Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Health Care Task Force Introduces Two Bills to Cut Health Care Costs and Expand Coverage to Millions
New Democrat Coalition Health Care Task Force Introduces Two Bills to Cut Health Care Costs and Expand Coverage to Millions Bills Would Expand Affordable Health Care Coverage and Empower States to Boost & Simplify Enrollment Today, New Democrat Coalition Affordable and Accessible Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair Ami Bera (CA-07), along with fellow Co-Chairs Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and Annie Kuster (NH-02), introduced two bills to expand access to affordable health care, simplify enrollment, … Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on Bipartisan Queen-Of-The-Hill Rule
Today, New Democrat Coalition Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) joined Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient Leticia Herrera to discuss the bipartisan "queen-of-the-hill" rule, which would force debate and a vote in the House on four measures to provide solutions for DACA recipients. The DACA program has allowed nearly 800,000 immigrants who arrived in the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members’ Statement on the Bipartisan Omnibus
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) and Vice Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), an Appropriator and Member of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform, released the following statement on the omnibus that was signed into law: “No compromise is ever perfect, but this week’s funding bill, which passed the House of Representatives with significant bipartisan support, provides investments in national security, the National Institute of Health (NIH), … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members’ Statement on President Trump’s Tariffs Against China
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) and New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-02) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement of $60 billion in tariffs against China: “For the United States to lead on trade, we should not put our own industries and American jobs at risk for a half-baked, poorly thought through retaliatory action against the second largest economy in the world. If … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members’ Statement on Trump’s Request for Extension of Trade Promotion Authority
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-02); and Ways & Means Committee Members Ron Kind (WI-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement after President Trump formally requested a three-year extension of Trade Promotion Authority: “New Democrat Coalition Members were integral to the passing of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) in 2015. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members Urge Lighthizer to Allow WTO Appellate Body Appointments
Yesterday, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen and Gregory W. Meeks led New Democrat Coalition Members on a letter urging United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer to allow for the appointments of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Appellate Body. Absent a global order, the international trade system which the U.S. helped create could be thrown into disarray. The Trump Administration has deliberately blocked the appointments of … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Inducts 8 New Members
Now 68-strong, the New Democrat Coalition was proud to induct eight new Members to join the Coalition in the 115th Congress today by a unanimous vote. 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 eight new solutions-oriented Members at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. They … Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Statement on America Ceding Leadership in the Asia-Pacific Region
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) and New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-02) issued the following statement as the 11 countries remaining in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) sign a pact, known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to expand trade opportunities within the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region: “Today, while President Trump is talking about taking … Continue Reading
March 07, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members Urge Congressional Action on Trump’s Tariffs
Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen and Gregory W. Meeks and NDC Chair Emeritus Ron Kind, called on the Ways and Means, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees to immediately hold a series of hearings on the potential impacts of President Trump’s recently announced steel and aluminum tariffs. In addition to their roles as trade leaders within the New Democrat Coalition, Reps. Rick Larsen, Gregory W. Meeks, and Ron Kind are senior NDC Members on the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Members Urge Secretary Chao to Take Immediate Action to Expedite Project Approvals
Today, New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter to Secretary Elaine Chao urging her to take immediate action in implementing existing law to expedite project approvals. The U.S. Department of Transportation, with the support of Congress, has authority to take action on bipartisan streamlining reforms, yet the Department has not utilized the tools at its disposal to improve the federal permitting process and avoid duplicative efforts. Congress made regulatory reform a key part of the … Continue Reading
February 12, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Infrastructure Task Force Statement on the Administration’s Infrastructure Plan
