Press Releases
28 New Democrat Coalition Members Send Letter to Commerce Department, U.S. Trade Representative to Urge Strong Trade Enforcement
Led by Chairman Ron Kind, 28 Members of the New Democrat Coalition sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman today urging both officials to maintain strict enforcement of trade rules while pursuing a growth-focused trade strategy. "As Members of the New Democrat Coalition, we support a pro-growth and pro-worker trade strategy that exports more 'Made in America' products and services abroad," the letter says. "The further expansion of our … Continue Reading
June 27, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Immigration Task Force Leaders Mark One-Year Anniversary of Passage of Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill
The New Democrat Coalition's Immigration Task Force Co-Chairs, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Rep. Joe Garcia (D-FL), and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) released the following statement to mark the one-year anniversary of the Senate's passage of a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform measure, the most significant overhaul of the United States' immigration policy in over 25 years: "Today, we should be marking the one-year anniversary of the signing ceremony for a bipartisan, comprehensive … Continue Reading
June 24, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Leadership Applauds Heck Bill to Reauthorize U.S. Export-Import Bank
The New Democrat Coalition's leadership, along with New Dem Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), released the following statement in anticipation of the release of the Protect American Jobs and Exports Act of 2014: "From American Boulevard in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to 112th Avenue in Bellevue, Washington, manufacturers, farmers, entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the country rely on the Export-Import Bank to sell goods and services stamped 'Made in America' around the globe," the statement read. "At a … Continue Reading
June 20, 2014
ICYMI: Inside U.S. Trade: "New Coalition" for Trade Includes New Dems
From an Inside U.S. Trade recap of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)'s meeting with the New Dems this week: "Earlier in the day, Wyden said his focus is on building a new bipartisan coalition for a trade policy that promotes U.S. manufacturing and innovation, not on picking a "date out of the sky" for passing a new TPA bill. "Everybody wants to talk about a timetable. I'm focused on trying to get the policies right," he added. He … Continue Reading
June 12, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Priorities Included in Democratic Whip’s ‘Make it in America’ Plan
The New Democrat Coalition announced some of its key priorities were included in Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer's (D-MD) 'Make it in America' plan. The Coalition applauded this success in the following statement from its leadership: "We are pleased to see Whip Hoyer's efforts to keep America a global leader by promoting exports, supporting STEM education and maintaining our position at the front of the line in the race to lead global technological innovation," the statement read. "As pro-growth … Continue Reading
June 11, 2014
ICYMI: Chairman Kind Selected for TechAmerica Congressional Tech Leader Award
Our Chairman received the prestigious TechAmerica Congressional Tech Leader award today. Read highlights from the TechAmerica release below: "TechAmerica, the public sector and public advocacy department of CompTIA, will present Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) with its 2014 TechAmerica Congressional Tech Leader Award. Congressman Kind is the head of the House New Democrat Coalition, a 55-member group of House Democrats dedicated to advancing issues of core importance to development of … Continue Reading
June 04, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Immigration Task Force Statement on Immigrant Heritage Month
The New Democrat Coalition's Immigration Task Force Co-Chairs released the following statement in response to the start of the first-ever Immigrant Heritage Month: "Immigrant Heritage Month is a time to remember that the hard work of America's immigrants helped to build the greatest economic engine the world has ever known," the statement read. "From what Emma Lazarus famously called 'your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,' came countless entrepreneurs, business … Continue Reading
June 03, 2014
Bipartisan, New Democrat Coalition-Led Group Sends Letter to FCC in Support of Modernizing E-Rate Program
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Coalition Member Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), as well as Republican Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) led a bipartisan letter to the Federal Communications Commission today asking for the Commission to modernize the E-rate program and help "connect our nation's schools and libraries to high-speed broadband over the next five years." E-rate is a program that helps provide affordable telecommunications services to schools … Continue Reading
May 28, 2014
Report: 12 "Main Street" Businesses Benefit from U.S. Export-Import Bank
The New Democrat Coalition's work on the renewal of the U.S. Export-Import Bank was recently highlighted in the centrist online hub Republic 3.0. Read the article below for more information: At a recent speech before a friendly audience at the conservative Heritage Foundation, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) suggested that gutting the U.S. Export-Import Bank would somehow be a victory for the "Main Street competitive economy." The Congressman's remarks … Continue Reading
May 28, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Members Respond to Vote on House Science Committee R&D Bill
The New Democrat Coalition's leaders on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee issued the following statement in anticipation of the full committee markup of the FIRST Act, a bill to reauthorize federally-supported research and development programs: "When America's leading academics, researchers and engineers called for the United States to double its commitment to research and development over the next seven years in the Rising Above the Gathering Storm report, we took that call … Continue Reading
