Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind’s Statement on Release of TPP Text
Washington, DC - Today, the text of the 12-country Transpacific Partnership (TPP) was released. New Democrat Coalition Chair Ron Kind released the following statement: "With the release of the text the clock for reviewing the agreement will soon start. I look forward to doing a thorough review of the text and continuing to attend briefings to make sure this agreement levels the playing field for our workers, businesses, and farmers so they can successfully compete in the global economy. When … Continue Reading
October 29, 2015
New Dem Chairman Ron Kind’s Statement on Election of Paul Ryan as Next Speaker of the House
Washington, DC - Today, the House of Representatives voted to induct Paul D. Ryan as the next Speaker of the House. New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind issued the following statement: “As Badgers we are proud of Paul, who will be the first Speaker of the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. Paul and I have worked together to put the needs of Wisconsinites first and I look forward to continuing that. I hope that in his new role as Speaker he understands that in our … Continue Reading
October 28, 2015
New Dem Leadership Praises Bipartisan Budget Deal
Washington, DC – Today, the House passed a bipartisan budget agreement that raises the debt limit, sets funding levels until 2017, and provides greater economic certainty. Earlier this year, House New Democrat leadership Members sent two letters to Speaker Boehner calling on him to provide stability to our economy and the U.S. government by raising the debt limit, averting a shutdown, and ending sequestration. New Dem Chairman Ron Kind released the following statement following … Continue Reading
October 27, 2015
New Dems Applaud Passage of Ex-Im Reauthorization
Washington, DC - Today, Republicans and Democrats worked across to the aisle to successfully bring to the floor and pass legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank. After clearing a number of procedural hurdles, the bill passed, 313-118. Every Member of the New Democrat Coalition who was present voted to pass the bill. Members of the New Democrat Coalition have long been vocal supporters of extending the Bank's charter and helped lead the effort in calling for its reauthorization, … Continue Reading
October 09, 2015
New Dems Applaud Ex-Im Discharge Petition Reaching 218 Signatures
Washington, DC - Today, more than 40 Republicans joined Democrats, including every New Dem present, in signing a discharge petition to bring legislation to the House floor to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank, marking the first successful discharge petition since 2002. The authority for the bank lapsed on July 1st of this year and has since weakened the ability of U.S exporters to do business abroad. For years, the New Democrat Coalition has advocated for maintaining the Export-Import … Continue Reading
October 08, 2015
New Dem Chairman Ron Kind’s Statement on Republican Speaker Election
Washington, DC -New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind released the following statement after the House Republican election for Speaker took a chaotic turn when frontrunner Rep. Kevin McCarthy was forced to withdraw due to pressure from the far-right Tea Party Caucus: "The majority party in Congress has the responsibility to govern and get things done, preferably by seeking common ground through bipartisan agreement. Instead of doing this they have become consumed by a political civil war … Continue Reading
October 08, 2015
New Dems Urge Federal Government to Broadly Implement Yelp
Washington, DC- Today, New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind led twenty of his colleagues in sending a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan urging him to work with federal agencies to integrate the Yelp platform into their operations. "If we want to make government work better, we should make it easier for people to say what's working - and what isn't. That is why the New Democrat Coalition and I have been working for some time on harnessing already … Continue Reading
October 07, 2015
New Dem Coalition Calls on Speaker Boehner to Address Bipartisan Priorities in Final Weeks as Speaker
Washington, DC - Today, the New Democrat Coalition leadership sent a letter to Speaker Boehner urging him to work with leaders from both parties in the House and Senate to address bipartisan priorities with broad support that will grow the economy and help hardworking Americans. This is the second letter the Coalition has sent to Speaker Boehner in recent weeks urging him to move forward with legislative priorities supported on both sides of the aisle. Now that a government shutdown has been … Continue Reading
October 07, 2015
New Democrat Coalition Inducts Six New Members
Washington, D.C. - Earlier today, the New Democrat Coalition inducted six new Members of Congress to its membership. The New Members added were Reps. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Jim Costa (CA-16), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Beto O'Rourke (TX-16), and Norma Torres (CA-35). The Members were admitted to the Coalition by acclamation. "I am pleased to welcome these colleagues as members of the New Democrat Coalition," said Coalition Chairman Ron Kind. "I look forward to working with … Continue Reading
October 05, 2015
New Dem Chairman Ron Kind's Statement on TPP Final Agreement
Washington, D.C. - New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind (WI-3), Member of the House Ways & Means Committee, released the following statement upon the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial meeting in Atlanta: "I applaud the work of Ambassador Froman and the other trade ministers in closing the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This historic 21st century agreement will set the trading rules for this region and 40 percent of the global economy. The goal of TPP from the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2015
