ICYMI TRANSCRIPT: New Dem Leaders Hold Press Conference on Policy Agenda Ahead of Government Funding Deadline
Yesterday, New Democrat Coalition leaders – including New Dem Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10), Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Immigration & Border Security Working Group Chair Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Secure Borders Task Force Chair Laura Gillen (NY-04), Global Competitiveness Task Force Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13) – led a press conference to lay out the details of the New Dem policy agenda and provide updates on the most recent policy initiatives released by the Coalition.
New Dem Members discussed the recently-unveiled Immigration & Border Security Framework and Housing Affordability Agenda, emphasizing that while Congressional Republicans ignore the needs of working families and barrel Congress toward the government funding deadline with no plan, no vision, and no willingness to work with our Democratic leadership, New Dems are laying out policy roadmaps with real solutions that tackle our nation’s biggest challenges.
You can read the full transcript of Member remarks at the press conference below:
CHAIR BRAD SCHNEIDER:
Thanks for joining us. I’m Brad Schneider, Chair of the New Democrat Coalition. Before I begin, I want to share that the New Dems are now a Coalition of 116 Members with the addition of James Walkinshaw, who won his election last evening in Virginia to replace the late Gerry Connolly, who was a former New Democrat, a wonderful Member, and a dear friend. I join with all my colleagues in asking Speaker Johnson to swear Mr. Walkinshaw into the Congress today. So we hope that happens.
As we convene today, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are forcing an agenda that hurts our hardworking American families. They are gutting healthcare for the sick and taking food away from the hungry.
Their agenda continues to increase the already sky-high cost of living, while cutting American jobs and spreading fear in our communities.
They’re barreling us toward a government funding deadline with no plan, no vision, and no willingness to work with our Democratic leadership to protect the health care and bank accounts of American families.
All the while, the President’s blatant corruption stuffs the pockets of his billionaire friends at the expense of working people.
In contrast, New Dems are cementing a proactive and alternative agenda to the chaos, cruelty, and corruption of the Administration. Through our Working Groups and Task Forces, we are putting forward actionable policies to enact real change.
Earlier this year, New Dems released our vision and policy priorities. We built this platform off of three main pillars - lowering costs, making our communities healthier and safer, and strengthening our national security and defense. These ideals have guided our work over the past several months, as our Working Groups and Task Forces have been putting their heads together to create actionable policy platforms that map the way forward.
Our New Dem Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski is here with us today, and she’ll detail the incredible work our Working Groups and Task Forces have done so far.
You’ll also hear from some of the fantastic New Dem leaders who are shepherding our most recently announced agendas on immigration & border security and housing affordability – including our Immigration and Border Security Working Group Chair Gabe Vasquez, Secure Borders Task Force Chair Laura Gillen, Global Competitiveness Task Force Chair Greg Stanton, and Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes.
With 116 members, we've got a lot of strength, a lot of ideas and a lot of people who are bringing us these ideas forward. So let me now turn it over to Nikki bazinski, who will share with us some of the work the new dems are doing. Thank you.
VICE CHAIR OF POLICY NIKKI BUDZINSKI:
Thank you, Brad – and thank you all for being here today.
Back in February, we gathered here to share our vision for the Democratic Party.
A big part of that vision was simple: listening. Getting out of Washington and into communities, hearing directly from people about the challenges they face. That’s why we launched New Dems on the Road.
Since then, we’ve held 9 events across the country – meeting with workers, businesses, community leaders, and families.
We’ve heard about immigration in Arizona, clean energy deployment in St. Louis, affordable childcare in Delaware, and so much more.
Make no mistake – the drastic actions of this Administration weighed heavily on these discussions. We heard firsthand accounts of folks who are uncertain how this Administration’s decisions will impact everything from their bottom line – to their basic rights. Those conversations informed our takeaways.
But while we must be united in standing up to this administration and calling out their blatant overreach and abandonment of working people.
