Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Hails Groundbreaking World Trade Organization Agreement
The New Democrat Coalition released the following statement in response to the World Trade Organization reaching the Trade Facilitation Agreement on Saturday. The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement will require Member countries to take steps to reduce customs and border procedures that are barriers to international trade. This is the first successful WTO multilateral trade agreement reached in the 20-year history of the organization: "As New Democrats, we support President Obama's goal to … Continue Reading
December 05, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Applauds Passage of Innovation Act
Following the passage of H.R. 3309, the New Democrat Coalition's leaders issued the following statement: "We commend leaders in both parties who set partisanship aside today to pass legislation to protect small business owners and entrepreneurs from the burdens of illegitimate patent claims while also protecting the rights of legitimate patent holders to enforce their patents," the statement said. "For too long, 'patent trolls' have placed an unmanageable burden on our job creators and … Continue Reading
December 03, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Calls for Action to Curb ‘Patent Troll’ Abuses
In advance of a scheduled Rules Committee meeting on H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act, the New Democrat Coalition's tech and innovation leaders released the following statement urging their colleagues to act on patent reform and cut down on the abuses of 'patent trolls.' "We are pleased that the House will consider this important patent reform bill that passed with broad, bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee. We believe it is essential for Congress to move forward to provide our small … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Statement on Judiciary Committee Passage of Innovation Act
New Democrat Coalition leaders released the following statement in response to the House Judiciary Committee's passage of the Innovation Act. "The New Democrat Coalition believes strongly in harnessing the industriousness, creativity, and risk-taking ability of our nation's small business owners. We believe that our patent system must maintain a balance between protecting the rights of legitimate patent holders to enforce their patents and protecting consumer and businesses against … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Urges Sequester Replacement
Following a meeting with Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall, the New Democrat Coalition's Task Force on National Security co-chairs, Rep. Jim Moran (VA-08), Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), and Rep. Ron Barber (AZ-02) as well as House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member and New Democrat Coalition Member Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement: "Undersecretary Kendall's presentation underscored, yet again, the consequences of … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Leaders Launch Bipartisan Effort to Create National Entrepreneurs’ Day
New Democrat Coalition Members Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) and Rep. Patrick Murphy (FL-18), joined by all five Members of the New Democrat Coalition's leadership and 14 other Members of the New Democrat Coalition unveiled H. Res 401, a resolution to create a National Entrepreneurs' Day this morning. H. Res 401 would designate the third Tuesday of November as "National Entrepreneurs' Day." The resolution notes the fact that "more than half-a-million new businesses are created in the United … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Urges Action on Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment Assistance
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) issued the following statement urging action on Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment assistance, which he called "vital tools" to help America compete in the global economy. "Since 1934, Congress has passed 18 Trade Promotion Authority bills and this year must be no different. Trade Promotion Authority gives the United States a vital tool to pursue modern trade agreements that create good-paying American jobs, boost manufacturing … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Unveils COMPETES Act Reauthorization Agenda
As hearings on the first reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act since 2010 commenced this week, the New Democrat Coalition unveiled its comprehensive agenda for COMPETES. The Coalition's leaders on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee - the committee of jurisdiction for COMPETES - spearheaded the effort, convening for several months in informal talks and briefings to build support for the tech-friendly agenda. First passed in 2007, the America COMPETES Act provides support … Continue Reading
October 16, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Leaders Back Deal to Avert Default, End Government Shutdown
The leadership of the New Democrat Coalition formally endorsed the deal to raise the debt limit and end the government shutdown reached by Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today. The leaders released the following statement in response to the announcement of the deal: "We refuse to believe that Washington must be trapped in a never-ending cycle of high-stakes brinkmanship and partisan finger-pointing. The American people are exhausted with the constant gridlock in this town … Continue Reading
October 02, 2013
New Democrat Coalition to Join Democratic Leaders to Introduce Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation Today
The leaders of the New Democrat Coalition's Immigration Task Force, long seen as key leaders within the House Democratic Caucus on a comprehensive measure to reform our immigration system and continuing our economic recovery, issued the following statement today to announce that the Coalition would lead the way on a comprehensive immigration reform bill. "As Members of the New Democrat Coalition, we've been working hard to fix our badly broken immigration system in a way that will include a … Continue Reading
September 27, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Leaders Offer Common-Sense Solutions on Debt Limit
