Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on Trump Administration Ending Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement after the White House Press Secretary issued a statement indicating that the Trump Administration will end cost-sharing reduction payments. The "cost-sharing reduction payments" are intended to reduce out-of-pocket costs for low-income Americans. “President Trump’s decision to end the payments that are vital to the functioning of the ACA marketplaces is a malicious act of destruction. It takes every virtue … Continue Reading
October 13, 2017
New Dem Health Care Leaders Slam Trump’s Ending of Cost Lowering Payments
Reps. Kurt Schrader (OR-5), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) and Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), co-chairs of the New Democrat Coalition Task Force on Affordable and Accessible Healthcare Task Force, and New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) slammed the President today for ending cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments to the individual health insurance exchange. In July, the co-chairs led a group of 10 House Democrats from across the political spectrum in a five-part plan, titled Solutions Over … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Releases Infrastructure Principles
The New Democrat Coalition released a set of principles to increase long-term federal investments in infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure projects are consistently evaluated as the best return on government investments, and with all the devastation that many of our cities and towns have faced in recent weeks, infrastructure investment is more important now than ever. With too many roads and bridges crumbling around the country, transit systems in need of significant repair, and a … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
New Democrat Coalition to GOP: Work Across the Aisle on Bipartisan Tax Reform Plan
House Republicans released their one-sided, regressive tax proposal without bringing any Congressional Democrats to the negotiating table. In response, the New Democrat Coalition released the following statement: “Our country is in dire need of a modern tax code that supports middle-class families, fosters business development, is globally competitive, encourages innovation and creates opportunities for Americans to prosper in a 21st century economy. The last time our tax code was … Continue Reading
September 22, 2017
New Dems Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging President to Honor Korea-U.S. Trade Agreement
New Dem Chair Emeritus Kind, New Dem Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Larsen & Meeks, and other New Democrat Coalition Members led an influential bipartisan coalition in calling on President Trump to continue honoring the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). In recent weeks it has been reported that the Trump Administration is considering withdrawing from the agreement. A withdrawal from the agreement would cause American businesses, farmers and workers to face high barriers to selling their … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Sends Letter to Senators Alexander and Murray
While the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee wrapped up their fourth and last hearing on stabilizing premiums in the individual insurance market, New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter to Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) calling for a path forward on legislative solutions to reduce health care costs. The Committee heard from state insurance commissioners, health care experts, and a bipartisan group of … Continue Reading
September 08, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on Government Funding and Harvey Aid Package
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement after voting to raise the debt ceiling, avoid a government shutdown, and provide Hurricane Harvey relief: “The full faith and credit of the United States should never be used as a bargaining chip - the consequences of failing to raise the debt limit are far too dire. Today, in a glimmer of hope for bipartisanship, I joined my colleagues to increase the debt limit and avoid a government shutdown. “Most … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Himes Condemns Trump Ending DACA
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) condemned the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 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. They are brave … Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Calls for Pragmatic, Consensus Path Forward
This week, the “skinny repeal” plan failed in the Senate 49-51. In the wake of this partisanship, the New Democrat Coalition Members continue to call for a pragmatic, consensus-driven path forward to stabilize and improve the individual health insurance market while protecting the Affordable Care Act. “Last night, we saw three Republican Senators put country above party. For many Americans, including me, the sense of relief was palpable. For a moment at least, a glimmer of hope has … Continue Reading
July 25, 2017
52 New Dems Sign On to Letter Calling on Speaker Ryan to Stabilize the Individual Market
Today, 52 New Democrat Coalition Members signed on to a letter calling on Speaker Paul Ryan to lead in a bipartisan manner to stabilize and improve the individual health insurance market while protecting the Affordable Care Act. This follows the set of proposals, endorsed by the New Democrat Coalition, targeted at stabilizing health insurance markets and bringing down the cost of healthcare for all Americans. “We strongly support the Affordable Care Act [which helps millions of families … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Sends Letter in Support of Apprenticeships to President Trump
This week, 48 Members of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to President Trump calling for a robust commitment to apprenticeship programs. The letter, led by Reps. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), and Donald Norcross (NJ-01), outlines the importance of apprenticeships and urges the administration to maintain strong levels of funding for apprenticeship initiatives across the country. "Growing our economy and providing Americans with the skills they … Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Healthcare Task Force Leads Release of Market Stabilization
Today, a group of 10 House Democrats, led by the New Democrat Coalition Affordable and Accessible Healthcare Task Force, released a set of proposals targeted at stabilizing health insurance markets and bringing down the cost of healthcare for all Americans. The document outlines proposals for creating a permanent reinsurance program, reducing healthcare costs for low-income Americans, promoting greater insurance coverage, creating a greater number of affordable insurance options, and … Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Members Tour National Institute of Health
Today, New Dem Members Reps. Scott Peters, Kathleen Rice, Susan Davis, and Don Beyer met with National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins, doctors, researchers, and patients and toured several research labs including National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). New Dems discussed the importance of making robust investments in scientific … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Himes Statement on the CHOICE Act
Today the House passed the Financial CHOICE Act, a bill that will dismantle the most important aspects of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Dodd-Frank is a pro-growth, pro-market oriented policy that has improved accountability in the financial system and protected consumers, investors, and the economy from abusive practices. If the CHOICE Act becomes law, financial institutions will once again be able to undertake risky practices and could trigger another … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on President Trump’s 's Decision to Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement: "Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement is a terrible decision that leads us down a path to rising sea levels and destructive weather that will wreak havoc on our planet. Drought, climate refugees and competition over dwindling resources will destabilize global security. Without a coordinated global effort to combat climate change, the … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Vice-Chair Leads Bicameral Portable Benefits Pilot Legislation
Yesterday New Democrat Coalition Vice-Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced bicameral legislation with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) to test and evaluate innovative portable benefit designs for the growing independent workforce. New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) and New Democrat Coalition Future of Work Task Force Co-Chairs Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Jared Polis (CO-02) also signed onto the legislation. Earlier this week, the Future of Work Task Force held a forum to discuss the … Continue Reading
May 23, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on Trump’s Budget
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on President Trump’s proposed budget: “A budget proposal should be a visionary document, nothing like the extremist hit list we received today which serves no purpose other than to further divide us. President Trump’s budget shows that he and his administration are not taking the tremendous responsibility of governing seriously. It spends billions more dollars on defense while ransacking America’s … Continue Reading
May 19, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair and Trade Taskforce Co-Chairs Statement on NAFTA Renegotiation Letter
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) and New Dem Trade Taskforce Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory Meeks (NY-05) issued the following statement in response to the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) notification to Congress on its intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): “We look forward to working with USTR on updating NAFTA. New Democrats support a strong rules-based trade system and see the value global engagement brings to the … Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Members Propose Bipartisan Infrastructure and Tax Reform Package
Today, 46 New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter to President Trump on the opportunity to move a big infrastructure package tied with tax reform. For too long, Congress has relied on irresponsible, stop-gap measures that hinder economic growth and make it more difficult to revitalize our outdated infrastructure and Byzantine tax code. New Dems are willing to work with anyone to revitalize our nation’s infrastructure and provide the necessary foundation for robust growth and new jobs. … Continue Reading
May 05, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Speaks Out Against the GOP Health Care Bill
The New Democrat Coalition Members, including several Members on the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees, spoke out against the health care bill House Republicans passed that is dead on arrival in the Senate. Reps. Suzan DelBene, Ron Kind, and Terri Sewell sit on the Ways and Means Committee and Reps. Tony Cardenas, Eliot Engel, Scott Peters, and Kurt Schrader sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee. “Today, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President … Continue Reading