October 26, 2021

NDC Leadership Urges Action on Top Build Back Better Priorities

Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Leadership Members sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer urging action on the Coalition’s top priorities in the Build Back Better Act and the need to send both the reconciliation and infrastructure bills to the President’s desk as soon as possible. 

As the majority makers and center of gravity in the House, New Dems are committed to swiftly advancing President Biden’s agenda and vision. In the letter, New Dems underscored that we cannot leave President Biden’s legacy—and the future of our country, economy, and planet — up to chance by depending on subsequent congresses to extend short-term cliffs. New Dems believe we must act quickly to deliver on our promises to the American people. The letter reads in part: 

“New Dem Members ran on growing the economy, creating jobs and opportunities, and supporting middle class families, and we will continue to advocate for our core priorities to be included in the final Build Back Better Act. We stand ready to deliver on our promises to our constituents by working with you and the President to reach a strong agreement and send both the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the President’s desk as quickly as possible.”

New Dems have been clear on the Coalition’s top priorities throughout the budget reconciliation process. The NDC is working to extend the enhanced Child Tax Credit to provide middle class families with a crucial tax cut, finish the job on the Affordable Care Act by extending the enhanced American Rescue Plan premium subsidies and closing the Medicaid coverage gap, address the existential threat of climate change by maximizing emissions reductions, and create jobs and opportunities everywhere by investing in long-term, comprehensive economic development. 

The full letter can be read here and below. 

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Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer,

As the White House and Congress work to advance President Biden’s Build Back Better economic agenda, the New Democrat Coalition remains committed to getting both the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act across the finish line. New Dems are the center of gravity in the House with 95 Members who represent over 40 percent of the House Democratic Caucus; our Members are critical to the success of our shared priorities to grow the economy, create jobs, tackle climate change, and lower costs and cut taxes for middle-class families. 

We appreciate your leadership and efforts as we work together to deliver immediate, impactful, and tangible results for the American people. The Coalition has long advocated for doing a few things well and for longer in the reconciliation bill to provide long-term certainty to families, workers, communities, and businesses. Doing so will also secure President Biden’s lasting legacy and ensure the priorities in the bill are fully and sustainably paid-for. We cannot gamble with the futures of our people, economy, and planet by depending on future congresses to extend short-term cliffs.

From the start of this Congress and as part of the Build Back Better Act, the New Democrat Coalition has been working to:

  • Give middle class families a tax cut by extending the enhanced Biden Child Tax Credit (CTC) and making it permanently fully refundable;
  • Finish the job on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and build toward universal access to affordable health coverage and care by extending the enhanced American Rescue Plan premium subsidies and closing the Medicaid coverage gap;
  • Go big on climate by leveraging every net-zero solution and technology available and maximizing emissions reductions with highly impactful policies like a Clean Energy Payment Program, carbon and methane fees, efficiency and clean energy and technology funding and tax incentives, among other policy options; and
  • Empower persistently distressed communities to create lasting jobs and opportunities by investing in long-term, comprehensive economic development.

New Dem Members ran on growing the economy, creating jobs and opportunities, and supporting middle class families, and we will continue to advocate for our core priorities to be included in the final Build Back Better Act. We stand ready to deliver on our promises to our constituents by working with you and the President to reach a strong agreement and send both the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the President’s desk as quickly as possible.

 

Sincerely, 

Reps. Suzan DelBene, Derek Kilmer, Ami Bera, Sharice Davids, Ann McLane Kuster, Scott Peters, Chrissy Houlahan, Kathy Manning, Stacey E. Plaskett, Bradley S. Schneider. 

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