The New Democrat Coalition’s 21st Century Infrastructure Task Force, Co-Chaired by Reps. John Delaney, Elizabeth Esty, Stacey Plaskett, and Norma Torres, along with Chair Jim Himes, released the following statement on President Trump’s infrastructure plan: "Infrastructure is one of the few policy areas where there is strong bipartisan interest to get something done. Any new proposal must include new federal funding, responsible regulatory streamlining, and encourage life-cycle funding in … Continue Reading
January 31, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Infrastructure Task Force Releases Infrastructure Priorities for 2018
Today, the New Democrat Coalition 21st Century Infrastructure Task Force, along with Chair Jim Himes, released a set of priorities to increase long-term federal investments in all types of infrastructure. We need to modernize America’s infrastructure, create an infrastructure bank, incentivize rebuilding communities of need, and encourage innovation and reform. The 21st Century Infrastructure Task Force, Co-Chaired by Reps. John Delaney, Elizabeth Esty, Stacey Plaskett, and Norma Torres, … Continue Reading
January 18, 2018
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on the Republican Short-Term Funding Bill
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on the short-term funding bill that passed the House of Representatives today: “House Republicans have kicked the can down the road for a fourth time this fiscal year, leaving a huge list of urgent, overdue priorities for the American people that still have not been accomplished. Instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan, long-term budget that fully funds both our nation’s domestic and security … Continue Reading
December 22, 2017
At A Glance: The New Democrat Coalition in 2017
View the PDF here. On Tax Reform New Dems have long supported comprehensive tax reform that will promote economic growth, is targeted towards our middle class and is fiscally responsible. We believe tax reform done right is important for middle class families, American businesses, and keeping our national economy competitive. Early on in the year, New Dems met with Chairman Brady several times to discuss tax reform. Despite New Dem Members’ willingness and openness to work across … Continue Reading
December 21, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on the Republican Short-Term Funding Bill
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on the short-term funding bill that passed the House of Representatives today: “After an entire year squandered on Republicans’ go-it-alone strategy, Congress painted itself into a corner with a huge list of urgent, overdue priorities for the American people that still have not been accomplished. Republicans have put forth another short-term funding bill without a plan to reach a yearlong spending deal and … Continue Reading
December 19, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Statement on GOP Tax Bill
Today, key Members of the New Democrat Coalition released the following statement on the passage of the harmful tax bill: “By now, we all know the big picture failures of this tax bill. The bill will add roughly $2 trillion dollars to the national debt and lead to 13 million Americans losing their health insurance, driving up health insurance premiums for those with coverage by an additional 10 percent every year. This bill very disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Americans and large … Continue Reading
December 06, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Members Urge Conference Committee to Abandon Partisan Path Forward on Tax Bill
Today, key Members of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to the Conference Committee asking them to abandon their partisan approach and instead pursue a true and serious bipartisan effort. The Members outline specific principles, which were endorsed by the full Coalition, that a truly bipartisan tax reform plan should include, and the tax bills passed by the House and Senate do not achieve these fundamental principles. Our country is in dire need of a modern tax code, which is why the … Continue Reading
November 29, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Chair Emeritus Kind and Other Key New Dem Members Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Plan for the Future of Work
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Emeritus Ron Kind (WI-03) introduced the bipartisan Exploring the Future of Work Act, which would review the workforce challenges that exist due to technological advances. The bill will lead to policy recommendations to help make sure American workers are prepared and trained for jobs in the 21st century economy. New Democrat Coalition Members are focused on finding bipartisan policy solutions to address the opportunities and challenges related to the … Continue Reading
November 16, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Opposes Harmful GOP Tax Bill
Today, New Democrats voted against the harmful, Republican tax bill that passed the House. New Democrats recognize the need for comprehensive tax reform, but this bill explodes the deficit, fails to simplify the tax code, and increases taxes on the middle class. In response, several key Members of the New Democrat Coalition released the following statement: “New Democrats recognize the urgent need for comprehensive tax reform. A good plan would simplify the system, support middle-class … Continue Reading
November 02, 2017
New Democrat Coalition Statement on GOP Tax Plan
House Republicans released their one-sided tax proposal. New Democrats have continued to offer to work with House Republicans on a truly bipartisan tax reform plan, but instead Republican Leaders chose a partisan path that excluded Democrats and many of their own members from the negotiation process. In response, key Members of 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 … Continue Reading