New Dems Host Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg
Washington, DC - Earlier today, the New Democrat Coalition met with Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg to discuss the importance of the Ex-Im Bank to creating jobs and maintaining America's status as a leading exporter. The authority for the bank lapsed on July 1st of this year and the conversation highlighted the need to renew its charter. Almost every developed country has an Ex-Im bank to help its businesses and not having one puts our economy at a severe disadvantage. Under … Continue Reading
September 25, 2015
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind’s Statement on Speaker Boehner’s Resignation
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Speaker John Boehner announced that he plans to resign effective October 30th. New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind released the following statement: "Speaker Boehner has been a friend since the days we served on the House Education and Workforce committee together. He was tasked with making Congress function, but was often stopped at every turn by members of his own party who refused to work together to get to yes. In light of this frustration I am not … Continue Reading
September 16, 2015
New Dem Coalition Calls on Speaker Boehner to Govern Responsibly and Avoid a Government Shutdown
Washington, DC - Today, the New Democrat Coalition leadership sent a letter to Speaker Boehner urging him to work with leaders from both parties in the House and Senate to take the threats of a shutdown and default off the table and focus on bipartisan bills that will continue to grow the economy and help hardworking Americans. The letter calls for Speaker Boehner to address several legislative issues necessary to maintaining certainty in the day-to-day operations of the government, … Continue Reading
August 19, 2015
New Dem Coalition Chairman Ron Kind Praises “Yelp for Government” Agreement
Washington, DC - Today New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind praised the agreement reached between Yelp and the General Services Administration (GSA) to promote user reviews of government agencies and enable agencies to claim their Yelp pages. "I am pleased the GSA and Yelp came to an agreement that will harness technological capabilities to hold government agencies more accountable and provide an avenue for users to provide feedback on their experiences," said Chairman Kind. "This has … Continue Reading
July 22, 2015
New Dems Call for Long-Term Fix for Nation’s Infrastructure
Washington, DC - Earlier this week 30 members of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi calling for a permanent solution to funding the Highway Trust Fund. The letter's lead signatories released the following statement after sending the letter: "It's irresponsible to continue relying on shortsighted, interim fixes that deprive critical infrastructure projects of the funding needed to restore our nation's crumbling roads and bridges. The short-term … Continue Reading
July 10, 2015
New Dems Take Action to Lead on Education, Support Make it in America, and Unanimously Back the 21st Century Cures Act
Washington, DC – This week the New Democrat Coalition worked to further the goals laid out in its American Prosperity Agenda. The Agenda, released earlier this year, calls for bold action to grow the economy and expand the American dream by investing in world-class schools, innovative research, and a high-quality health care system. On Monday, 21st Century Education, Immigration, and Workforce Task Force Co-chairs, along with Coalition leadership, sent a letter to Senate leaders on … Continue Reading
July 07, 2015
New Democrat Coalition Leaders Send Letter to Senate on ESEA
Washington, DC - Yesterday leaders of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to Senate leaders outlining priorities as the Senate debates reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The letter, led by the Co-Chairs of the 21st Century Education, Immigration, and Workforce Task Force, commends the drafters for finding common ground on the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA) while also calling for improvements in several critical areas. Said the leaders in the letter, "while … Continue Reading
July 01, 2015
New Dem Chairman Calls for “Yelp for Government”
New Dem Chairman Calls for "Yelp for Government" Chairman Kind Urges Transparency and Accountability in Letter to GSA Washington, DC - Earlier this week New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind sent a letter to the General Services Administration urging it to come to an agreement with Yelp to integrate user reviews of government agencies. In the Coalition's American Prosperity Agenda, announced earlier in the year, the group of 46 pro-innovation lawmakers called for a Yelp for Government to … Continue Reading
June 25, 2015
New Democrat Coalition Chairman’s Statement on Trade Package
Washington, DC - Today, due to the leadership of members of the New Democrat Coalition, the House of Representatives passed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and the extension of many trade preferences, including the African Growth & Opportunity Act. With the passage of TAA now Trade Promotion Authority will be signed into law. New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind (WI-3) released the following statement: "I commend my colleagues in both parties for their tireless efforts to pass this … Continue Reading
June 24, 2015
New Democrat Coalition Leadership Urges Colleagues to Support Upcoming Trade Adjustment Assistance and Preferences Bill
Washington, DC - Today, Leaders of the New Democrat Coalition strongly urged their colleagues to support the reauthorization of the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) program and the extension of many trade preferences, including the African Growth & Opportunity Act. These have been long held and unifying priorities for the Democratic party. "On a level playing field American workers can out-compete anyone in the world," said the New Democrat Coalition Leaders. "Trade … Continue Reading