May 12, 2022

New Dem Chair DelBene and Vice Chair Peters Call for Swift Negotiations to Pass Legislation to Tackle Inflation

Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Vice Chair for Policy Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statements at the conclusion of the first meeting of the Bipartisan Innovation Act conference committee. The lawmakers highlighted the importance of a swift conference process in order to enact this legislation and tackle long-term inflation:  

NDC Chair Suzan DelBene: 

“Americans are concerned about rising prices and our Coalition is committed to delivering solutions.  Since last year, New Dems have led the charge to pass a Bipartisan Innovation Act that strengthens U.S. supply chains, creates jobs, invests in scientific research, and ensures America leads the global 21st century innovation economy. I’m proud to serve on the conference committee along with 18 other New Dems, and our Members are ready to swiftly negotiate a strong final bill that will ease long-term inflationary pressures, bring down prices, strengthen U.S. innovation and global competitiveness, and set Americans up for success.  

“The conference committee had a productive first meeting today, and I look forward to actively engaging with Members on both sides of the aisle and the Capitol to achieve these important goals. We must finalize and pass this legislation quickly. Our national security and the economic security of our families depend on it.”  

 NDC Vice Chair for Policy Scott Peters: 

“Global inflation and rising prices have hit Americans hard. That’s why New Dems formed a first of its kind Inflation Working Group to develop and advance policy solutions that lower costs for American families, strengthen supply chains, and fight inflationary pressures over the short- and long-term. Over the past several months, our members have worked with economists and policy experts to find innovative ideas and solutions to tackle inflation.

“Decades of underinvestment in our infrastructure led to weak supply chains that buckled under the weight of the global pandemic. That’s why New Dems fought so hard to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in our ports and transportation systems. This law will get goods to market faster and ease long-term inflation. 

“But there is more we need to do. As key members of the conference committee, New Dems will work to swiftly negotiate a strong Bipartisan Innovation Act to take further action to secure our supply chains, bring down inflation, and invest in our economy.”  

The Inflation Working Group has held meetings and briefings with the following experts and economists to identify policy solutions to lower costs for Americans and ease long-term inflation:

  • Jason Furman, Professor of Economic Policy at Harvard Kennedy School 
  • Wendy Edelberg, Former Chief Economist at the Congressional Budget Office, Director of the Hamilton Project and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution 
  • Zach Moller, Director of Third Way’s Economic Program 
  • Ben Ritz, Director of PPI’s Center for Funding America’s Future 
  • Larry Summers, Former Secretary of the Treasury, Former Director of the National Economic Council and President Emeritus of Harvard University


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