Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Members Urge OPM to Improve Cybersecurity Hiring Process
This week Co-Chairs of the New Democrat Coalition Cybersecurity Task Force sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) inquiring about the federal cybersecurity hiring and training process. Currently our country faces unprecedented cybersecurity challenges, yet the federal government struggles to recruit and retain qualified cyber professionals. New Dems encourage OPM to explore ways to adjust their requirements and streamline the hiring process for federal cybersecurity jobs, … Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on Passage of Omnibus Appropriations Bill
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017: “While the process led to unnecessary suspense, today’s passage of the omnibus appropriations bill prevented a government shutdown and funded many key priorities. The bill included a historic $2 billion increase for medical research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), did not defund Planned Parenthood, which … Continue Reading
May 02, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Members Demand Fiscal Responsibility in Congressional Budget
While Congress works to pass a Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations bill this week, Members of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to Speaker Ryan and Budget Committee Chair Diane Black outlining priorities for the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution. Specifically, New Dems implore that the following key policy areas are addresses in the budget: Rebuild our Infrastructure and Responsibly Reform our Tax Code Strengthen Cutting-Edge Research Invest in Live-Saving Cures Secure the … Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government: “Today, we were able to pass a funding bill to keep the government open without any poison pills like money for the President’s border wall or defunding Planned Parenthood, which provides vital health services to millions of women each year. “As Congress moves forward, we should learn a lesson from the passage of this … Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Himes on Trump’s Tax Plan
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes issued the following statement on the outline of a tax plan President Trump put forward today: “We have to reform our uncompetitive and Byzantine tax code. Our country is in dire need of a modern tax code that supports middle class families, fosters business development and innovation, and creates opportunities for Americans to prosper in a 21st century economy. The current tax code is a complicated collection of outdated provisions riddled with … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Members Demand More Funding for Disease Research
Today, New Democrat Coalition Members Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53) and Rep. André Carson (IN-07) led a letter to the Committee on Appropriations requesting increased funding for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) research into diseases that affect millions of Americans. Specifically, the letter calls for funding of at least $2 billion above the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 enacted level for NIH. More than 50 New Dems signed on to the letter. The New Democrat Coalition has been a champion of … Continue Reading
March 27, 2017
New Democrat Coalition on the Cancelled Vote for 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 after the health care bill was pulled from the House Floor last week. 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. “It’s no surprise that the Republican health care bill was pulled from the House Floor by Speaker … Continue Reading
March 24, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Himes Statement on the GOP Health Care Bill
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on the health care bill that was pulled from the House Floor today: “It’s no surprise that the Republican health care bill was pulled from the House Floor by Speaker Ryan. Members on both sides of the aisle agree that we cannot deny Americans access to affordable health care. As the non-partisan CBO revealed, this bill would have taken away health care from millions of hard-working Americans,” said New … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Inducts New Members
Today, by a unanimous vote, the New Democrat Coalition was proud to induct seven new Members to join the Coalition in the 115th Congress. This diverse group of new Members brings forward-looking ideas to the Coalition and is dedicated to advancing the New Democrat vision of growing our economy and increasing opportunity for all Americans. “The New Democrat Coalition is proud to induct these seven new Members at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. They will help the Coalition continue … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes Statement on Trump's Skinny Budget
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on President Trump’s Skinny Budget: “While longer than 140 characters, President Trump's skinny budget is thin on details and lacks a vision for how to grow the economy across the country, create good paying jobs, promote opportunity for all, and keep America safe. This budget demonstrates once again that President Trump and his administration are not taking the tremendous responsibility of governing … Continue Reading
March 10, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Urges President to Prioritize Cybersecurity
New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter to President Trump urging him to prioritize cybersecurity issues in the budget, including building the cyber workforce, strengthening public-private partnerships, and investing in cyber infrastructure. New Democrat Coalition Cybersecurity Task Force Co-Chairs Derek Kilmer, Kathleen Rice and Josh Gottheimer led the letter to President Trump which includes over 30 signatories. “As Members of the New Democrat Coalition, we believe the future of our … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Speaks Out Against the GOP AHCA Bill
The New Democrat Coalition Members, including several Members on the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees, spoke out against the fiscally irresponsible GOP American Health Care Act (AHCA) bill. 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. “It’s absurd that fiscally conservative House Republicans are putting forward a major … Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair’s Statement on President Trump’s Travel Ban 2.0
The New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on President Trump’s updated National Security Executive Order: “President Trump’s newest iteration of a travel ban on citizens from six majority-Muslim countries presents a serious threat to our national security by undermining our counter-terrorism work with Muslim partners in the region. The intelligence community and Department of Homeland Security have concluded that targeting these specific countries … Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Leadership Urges President Trump to Do His Job so Lawmakers Can Do Theirs
Today the New Democrat Coalition Leadership team sent a letter to President Trump urging him to do his job so Congressional lawmakers can start doing theirs. The Coalition calls for Trump to stop the inflammatory rhetoric coming from the White House and instead focus on policies that will grow the economy, create more opportunity for all, and make government work better. “Upon your inauguration, despite being in opposition, we were hopeful that you would govern like the "dealmaker" you so … Continue Reading
February 06, 2017
Email Privacy Act Protects Americans in Digital Age
Today, by a voice vote, the House passed the Email Privacy Act, a bipartisan bill led by New Dem Vice-Chairs Jared Polis (CO-02) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01). This bipartisan bill, highlighted in the New Democrat Coalition Prosperity Agenda: Winning the Future, modernizes America’s digital privacy laws by establishing protections against warrantless searches of private emails. All present New Dem Members supported this bill which was co-sponsored New Dem Chair Jim Himes, New Dem Vice-Chair Derek … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Launches Policy Task Forces
Today, the New Democrat Coalition launched seven policy task forces which will be led by 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 revamped 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 Coalition will continue to assess the policy challenges that lie ahead and create additional task … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Emeritus Introduces Bill to Boost Economic Growth in Rural and Underserved Communities
Today, Chair Emeritus Ron Kind (WI-03) introduced the Investing in Opportunity Act, which will boost economic growth in communities that have been left behind by incentivizing more private sector investment. The New Democrat Coalition is committed to growing the economy and increasing opportunities for all Americans. New Democrats support solutions to boost private sector investment to help communities across the country grow and thrive so that all Americans feel they are getting a fair shot … Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair and Trade Taskforce Co-Chairs Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order on the Trans-Pacific Partnership
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 President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): "If the Trump administration wants to promote America First in trade, America must set the rules of the global economy, not withdraw from trade agreements. Hastily withdrawing from agreements like TPP cedes American leadership not only … Continue Reading
January 13, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Members Oppose Speaker Ryan’s Plan to Repeal ACA
Instead, New Democrat Coalition Members are committed to bipartisan cooperation to improve the ACA. Today, 30 New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter to Speaker Ryan strongly opposing his plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Access to lifesaving health care is not a partisan issue, and any improvements to the ACA will only occur through bipartisan cooperation. Instead of repealing the ACA, New Dems urge Speaker Ryan to work across the aisle to make constructive … Continue Reading
January 10, 2017
The HALOS Act Reduces Regulatory Barriers for Startup Businesses
Today, with a large majority of New Dem Members' support, the House passed Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act introduced by New Dem Rep. Krysten Sinema (AZ-09) and cosponsored by New Dem Reps. John Delaney (MD-06), Scott Peters (CA-52), Jared Polis (CO-02), and Brad Schneider (IL-10). This bipartisan bill, highlighted in the New Democrat Prosperity Agenda: Winning the Future, will reduce regulatory barriers between startup businesses and potential investors during "demo days." The … Continue Reading