We can’t just be against – we must be for something. And that’s where our policy frameworks come in.
So far, we’ve developed 5 policy frameworks and agendas building off of these discussions: on immigration and border security, taxes, energy, innovation, and affordable housing.
I will let some of my colleagues discuss housing and immigration, but I wanted to talk a bit about the other frameworks.
Unlike the tax package passed by Republicans – which is just a massive giveaway to billionaires on the backs of working people – our Tax Framework puts the middle class first.
It has three guiding principles: one, lowering costs for middle-class families and hardworking Americans; two, expanding economic opportunity and growing American jobs and businesses; and three, promoting fiscal responsibility and long-term economic security.
But this is more than just ideas – the framework includes a policy roadmap capable of amassing support on both sides of the aisle and outlines next steps for implementation.
Right now, energy prices are skyrocketing in my district. And it will only get worse as a result of the Big Ugly Bill.
Our Energy Framework is focused on bringing down costs through energy independence, security, and affordability. That means investing in clean energy, modernizing the electric grid, and streamlining permitting, all with bipartisan solutions in mind.
America has always led the way in innovation. As new technologies emerge, New Dems want to keep it that way.
That's why we released our Innovation Framework – a roadmap for how to promote American innovation & use these advancements to lower costs & improve lives. And we’re not done. We have a plan to complete more New Dems on the Road Events and from these events, unveil additional policy frameworks.
This will culminate in rolling out a comprehensive affordability agenda which will show the American people how Democrats will lower costs in the Majority. We’re ready - with a vision and a framework to deliver real progress for the American people.
Thank you.
IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP CHAIR GABE VASQUEZ (NM-02):
Good morning, buenos días, and thank you all for being here today.
As Chair of the New Dem Coalition’s Immigration & Border Security Working Group, I’m excited to be here with you all to unveil the New Dems Immigration Framework and answer any questions the press may have.
To put it bluntly, this Framework is the immigration plan the American people have been waiting for.
As someone from a border community, I’ve seen firsthand how both parties have mishandled immigration for far too long, and the American people have made it clear that they agree.
They know they want secure borders, but they also know they don’t like how Republicans have handled things by failing to enforce our laws fairly and humanely.
The American people deserve better, and we need new leaders in the Democratic Party who are willing to meet the American people where they are, listen to their concerns, and act accordingly — that is exactly what this group is doing with the launch of this New Dems Immigration Framework.
I’d specifically like to convey my thanks to Rep. Stanton, Rep. Gillen, and Rep. Carbajal for their longstanding work and vital input on this Framework.
As New Dems, we know it’s time for change on this issue, and we are doing something about it. Alongside the folks that stand here with me today, the Democratic Party is stepping forward with commonsense policies to secure our borders, boost local economies, and expand legal pathways in a humane, cost-effective way.
To get into the details a bit, some of the key new provisions in this plan include: supporting efforts to dismantle cartels and combat smuggling; providing resources for the removal of violent offenders; ensuring DHS is being held to adequate oversight standards and humane detention conditions; establishing legal pathways for critical workers in fields like health care and agriculture; boosting U.S. competitiveness in top emerging tech fields like quantum and AI by discouraging brain drain to places like China; modernizing immigration agencies and visa processing to bolster legal pathways; and ensuring workforce visa programs protect American workers and wages.
With this Framework — our Framework — Democrats will deliver for Americans and start winning on immigration.
We can maintain secure borders, grow our economy, and treat people humanely.
Here’s our vision for the road ahead: With 115 members, New Dems are the largest ideological group in the Democratic caucus, and moving forward, we plan to have meaningful conversations with not just Democrats across the ideological spectrum, but also Republicans, to set the agenda for productive immigration policy for years to come.
It will take bipartisanship and open mindedness to turn this plan into law, and I and my New Dem colleagues here today are ready to do whatever it takes — including having hard conversations and listening to those across the ideological spectrum — to deliver the results Americans are asking for on immigration. The stakes are too high not to.