As the House majority inches closer to a dangerous strategy of using the full faith and credit of the United States as a bargaining chip in high-stakes budget negotiations, New Democrat Coalition Members have stepped forward to offer key solutions that Members believe will help to break the gridlock. "I am pleased to see my New Democrat Coalition colleagues taking an active role in finding workable solutions to ensure that Congress responsibly raises the debt limit," said New Democrat … Continue Reading
September 20, 2013
New Democrat Coalition: Time to Put Partisanship Aside, Avoid Self-Inflicted Economic Crisis
The pro-growth, fiscally-responsible New Democrat Coalition sent a unified message to their colleagues today: quit the partisan bickering and find a way to put the nation's finances in order before the federal government shuts down and the debt limit is breached. New Dems Working for Real Fiscal Solutions: "We risk becoming a deadbeat nation that doesn't fulfill its obligations." - New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) "Congress must do more than just keep the lights on, but … Continue Reading
September 19, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Welcomes New Executive Director, J.D. Grom
The New Democrat Coalition welcomed new Executive Director J.D. Grom to the organization this week. Grom replaces former Executive Director Adam Pase, who helped lead the Coalition for the last five and a half years. "The New Democrat Coalition is pleased to welcome J.D. back to our team," said New Democrat Coalition Chair Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) "He has the policy expertise and the proven leadership ability to be an effective manager of the New Democrat Coalition as we seek to find commonsense … Continue Reading
September 17, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind Responds to Congressional Budget Office’s 2013 Long-Term Budget Outlook
New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) issued the following statement in response to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)'s long-term budget outlook: "As Chairman of the New Democrat Coalition, I am firmly committed to a budget that returns fiscal sanity to Washington while preserving the investments that help America compete and win in the global marketplace - investments that all Democrats wish to protect. Today's CBO report makes clear that while our deficit has been … Continue Reading
August 02, 2013
New Democrat Coalition to Speaker Boehner: Introduce Comprehensive Immigration Reform by September 30
The New Democrat Coalition, a group of 53 moderate, pro-growth House Members issued an ultimatum to Speaker John Boehner today: introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill with a pathway to citizenship by September 30, 2013 or the leading group of moderates in the House of Representatives will advance on a fix to the nation's broken immigration system. After releasing principles for a comprehensive immigration reform package in April, the Coalition maintained its effort to build … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
New Dems Welcome Representative Annie Kuster
Following a unanimous vote of its membership, the New Democrat Coalition welcomed Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) to its ranks Wednesday afternoon. The moderate, pro-growth Coalition now represents over ¼ of the entire House Democratic Caucus at 53 Members. The first woman to represent her western and northern New Hampshire district, Kuster was elected to the House in 2012. She explained that her pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to governing would make her a natural fit for the New … Continue Reading
July 19, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Offers Constructive Fixes to Partisan, Divisive ESEA
New Democrat Coalition Members introduced a slate of amendments to improve an overwhelmingly unpopular reauthorization to the nation's Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). While Members intended to oppose final passage of the bill, New Dems offering amendments explained that their efforts represented the Coalition's drive to get serious about reforming the nation's education system by embracing innovative approaches in the classroom and discarding old ideas that don't work. We need … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
New Democrat Coalition Responds to Senate Passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
As the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform package with a resounding majority of 68 votes to 32, the New Democrat Coalition's Immigration Task Force called upon Speaker of the House John Boehner to put politics aside and act in the best interest of American competitiveness in the global economy by passing comprehensive immigration reform. "As the great-grandson of immigrants and as a former tech entrepreneur, I have experienced firsthand the contribution that immigration … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
New Dems Welcome Representative Pete Gallego
The New Democrat Coalition, the largest group of moderates in Congress welcomed Rep. Pete Gallego (TX-23) as its 52nd Member today. The Coalition hailed Gallego's arrival as a vital addition to strengthen the Coalition's already-powerful hand in the House. "I'm proud to welcome Representative Gallego to the New Dems," said New Dem Chair Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03). "Pete embraces our vision for America's future success in the global economy, and it's clear that he's come to Washington to fix … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Gutierrez, House Working Group on Immigration Dems Meet with New Democrat Coalition to Plan Future of Comprehensive Reform Bill
Today, Democrats from the House informal working group on Immigration - the "Gang of Seven" - met with the moderate New Democrat Coalition to chart a forward course for immigration reform in the House. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) called on Speaker Boehner to abandon the Republicans' "go-it-alone" strategy on immigration. Gutierrez's call was joined by the New Dems' Immigration Task Force Co-Chairs, Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Rep. Joe Garcia (FL-26). "If … Continue Reading