COVID-19 Update 06/03/2020
Our hearts have broken as we have witnessed the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. For many Americans, the events of the last week bring back into light the continued racial injustice that Black Americans face in our nation every day. These events are part of a larger pattern of racial injustice and inequality in our society, and it is well past time we as a nation confront and reckon with not only our past, but also our present.
This week, the NDC hosted a call with Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Karen Bass and CBC New Dem Members to discuss action Congress can take to help rectify the injustice many Black Americans are experiencing and help bring our communities together. Following the call, NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) issued a statement reiterating the NDC’s commitment to remaining partners with our colleagues in the CBC and Black leaders in condemning and working to end targeted police violence across the country. Now is the time to listen to our fellow Americans’ lived experiences. Following the CBC’s lead, the NDC will look to support a comprehensive legislative path forward in Congress to achieve racial justice.
In addition to this, we are still experiencing an unprecedented public health and economic crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the NDC endorsed New Dem Rep. Dean Phillips’ (MN-03) bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act to provide commonsense improvements to PPP. Following the Coalition’s endorsement, the House passed the bipartisan legislation to help ensure American small businesses have access to the resources they need to weather the coronavirus pandemic and economic storm.
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) issued a statement following the release of the updated House legislative schedule for the coming months. The NDC has long been pushing for the implementation of remote voting by proxy and the authorization of virtual committee proceedings to ensure Congress can return to normal order and continue legislating for the American people.
More on what New Dems have been up to below.
NDC Highlights
NDC Stands in Solidarity with CBC
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) issued a statement following the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and the subsequent days of protests in cities and towns across America. The statement comes after the NDC hosted CBC Chair Karen Bass and New Dem CBC Members for a call to discuss actions Congress can take to help rectify the injustice many Black Americans are experiencing. Read the full statement.
NDC Chair Kilmer Statement on Updated House Legislative Schedule
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) issued a statement following the release of the updated house legislative schedule for the coming months. The NDC has been calling for Congress to return to regular order, despite the challenges of remote work, by utilizing the technology necessary for virtual legislative hearings and meetings.
House Passes NDC-Endorsed Legislation to Improve PPP
The House passed the NDC-endorsed bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act co-introduced by New Dem Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03). The legislation makes critical improvements to the program by providing much-needed flexibility to PPP borrowers to accommodate for the challenges the pandemic poses for businesses in operating and rehiring employees.
COVID-19 Legislation
House Passes Luria’s Bipartisan Legislation to Help American Veterans
The House passed Rep. Elaine Luria’s (VA-02) bipartisan Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which would put more money in the pockets of American veterans. The bill provides cost-of-living increases for wartime disability compensation; compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and dependency and indemnity compensation to children.
Crow Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Pandemic Preparedness
Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve communication and strengthen oversight of the National Biodefense Strategy, requiring the Health and Human Services secretary to clarify the strategy and implementation plan. This includes reporting to Congress on possible implementation strategies to improve information-sharing activities on bio-surveillance data.
Rouda Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Safeguard Americans’ Retirement
Rep. Harley Rouda (CA-48) introduced the bipartisan Fairness for Early Withdrawers Act to safeguard Americans’ retirement savings during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation would allow individuals to re-contribute all 2020 required minimum distributions back into their retirement accounts.
Shalala Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect America’s Seniors
Rep. Donna Shalala (FL-27) introduced the bipartisan Protecting the Health of America’s Older Adults During COVID-19 and Beyond Act to establish a National COVID-19 Resource Center for older adults under the leadership of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. The bill also creates the Healthy Aging grant program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stevens Introduces Legislation to Support Child Care Providers
Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) introduced the bicameral Child Care is Essential Act to create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund within the existing Child Care and Development Block Grant program. The new Child Care Stabilization Fund would provide grant funding to child care providers to stabilize the sector and support to providers to safely reopen and operate.
Reps. Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Max Rose (NY-11) introduced bipartisan legislation to extend additional federal coronavirus relief to small businesses, including Minor League Baseball teams, who face exacerbated financial stress because of the public health precautions necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19.
New Dem Members Introduce Legislation to Ensure Benefits for National Guard Members Deployed During COVID-19
Following recent reports that the Administration is considering cutting off most National Guard COVID-19 activation one day short of the threshold required to qualify for early retirement and post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, two New Dem bills were introduced:
- NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster’s (NH-02) National Guard COVID-19 Response Stability Act to empower governors to extend federal deployments of their Guard units through the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- NDC Freshman Whip Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s (CA-20) bipartisan National Guard COVID-19 Earned Benefits Guarantee Act to direct the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to treat a full-time National Guard COVID-19 activation as not shorter than 90 days, thus qualifying servicemembers for benefits.
Rep. Donna Shalala (FL-27) and NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) introduced the Pandemic Responder Service Award Act, legislation that seeks to thank the millions of health care workers for their service in keeping America safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation proposes an award for front line health care workers who responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education, or to establish a savings account to help health care workers purchase housing, start a business, save for retirement or establish a children’s savings account for their dependents.
