New Dems Unveil Working Groups, Policy Platform for 119th Congress
The New Democrat Coalition on Wednesday unveiled its vision and policy platform for the 119th Congress, and how its nine distinct working groups will advance that agenda.
“In the 2024 election, when the tide went out for Democrats nationally, New Dems were able to swim against the tide adding 25 new members,” New Dem Chair Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said during a morning press conference at the Capitol.
“We actually cut into Republicans’ already historically narrow majority, not because we engaged in partisan politics but because we listened to the needs of the American people,” he said.
“New Dems now stand at 110 Members strong — and we’re still growing. Put simply, the New Dems are at the center of the Democratic Party’s future, and will be at the center of moving our nation forward,” Schneider continued.
“Though America is a deeply divided nation, the majority of our country remains in the political center, not the extremes. Hardworking families don’t care if we work with Republicans or Democrats to get things done — they just want us to deliver results,” he said.
Schneider went on to assail the Trump administration and House Republicans who, he said, “seem intent on creating chaos, confusion and crises instead of actually improving the lives of hardworking Americans.”
“Just look at last night,” he said, referring to Tuesday night’s vote in the House on a budget resolution meant, first and foremost, to advance the administration’s goals.
“Two hundred and seventeen Republicans stood together to announce their agenda of cutting the Medicaid that more than 70 million Americans depend on, cutting the benefits that veterans need, deserve and have earned by serving our nation and laying their lives on the line for us, cutting support for students — which is actually cutting the future of our country — and cutting support for seniors,” Schneider said.
“Democrats were united last night in rejecting this. And the New Dems are offering an alternative,” he added.
Wednesday’s announcement is the result of a survey the coalition has been conducting among its members since the start of the new Congress in January.
The questions posed focused squarely on identifying the issues the members were hearing the most about back home.
The coalition’s nine working groups will now try to address those issues by turning their individual attention to a core sector of American life, and issues ranging from high prices and unaffordable housing to health care, border security and immigration reform.
Within the scope of each working group, targeted task forces will address key topics to gain deeper understanding of the issues and develop actionable, commonsense policy recommendations and legislative frameworks.
New Dem Working Groups & Task Forces
Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group
Chair Chrissy Houlahan, of Pennsylvania
This group is focused on tackling key fiscal issues including tax reform, the federal budget, trade and tariffs while also developing plans to lower inflation and costs, create jobs, strengthen manufacturing and ensure every American has the opportunity to succeed.
Initial Task Forces
Taxes — Chair Steven Horsford, of Nevada
Care Economy — Chair Sarah McBride, of Delaware
Trade and Tariffs — Chair Don Beyer, of Virginia
Manufacturing — Chair Frank Mrvan, of Indiana
The Immigration & Border Security Working Group
Chair Greg Stanton, of Arizona
This group is dedicated to humanely restoring order to the southern border, addressing our broken immigration system, expanding legal pathways, reducing the flow of illicit fentanyl and facilitating legal immigration to bolster the American workforce and economy.
Initial Task Forces
Secure Borders — Chair Laura Gillen, of New York
Legal Pathways — Chair Lou Correa, of California
Agricultural Workforce — Chair Salud Carbajal, of California
The Housing, Infrastructure & Transportation Working Group
Chair Norma Torres, of California
This group will advance policies related to each of these sectors, including addressing the housing access and affordability crisis, and improving and modernizing infrastructure, transit and transportation.
Initial Task Forces
Transportation — Chair Shomari Figures, of Alabama
Housing — Chair Emilia Sykes, of Ohio
The Workforce & Education Working Group
Chair Gabe Vasquez, of New Mexico
This group is committed to supporting our nation’s students and workforce by investing in early education and child care, K-12 education and apprenticeships while working to lower the cost of higher education.
Initial Task Forces
Apprenticeship & Training — Chair Val Hoyle, of Oregon
Education — Chair Johnny Olszewski, of Maryland
The Health Care Working Group
Chair Terri Sewell, of Alabama
This group will work to expand access to affordable, high-quality health care, help ensure access to reproductive health care, tackle substance use disorder and mental health crises, promote innovation in health care delivery, and improve physical and mental health outcomes for all Americans.
Initial Task Forces
Mental Health — Chair Shontel Brown, of Ohio
Substance Use Disorder — Chair Madeleine Dean, of Pennsylvania
Access & Affordability — Chair Julie Johnson, of Texas
Reproductive Health — Chair Kelly Morrison, of Minnesota
The Rural Revitalization Working Group
Chair Kim Schrier, of Washington
This group will advance policy solutions to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities, from shaping the Farm Bill and the rural economy, to tackling climate-smart agriculture, rural broadband, telehealth, workforce shortages, postal issues, farming and commodities, and more.
Initial Task Forces
Farm Bill — Chair Jim Costa, of California
Rural Broadband — Chair April McClain Delaney, of Maryland
Rural Economy — Chair Josh Riley, of New York
The Environment, Climate & Clean Energy Working Group
Chair Scott Peters, of California
This group is focused on building a 21st century clean energy economy, particularly by enacting permitting reform, tackling climate change, creating more resilient infrastructure, and protecting the critical investments of the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Initial Task Forces
Clean Energy Deployment — Chair Deborah Ross, of North Carolina
Climate Resiliency — Chair Julia Brownley, of California
The Innovation & Technology Working Group
Chair Sam Liccardo, of California
This group will explore policies to foster American leadership in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital assets, in order to support a dynamic and inclusive digital economy that respects intellectual property and ensures the responsible development and deployment of innovation.
Initial Task Forces
Artificial Intelligence — Chair Valerie Foushee, of North Carolina
Digital Assets — Chair Brittany Pettersen, of Colorado
The National Security Working Group
Chair Gil Cisneros, of California
This group will focus on modernizing U.S. defense, diplomatic and development capabilities to ensure we protect American citizens at home and abroad, while also supporting veterans, addressing cyberthreats, engaging in counterterrorism and nonproliferation efforts, and maintaining America’s status as a leader of the free world.
Initial Task Forces
Veterans — Chair Herb Conaway, of New Jersey
Defense — Chair Ed Case, of Hawaii
Diplomacy — Chair Eugene Vindman, of Virginia
“Our nation is at a critical crossroads,” Schneider said. “Democrats must show Americans that we are the party of bold ideas, based on clear-eyed assessments of our country’s challenges and our opportunities.
“Our members will work with anyone to achieve this vision, and stand up to anyone who threatens to diminish its promise to the American people of a government that works for them,” the coalition chairman said.
By: Dan McCue
Source: The Well News
Previous Article