Weekly Wrap 03/13/2020
This week, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) continued its leadership on climate change with the endorsement of an additional slate of bills to combat climate change with the urgency this crisis demands. The NDC is committed to advancing solutions that leverage every decarbonization solution available to advance a swift and just transition to a more sustainable planet and economy. These endorsements build on NDC’s Priorities for U.S. Climate Policy and initial slate of bill endorsements released earlier this Congress.
The House is expected to pass “The Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” a critical bill to provide direct support to American families, workers, communities, and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill takes action to stem the spread of the coronavirus and bolster the economy through free coronavirus testing, increased Medicaid funding, paid emergency leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, and strengthened food security initiatives. The House is expected to soon begin work on a third emergency response package to further protect the health, economic security, and well-being of the American people.
More on what Members have been up to below.
Coalition Highlights
NDC Endorses Slate of Bills to Act on Climate
The NDC, led by NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters (CA-52), and NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer (VA-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Susan Wild (PA-07), endorsed an additional round of climate bills. The package of bills presents forward-looking, politically durable solutions that advance the NDC’s ambitious legislative agenda on climate change. Read the NDC’s full priorities document, one pager, and the list of New Dem-endorsed climate change bills from the 116th Congress. Read more from E&E News.
Member Highlights
Floor Action
The House passed bipartisan legislation from the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, chaired by NDC Chair Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06). The package will help make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent. The New Democrat Coalition championed the creation of this Select Committee and efforts to make Congress work better. NDC Chair Rep. Derek Kilmer and NDC Vice Chair Suzan DelBene both serve on the Committee. NDC Leadership Member Rep. Kathleen Rice’s (NY-04) measure to require cybersecurity training for all House Members was included within the package.
House Passes Trahan’s Legislation to Support Minor League Baseball
The House passed Rep. Lori Trahan’s (MA-03) legislation to affirm the important role that Minor League Baseball Teams play in the economic and cultural development of the United States.
Committee Action
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed Rep. Elaine Luria’s (VA-02) Veterans’ Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act and the Student Veterans Act. The Veteran’s Compensation COLA Act would put more money in the pockets of American veterans by increasing compensation rates for certain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Student Veterans Act would empower veteran students to choose the higher education option that is best for them.
Judiciary Committee Passes Schneider’s Domestic Terrorism Prevention Legislation
The Judiciary Committee passed Rep. Brad Schneider’s (IL-10) Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. The legislation enhances the federal government’s efforts to prevent, report on, respond to, and investigate acts of domestic terrorism by authorizing offices dedicated to combating this threat; requiring these offices to regularly assess this threat; and providing training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement in addressing it.
Natural Resources Committee Passes Harder’s Legislation to Conserve Water Resources
The Natural Resources Committee passed Rep. Josh Harder’s (CA-10) Securing Access for the Central Valley and Enhancing (SAVE) Water Resources Act. The legislation provides a wraparound approach to address water issues by supporting local water storage projects, spurring innovation, and making long-overdue investments in our aging water infrastructure.
Bill Introductions
McBath, Blunt Rochester, Lawson, Luria, and Sewell Lead Legislative Package to Address Black Maternal Health
Reps. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Al Lawson Jr. (FL-05), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and NDC Vice Chair Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) introduced a bipartisan legislative package comprised of nine bills to build on existing legislation in Congress to address America’s Black maternal health crisis.
Blunt Rochester Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Promote State-Driven Energy Efficiency
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) introduced the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act to encourage state-driven energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives geared toward reducing energy costs for low-income households.
Panetta Introduces Legislation to Protect Public Servants’ Ability to Contribute to Retirement Plans
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the bipartisan Public Service Retirement Fairness Act to ensure that people who have committed their careers to public service can contribute as much to their retirement plans as private-sector employees do. The legislation fixes the disparity between public-service and private-sector employee by allowing 403(b) plans to offer comparable investment opportunities similar to 401(k) plans.
COVID-19 Legislation
Kind, Trahan Introduce Legislation to Ensure Free Coronavirus Testing for Seniors
Reps. Ron Kind (WI-03) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) introduced legislation to make testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) free for seniors who receive coverage through Medicare Advantage.
Sewell Introduces Legislation to Provide Medicaid Coverage for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing
NDC Vice Chair Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) introduced legislation to provide Medicaid coverage for coronavirus diagnostic testing and the associated provider visit for everyone who needs a test, including those without insurance.
Peters, Engel, Schrader Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Drug Shortages in Wake of Coronavirus
NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters (CA-52), Rep. Eliot Engel (NY-16), and Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Drug Shortages Act to help address the critical issue of drug shortages that affect the quality of care patients receive across the country. The introduction of the bill comes days after the Food and Drug Administration announced the first U.S. drug shortage related to factory shutdowns and shipping problems in China, due to the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Rep. Donna Shalala (FL-27) Introduces Two Bills to Support Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic:
- The COVID-19 Worker Protection Act to protect health care workers caring for patients infected with the coronavirus by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard
- The Covering Coronavirus Test Act to require health insurers to cover the full cost of coronavirus tests for any Americans who have health insurance through their employer or purchased through the ACA exchange. Read more in the Miami Herald.
Member Happenings
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) led a bipartisan group of 29 lawmakers in calling for urgent action and clarity from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist small businesses being impacted by COVID-19 and related containment efforts. Read the full letter to the SBA.
NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) led a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Devon Westhill to improve USDA civil rights enforcement and protect the rights of USDA workers and program applicants to the full extent and letter of the law. Rep. Kuster was joined by NDC Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), David Scott (GA-13), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), TJ Cox (CA-21), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Angie Craig (MN-02), and Darren Soto (FL-09). Read the full letter here.
Craig Touts Support for Affordable Housing
Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) met with the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Authority, where she reiterated her support for affordable housing throughout her district: “Research has proved that affordable housing is a cornerstone to strong economies and thriving communities and if you don’t have a roof over your head, you cannot be focused on finding a job or contributing to your community.”
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