plan with several NDC-endorsed provisions. The NDC has been actively engaged with the Biden-Harris administration, House Leadership, and the committees of jurisdiction to advance the NDC’s economic stimulus priorities and First 100 Day Agenda. House passage of the American Rescue Plan advances the first pillar in the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda: End the pandemic and get people back to work. 

Watch the full event here. 

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