Thank you for being here today, and I look forward to answering your questions later on in the program.
SECURE BORDERS TASK FORCE CHAIR LAURA GILLEN (NY-04):
Fixing our broken immigration system is one of the top concerns I hear about from Long Islanders.
I’m committed to working with anyone who’s serious about securing our border, keeping fentanyl out of our communities and finally fixing our outdated asylum system.
For too long, both parties in Washington have failed to solve this problem. The failure to secure our borders has jeopardized our homeland security and left taxpayers on Long Island and across the country holding the bill for the Congress’ ability to address the migrant crisis.
A change is long overdue. That’s why the New Democrat Coalition is putting forward a tough but fair framework to secure our border and reform America’s immigration laws.
As Secure Borders Chair, my focus is on advancing commonsense solutions that strengthen our borders, keep Americans safe and fix our broken immigration system.
Now more than ever, we need a balanced, practical approach — one that invests in physical barriers where appropriate, hires more Border Patrol Agents, deploys smarter technology to stop illegal crossings and expedites asylum and deportation proceedings so cases are resolved quickly and fairly.
Our NDC Framework would also keep Americans safe by increasing our domestic and international efforts to take on cartels and traffickers.
By increasing funding for groundbreaking screening technology, we can meet our goal of inspecting 100% of cargo entering our country and keep drugs and contraband out of our communities.
Americans expect us to ensure that violent criminals with no legal status are deported in accordance with our laws. The NDC Framework affirms that aim, providing DHS with sufficient resources and oversight for the removal of individuals convicted of violent crimes.
At the same time, we must stand up for immigrants who came here legally after thorough vetting to work hard, pay taxes and strengthen our communities, including TPS recipients from Haiti who call Long Island home.
That’s why our Secure Borders Working Group framework is a tough but fair long-term solution to address our broken immigration system and provides a pathway to legal status to immigrants who pass a background check and pay their fair share in back taxes and fines.
I’m proud to be part of the group fighting to tackle this issue head-on and I look forward to the continued work with Reps. Vasquez, Stanton and my New Democrat colleagues to fix our broken immigration system.
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS TASK FORCE CHAIR GREG STANTON (AZ-04):
Thank you, Congresswoman Gillen. I want to thank my colleagues, especially Chair Vasquez, for their leadership on this critical issue.
I love being a member of New Dems because our sole focus is to make government work for American families and businesses. I'm honored to speak today about our Immigration and Border Security Framework—a comprehensive approach that addresses both our security needs and our economic imperatives.
As the New Dems’ Global Competitiveness Chair, this framework is a blueprint for preserving America's economic dominance in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Let me be clear about what's at stake. Our current immigration system is broken and outdated.
Immigration fueled the scientific breakthroughs that defined the 20th century—from building Silicon Valley to putting Americans on the moon.
But today, while Congress sits in gridlock, our competitors act. They're rolling out red carpets for the researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the technologies of the future . . . the same people that our broken system is pushing away. A slow, restrictive and outdated visa system isn’t matching.
It’s not just pioneers in industries of the future like artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. Worker shortages across sectors—from agriculture to healthcare—are creating supply chain bottlenecks and driving up costs for essential goods and services.
Meanwhile, we're turning away international graduates from our own universities, people we've already invested in educating, who want to stay and contribute to American innovation.
New Dems’ framework addresses these challenges head-on. It proposes allocating 100,000 additional green cards annually for international graduates of U.S. colleges and universities. Think about that—students who we've trained in American institutions, who understand American values, who want to build their careers and companies here. We should be making it easier for them to stay, not forcing them to take their talents elsewhere.
The framework also recognizes that America's competitive advantage depends on matching immigration policy to economic reality. It creates new visa categories for industries facing critical shortages—nurses, teachers, construction workers, and caregivers. It establishes a startup visa program to attract global entrepreneurs who want to build their companies on American soil.