NDC Member Action
NDC Vice Chair DelBene Joins NBC’s Morning Joe to Discuss Employee Retention Tax Credit
NDC Vice Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined NBC’s Morning Joe to discuss the bipartisan expanded Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) that was included in The Heroes Act. The ERTC encourages businesses of all sizes to retain their employees so workers may continue to receive income and employer-sponsored health insurance without having to seek unemployment benefits. The ERTC also ensures workers and businesses are better-positioned to resume normal operations once the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 comes to an end.
NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters (CA-52) led Members, including 26 New Dem Members, in sending a bipartisan letter to House Leadership underlining the need to confront the economic fallout provoke by the pandemic. To adequately shoulder the mounting burden, the policymakers urged for future pandemic legislation to deal with the budget when the economy is strong enough. Lawmakers emphasized transparency, accountability and responsibility as key solutions, highlighting specific provisions like the Fiscal State of the Nation resolution, the Time to Rescue United States Trusts (TRUST) Act and the establishment of comprehensive budget goals to reduce debt-limit brinkmanship as long as the budget remains on a responsible path.
Axne Calls on U.S. Treasury Department to Waive Fees for Coronavirus Relief Debit Cards
Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) led Members, including New Dem Reps. Denny Heck (WA-10), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Bill Foster (IL-11), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), in sending a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department asking for the waiver of replacement fees for Americans who lost or accidentally discarded pre-paid debit cards containing federal coronavirus relief payments.
Davids Calls on Department of Transportation to Put Consumers First
Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) sent a letter to the Department of Transportation calling for the prioritization of consumers and to ensure that airlines are issuing full refunds for cancelled flights, as is required under federal law.
Luria Urges House Leaders to Focus on Commonsense COVID-19 Solutions
Rep. Elaine Luria (VA-02) led Members, including NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), NDC Freshman Whip Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and New Dem Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Gil Cisneros (CA-39), Jason Crow (CO-06), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Max Rose (NY-11), in sending a letter to House Leadership urging them to focus on several priorities to address the COVID-19 pandemic from their perspectives having served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Malinowski Calls on Congress to Direct Federal Aid to State and Local Governments
Rep. Tom Malinwoski (NJ-07) spoke on the House Floor to call on Congress to provide direct federal aid to state and local governments in order to help them cover costs for the salaries of police officers, firefighters, and teachers, among other government employees.
McAdams Donates Plasma to COVID-19 Treatment Research
Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04) joined physicians from ARUP Laboratories and University of Utah Health to highlight research into the effectiveness of convalescent plasma as a possible COVID-19 treatment.
Kuster, Pappas Join Call for Additional Funding for Nursing Homes
NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined a bicameral call for additional funding for nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
Spanberger Calls on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to Improve Quality of Service
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) sent a letter to the IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging the agency to use its expanded telephone customer service presence to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the status of taxpayers’ stimulus checks and to share information about any current obstacles the agency is facing in improving its customer service capabilities.
Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) led Members, including New Dem Reps. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), David Trone (MD-06), Anthony Brown (MD-04), and Gerry Connolly (VA-11), in sending a letter to the President opposing his plans to hold a second military parade in Washington D.C. on July 4th. Despite public health and social distancing precautions in the nation’s capital, which has seen one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, the Trump Administration is reportedly “continuing to plan” the event.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) sent a letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting clarification that independent contracts and sole proprietors be allowed to use data from the previous 12 months or from calendar year 2019 in reporting their net profit in the calculation of their maximum PPP loan amount.
Rep. Val Demings (FL-10), the former first Chief of Police for the City of Orlando, penned an op-ed in The Washington Post addressing the need for criminal justice reform. She also highlights the need for increased accountability, transparency, and improved hiring standards and practices for police departments, in light of the recent murder of George Floyd and the systemic racism present in the nation: “Everyone wants to live in safer communities and to support law enforcement and the tough job they do every day. But this can’t go on. The senseless deaths of America’s sons and daughters — particularly African American men — is a stain on our country. Let’s work to remove it. We have got to get this one right. Our communities, good police officers and generations yet to come deserve it.”
Sherrill: We Can’t Allow Our Towns, Counties, State to Go Bankrupt. Congress Needs to Act via NJ.com
NDC Freshman Whip Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) penned an op-ed in NJ.com urging Congress to continue taking action for American communities during the coronavirus pandemic. She also highlighted her bipartisan legislation to create the State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Fund: “Our bipartisan legislation will provide New Jersey with the support it needs to battle COVID-19 and avoid mass layoffs, significant property tax increases, and cuts to essential services. The State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Fund will deliver desperately needed resources to frontline state and local governments across the country, while prioritizing the areas hit hardest by the virus and economic fallout.”
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