August 24, 2021

New Democrat Coalition Advances Budget Resolution and Charts Path Forward to Build Back Better

Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2022 budget resolution, an important step towards advancing President Biden and the NDC’s priorities to build back better.

“We have a once in a generation opportunity to deliver for American families with legislation that builds back better from the COVID-19 crisis with long-term, robust, well-executed investments in our most critical, urgent, and transformative priorities,” said NDC Chair Suzan DelBene. “As Congress continues its work, the New Dems will continue to push for legislation to support our families, keep the U.S. competitive, create quality jobs and opportunities for everyone, tackle climate change, and build on the Affordable Care Act towards universal affordable coverage.”

Last week, Chair DelBene urged for swift passage of the budget resolution to clear the way for the House to start the budget reconciliation process and pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Moving forward, the NDC will continue to work with our Members and relevant committees to make sure the reconciliation bill advances under regular order in both name and spirit.

New Dems are focused on advancing legislation that prioritizes doing a few things well for longer, over many things for short periods with near-term cliffs or significant delays, in order to maximize investments in the future, support our communities, and provide certainty for families, workers, and community businesses. We believe the reconciliation bill must: 

  1. Invest in the future of American children and families by making permanent or extending for as long as possible the enhanced and expanded child tax credit (CTC), at least through 2025.
  2. Create lasting jobs, opportunities, and widely-shared economic growth everywhere with flexible, robust 10-year comprehensive economic development grants and technical assistance to persistently distressed communities.
  3. Go big on climate and maximize emissions reductions by leveraging every decarbonization tool available and prioritizing policies with the greatest and most immediate results.
  4. Lower health care costs and build on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) towards universal access to affordable coverage and care by making the American Rescue Plan premium subsidies permanent and prioritizing uninsured and underserved communities. 

The NDC has been actively engaged with the Biden-Harris administration, House Leadership, and the committees of jurisdiction to advance these and other priorities since the beginning of the year. The Coalition is continuing to work to end the pandemic, create jobs, modernize our infrastructure, combat climate change, protect and expand Americans’ health care, and build a fair and inclusive immigration system, expanding on the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda. Passage of the FY22 budget resolution also builds on the Coalition’s work to provide critical relief and build back better as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan earlier this year.

 

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