Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Chair Kilmer Named Chair of Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
Today, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi named Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) Chairman of the new Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. After the announcement, Kilmer made the following statement: “It has been clear for a long time that the House is a fixer-upper. Every time bills are written behind closed doors or passed without debate, every time Americans feel like they don’t have a say and too little is getting done, people lose faith. Congress needs to do better,” … Continue Reading
January 03, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Chair Kilmer Statement on House Rule Changes
New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after he led a years-long push for rules changes that will modernize the House and make its processes more accessible and ultimately accountable to the American people. Following the House’s adoption of the new Rules package, Kilmer made the following statement: “I’ve long said the House was a fixer-upper. Today, the leaders of Congress changed the rules which will help more get done, and give the American … Continue Reading
December 22, 2018
New Democrat Coalition's 115th Congress in Review
Please review this message from New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes as we end the 115th Congress. Full text is below. MESSAGE FROM THE NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION CHAIR The 115th Congress has been unlike any other in recent political history. Over the past two years the Republican majority actively undermined America’s health care system, exploded the deficit, failed to fix our broken immigration system and failed to prepare America’s workforce for the changing nature of our … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair-Elect Announces Leadership for 116th Congress
Today, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) announced its expanded leadership team, including specific roles for Vice Chairs, for the 116th Congress. Collectively, the four Vice-Chairs will facilitate Coalition communications, policy work, member services, and outreach. This structure harnesses the unique talent each Member brings to the Coalition and will further the execution of the Coalition’s vision. Additionally, Chair-Elect Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced three Members to serve in … Continue Reading
December 10, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on Conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement after a conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer: “U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer and I had a constructive conversation Friday in which he expressed his interest in engaging closely with members of Congress and I agreed that such engagement would be essential to consideration of the revised NAFTA agreement, but also the ongoing challenges caused by tariffs and the President’s threat to … Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Inducts 30 Members-Elect and Elects New Leadership
This week, by a unanimous vote, the New Democrat Coalition was proud to induct 30 new Members-Elect to join the Coalition in the 116th Congress. These new Members-Elect bring an abundance of real-world experience and innovative ideas to the Coalition, and are dedicated to advancing the New Dem vision of keeping our economy competitive and our nation secure. “In our recent election voters overwhelmingly rejected the President’s divisive rhetoric by electing thoughtful, service-driven leaders … Continue Reading
November 15, 2018
New Dems on Banking Committee Issue Recommendations on CRA Modernization to OCC
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-05) together with fellow members of the New Democrat Coalition who serve on the Financial Services Committee submitted a comment letter urging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to avoid potential pitfalls and incorporate their principles for modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act’s (CRA) regulatory framework. The OCC has solicited feedback on modernizing CRA, originally enacted to address the lack … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members and Republican Colleagues Urge Trump to Prioritize Election Security
Members of the New Democrat Coalition and the Republican Tuesday Group, led by Reps. Kathleen Rice and Elise Stefanik, urged President Trump to immediately appoint an Election Security Coordinator within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) to oversee and organize election security efforts across the federal government. It is clear Russia executed a wide-spread disinformation campaign targeting the American public in order to sow discord, undermine the American public’s faith in the … Continue Reading
October 02, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Releases Portable Benefits Policy Proposals
The New Democrat Coalition’s Future of Work Task Force released the second report in the new economic opportunity agenda: A Future that Works. The report, Creating a 21st Century Social Contract, outlines policy recommendations to create a social contract that works for the future. The policy recommendations include updating the social contract by creating an option of portable benefits, modernizing the worker safety net, and expanding eligibility for these protections and programs. We need … Continue Reading
October 01, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Trade Leaders’ Statement on NAFTA Agreement
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04); New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05); and Ways & Means Committee Members Ron Kind (WI-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement on the announced agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement: “We look forward to learning more about the agreement reached between the United … Continue Reading
September 13, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Urges Rules Changes to Restore Our Democracy
Today, New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter urging the House Rules Committee to adopt rules that will promote more bipartisanship and consensus building. This letter, led by New Democrat Coalition Vice Chair for Policy Coordination Derek Kilmer, outlines principles to restore the democratic process to give constituents a voice in our Nation’s Capital again. Specifically, Members express support of rule changes that restore power to committees and individual members, encourage more … Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
House Passes New Democrat Coalition-Supported Bill To Strengthen Career And Technical Education
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which reauthorizes and amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. This vital piece of bipartisan legislation strengthens and improves career and technical education (CTE). The bill makes necessary federal investments in secondary and post-secondary career education, aims to improve alignment between educational organizations … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members Call on Congress to Protect American Workers
New Democrat Coalition Members Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced bills to offer assistance to American farmers, workers, and businesses as President Trump’s trade war continues to hurt our workers and our economy. These bills would be unnecessary if it were not for President Trump’s unilateral trade actions that are fueling a trade war that is disrupting markets, raising prices, and costing American jobs. While it would be better … Continue Reading
July 17, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018
Today, the House of Representatives passed the House amendment to S. 488, the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018. S. 488 would accomplish four main goals: facilitate access to capital for small businesses and start-ups; increase protections for consumers and investors; help counter drug and human trafficking; and promote financial stability. New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement on the bill: “Small businesses and start-ups, and the … Continue Reading
June 27, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on Immigration Bill Failure
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement on the 301-121 defeat of the Republicans’ latest immigration proposal in the House of Representatives: “Another day, another failed effort by House Leadership to jam through harmful immigration legislation. Today’s bill was sold as a compromise to the press and the American people, but involved no Democratic input and tried to enshrine into law discriminatory and unjust practices that run counter to the … Continue Reading
June 27, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Himes: Restore Budget Process, Fiscal Responsibility
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) testified before the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform to lay out suggestions on how to significantly reform the budget and appropriations process in the House of Representatives. “It’s no exaggeration to say that this chaotic, top-down process has helped push congressional approval ratings and trust in government itself to historic lows. I’ve been here long enough to know that almost no one in or around … Continue Reading
June 15, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members' Statement on Trump Administration’s Tariffs on China
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04); New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05); and Ways & Means Committee Members Ron Kind (WI-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement after reports that the Administration will move forward with $50 billion in tariffs on China: “There are many reasons for the United States to work with our allies to reign in many of the trade and … Continue Reading
June 15, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on the Sixth Anniversary of DACA
Today marks the sixth anniversary of the announcement of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by President Obama. The DACA program has allowed nearly 800,000 immigrants who arrived in the United States as young children to live openly and contribute to their communities and the economy without fear of deportation. DREAMers contribute to our communities and boost our economy, create jobs, and raise wages for U.S. citizens. New Democrat Coalition Chair Rep. Himes released the … Continue Reading
June 06, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Releases New Report on Housing Crisis
Preliminary Findings Report on America’s Housing Crisis Today, the New Democrat Coalition’s Housing Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Denny Heck, Stephanie Murphy, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas and NDC Chair Jim Himes released a preliminary findings report on America’s Housing Crisis: Missing Millions of Homes. The struggles shared with the Coalition by constituents, the frustration voiced by homebuilders, the concern expressed by city and county leaders, and the disappointing data presented by … Continue Reading
May 31, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members' Statement on Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
Today, New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-02) issued the following statement on President Trump’s actions to levy steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union, Canada, and Mexico: “The administration continues to unilaterally push forward with a protectionist trade policy that is not in America’s best interest. Once again, the president has moved forward with a policy impacting trade relations with some of our closest allies … Continue Reading