May 20, 2014
New Dems Join Bipartisan Group to Unveil Major Regulatory Reform Proposal
PPI President Will Marshall highlights the proposal for a Regulatory Improvement Commission at a bipartisan press conference on May 20, 2014. Today, a bipartisan group of House Members led by U.S. Reps. Patrick E. Murphy (D-FL) and Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) unveiled the Regulatory Improvement Act of 2014, a bill to reform the Federal Code of Regulations by creating a commission tasked with eliminating or revising outdated or redundant federal regulations. The National Association of … Continue Reading
May 13, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Trade Leaders Applaud Commerce Department’s NEXT Initiative
The leadership of the New Democrat Coalition's Trade Taskforce released the following statement in response to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker's announcement of the Commerce Department's new customer service-driven initiative to boost exports and help American businesses sell "Made in America" goods around the globe: "As Members of the New Democrat Coalition, we believe that the global economy offers opportunities for America's workers, growers, manufacturers, small business owners and … Continue Reading
May 08, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Leadership Statement on R&D Tax Credit
The New Democrat Coalition's leadership issued the following statement in advance of a vote on H.R. 4438, which would extend the R&D tax credit: "Members of the New Democrat Coalition have long supported the permanent extension of the Research and Development Tax Credit. By extending the R&D tax credit, we will give American businesses the predictability and certainty they need to invest in the technologies of tomorrow and create or maintain jobs. The R&D tax credit has a proven … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Leaders: America Deserves Better than Ryan ‘Budget to Nowhere’
The New Democrat Coalition's leadership issued the following statement in response to the release of the Republican budget spearheaded by House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI): "Instead of using a partisan document to whip up the far right, Congress should focus on building on the bipartisan cooperation we saw in the two-year budget deal, the omnibus appropriations, and the debt ceiling," the statement read. "Americans are tired of 'Budgets to Nowhere' that make drastic cuts … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Applauds Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Discharge Petition
Led by the original sponsor of House Democrats' comprehensive immigration reform measure, H.R. 15 and the leader of House Democrats' discharge petition effort, Rep. Joe Garcia (D-FL), the New Democrat Coalition's Immigration Reform Task Force Co-Chairs, Reps. Garcia, Jared Polis (D-CO) and Joaquin Castro (D-TX) issued the following statement in response to the introduction of a discharge petition to force H.R. 15 to a vote. "We are pleased to see the introduction of a discharge petition that … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Adds Two Members
The New Democrat Coalition voted unanimously to induct two new members today, Reps. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ). The Coalition, a pro-growth, pro-innovation group of House Democrats today encompasses over one-fourth of the entire Democratic Caucus. "I'm honored to welcome Tony and Ann to the New Democrat Coalition," Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) said in a statement. "Both of them exemplify what it means to be a New Democrat in today's turbulent Washington - they're … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Amendments Added to FIRST Act by Unanimous Vote
The New Democrat Coalition's members on the House Science, Space and Technology's Research and Technology Subcommittee successfully offered a series of amendments to the House Majority's FIRST Act to improve workforce development, basic research and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Of the Democrats on the subcommittee, four - Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Rep. Ami Bera (CA-07) - belong to the New Democrat … Continue Reading
March 06, 2014
29 New Democrat Coalition Members Sponsor Bill to Renew Key Workforce Training Program
Today, 29 Members of the pro-growth New Democrat Coalition sponsored the 'Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2014', legislation introduced by Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA). The bill would extend the life of key provisions in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act that lapsed on December 31, 2013 for an additional seven years. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a program managed by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides trade-affected workers with individualized training … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
New Democrat Coalition Leadership Reacts to President Obama’s FY 2015 Proposed Budget
The leadership of the pro-growth New Democrat Coalition issued the following statement today in response to the President's release of his FY 2015 budget to Congress: "As we review President Obama's proposed budget, the New Democrat Coalition will look for priorities that support economic growth & job creation, foster innovation, and make long term investments to keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy. While it is easy to look at the history of the past few years and the … Continue Reading
February 28, 2014
ICYMI: Vice President Joe Biden Argues for Robust Trade Strategy in Financial Times
Read excerpts from Vice President Joe Biden's op-ed to the Financial Times encouraging lawmakers to back TPP and TTIP: "The global economy is at an inflection point. The choices we make now will determine our role in the world for decades to come. We have an opportunity to shape the path of global commerce to spread our values and benefit our people, and we should seize it..." "...America's economic relations with the rest of the world matter more now than ever before. … Continue Reading