Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Chair Kilmer Welcome Address for 116th Congress
New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) delivers a welcome address for the 116th Congress. "Now at more than 100 members strong, we are pushing to look at old problems through a new lens for our party and our country. One that says we've got to focus like a laser on growing the pie and growing jobs in urban, suburban, and rural America." - New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer on Chairing the Coalition in the 116th Congress Video of the address can be viewed on Facebook and … Continue Reading
February 08, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on the Passing of Congressman John D. Dingell Jr.
New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer released the following statement after the passing of the longest serving Member of Congress, Representative John D. Dingell Jr. of Michigan: "It was a great honor to serve with Chairman John Dingell. His legacy lives on through his leadership on policies to improve access to health care, protect our seniors, safeguard our environment, and ensure economic opportunity for all Americans. His tireless commitment to service paved the way for historic … Continue Reading
February 06, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Chair State of the Union Response
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement following President Trump’s State of the Union Address: “In his address, the President expressed a desire for unity. This is welcome news and requires a willingness to back away from the administration’s most divisive and destructive policies. For the last two years, we have seen too little interest in the details of governing, and far too much distraction from the essential work to address American … Continue Reading
February 01, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Announces Policy Task Forces
The New Democrat Coalition announced eight policy task forces in the 116th Congress. The task forces will be led by freshman Members, Committee Members, and New Dem issue area experts in order to develop policies to help Americans get ahead in a changing economy and make America more secure. The new and expanded task forces are charged with meeting with stakeholders and developing policy positions for the Coalition to advance in both the near term and long term. The task forces will target … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on Deal to End Longest Federal Government Shutdown in History
The President and Congressional leaders announced they would pass a bill to re-open the federal government for three weeks, ending the longest federal government shutdown in history. On the eve of the shutdown, President Trump met with House and Senate leaders in the White House and said: "If we don't get what we want…I am proud to shut down the government…". The shutdown, now on its 35th day, is the longest federal government shutdown in American history. It has caused 800,000 … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Inducts 9 Additional Members
This week, by a unanimous vote, the New Democrat Coalition was proud to add 9 new Members to join the Coalition in the 116th Congress. These new Members 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. There are now 40 Freshman Members in the Coalition. With today's addition, the New Democrat Coalition is the largest ideological caucus in the … Continue Reading
January 10, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Expands Leadership Team
Today, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) announced its expanded leadership team for the 116th Congress with the election of Rep. Chrissy Houlahan as Freshman Leadership Representative and the appointment of Rep. Mikie Sherrill as Freshman Whip. To give the 31 newly inducted NDC members a voice in our Coalition’s direction, Chair Kilmer created a leadership representative position and an assistant whip position reserved for the incoming freshmen. “The New Democrat Coalition has an … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Chair Kilmer Statement on H.R. 1
New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after the introduction of H.R. 1, a sweeping campaign finance and election reform bill that seeks to restore the voice of the American people in their democracy by making it easier to vote, ending the dominance of big money in the political process and ensuring public officials work for the public interest: “The American people called for an end to the chaos in Washington, so as one of our first orders of … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Chair Kilmer Statement on House Funding Bills
New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after House Democrats voted to end the shutdown and reopen the government: “It is time for an end to this government shutdown. Shutting down the government is bad for taxpayers, for the economy and for federal workers. “Federal workers aren’t Democrats or Republicans when they’re at work. Federal employees should not be treated as pawns in political negotiations. Federal employees should not be worried … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
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