Most importantly, it incentivizes research in the very fields where America must lead: quantum computing and artificial intelligence. These aren't just emerging technologies—they're the foundations of national security and economic power for the next century.
We face a choice: Continue with a 20th-century system while our competitive advantages erode, or embrace reforms that position America to win the global talent competition.
The New Dems framework recognizes that immigration isn't just about who we let in. It's about whether America remains the destination of choice for the world's most ambitious and innovative people.
Thank you. Now I’d like to introduce Congresswoman Sykes.
HOUSING TASK FORCE CHAIR EMILIA SYKES (OH-13):
My name is Emilia Sykes. I proudly represent Ohio's 13th congressional district in Northeast Ohio, and I also serve as the Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Housing Task Force. I am proud to be here today to discuss and announce our Housing Affordability Agenda.
Home is where the heart is. But for too many people, they don't have a home, or one that they can afford or feel safe in. It is the one thing that I hear from constituents. Everything costs too much: housing, healthcare, gas, groceries. It's too expensive, and with the cost of living already being too high, so many families in Ohio and across the country are struggling to afford high quality, safe, and affordable housing – and losing hope in their ability to achieve the American dream.
So much of the American dream is about buying or building a home that allows people to take roots in a community and contribute to its development. Congress can, and Congress must, take concrete steps to build more homes to make it easier for working families to live and thrive in their communities.
For example, I'm going to talk about Ohio a little bit – the heart of it all. We have a shortage of more than 264,000 affordable rental units. Additionally, the median price-to-income ratio remains high, putting home ownership far out of reach for many. Housing production is also still below pre-recession levels in both Akron and the Canton areas in my district, and have been identified as having a housing shortage. Together, these areas are estimated to be missing 4,142 permits to build single family homes.
But this isn't just an Ohio story or an Ohio's 13th district story. All over the country, families are struggling to find and keep a roof over their head. That is why I am so proud to work with my New Dem colleagues in the work that we are doing to innovate and offer legislation to address this critical, basic need and problem.
My colleagues and I have put forth proposals that increase the supply of housing, address red tape associated with zoning and permitting, and lower the price of materials impacted by tariffs and supply chain barriers. The Housing Affordability Agenda builds on the Coalition's work over the past several years to tackle the ongoing housing crisis, including the 2024 Housing Action Plan, the 2023 Economic Opportunity Agenda and the 2022 Action Plan to Fight Inflation.
I share that because my colleagues have said before, and Democrats are often asked, “What are you going to do?” Well, we have offered lots of things to do, and so that's why it's nice to see such a full house today. It is so nice to be able to share this and have you share this out as well, so people understand how we are truly working on behalf of the American people.
The 14 bills that we have introduced fall under three main principles: build more homes and get them on the market fast, make it easier to buy or rent a home, and finally, to improve housing data and transparency so we can surge resources where they are needed. Affordability, accessibility, efficiency. It's just that simple.
To continue moving this agenda forward, we're engaging our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to have these important conversations about what is needed to make housing more affordable in communities across this country – because housing continues to be the largest part of families’ budgets.
This is where we will see a lot of work, in making it much easier for people to have a little bit of breathing room. I'm hosting one of the conversations that Congresswoman Budzinski talked about to talk about housing in my district later this fall, you are all welcome to come. We hope to see you in the beautiful birthplace of champions, and I'm looking forward to showing off our community and some of the work that we are doing, and uplifting some of the issues that we are addressing and discussing in our bills and how they will actually impact our communities.
As I said, Ohio's challenges are not unique. So no matter what part of the country we represent, my colleagues and I all know that making housing affordable is essential to lowering costs for American families – and the foundation of the American dream. And so I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass these common sense bills that will help lower costs and ensure that the American dream of homeownership continues to be possible for generations to come.
Previous Article