New Dem Weekly Wrap 6/23/2023
New Dems in the News
One Year After Dobbs, Women and Families Are Bearing the Consequences
By NDC Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02)
In Texas, Amanda Zurawski was denied a life-saving, medically necessary abortion for a wanted pregnancy because of a state law criminalizing abortion. She was forced to wait until she got so sick that she developed blood poisoning before doctors would provide appropriate care.
In Alabama, Kelly Shannon was denied abortion care despite the fact that her baby had a "negligible" chance of surviving the pregnancy or outside of the womb. The state district attorney has threatened to pursue criminal convictions for anyone in Alabama who performs an abortion.
In Tennessee, Mayron Hollis was forced to get an emergency hysterectomy, preventing her from having future children, after she was denied a medically necessary abortion for life-threatening complications in her wanted pregnancy. In Tennessee, performing an abortion is a felony.
We cannot leave women's health and reproductive freedom to the political whims of state legislatures. The stakes are too high, and women and their families are bearing the consequences on every level.
Press Release
New Dems Applaud President Biden’s Executive Order Protecting and Strengthening Access to Contraception
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) released a statement applauding President Biden’s Executive Order that protects and strengthens access to contraception. Ahead of the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, this marks the third Executive Order the President has signed to safeguard access to reproductive healthcare.
Member Highlights
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) wrote an op-ed in FOX News calling on lawmakers to get serious about reauthorizing the Farm Bill to ensure the needs of farmers and rural communities are met.
Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to swiftly nominate a new candidate to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) penned an op-ed in The Hill about the need to accelerate clean energy deployment and protect our planet for future generations.
Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06) marked the 79th anniversary of the GI Bill by renewing his call to pass the GI Bill Restoration Act, which would grant the families of Black WWII vets the benefits they earned. Over 1 million Black WWII veterans were excluded from many of the benefits the original program established.
Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) talked to The Center Square about her bipartisan legislation to prepare and develop medical countermeasures to combat future pandemics.
Member Legislation
Schneider, McGarvey’s Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veteran Entrepreneurship Unanimously Passes House
Reps. Brad Schneider’s (IL-10) and Morgan McGarvey’s (KY-03) bipartisan legislation, H.R. 1606, passed the House in a unanimous 407-0 vote. The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023 codifies into law the successful Boots to Business program, a training course administered by the Small Business Administration, which teaches veterans and their families the fundamentals of business management, including market research, organizational design, and financial planning.
Blunt Rochester, McClellan Reintroduce Legislation to Improve Air Quality Monitoring and Protect Environmental Justice Communities
Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) reintroduced H.R. 4211, the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act. This legislation would authorize $55 million over five years for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and expand its tools and technologies for monitoring air quality, while ensuring that these tools are integrated with environmental justice mapping and screening to better measure and manage unhealthy levels of air pollution across the United States.
Kilmer Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Close Digital Equity Gap, Expand Access to IT Jobs
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) introduced H.R. 3975, the IT Service Corps Act. This bipartisan legislation supports local digital equity initiatives while ensuring more people can gain experience to access jobs in the information technology (IT) sector.
Sorensen, Craig Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Rural Broadband Access
Reps. Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced H.R. 4227, the ReConnecting Rural America Act. This bipartisan legislation makes improvements to the Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s ReConnect Program, which offers loans and grants to expand high-quality, affordable broadband in rural communities that currently do not have sufficient access.
Torres, Schneider Reintroduce Multiple Firearm Sales Reporting Act
Reps. Norma Torres (CA-35) and Brad Schneider (IL-10) reintroduced H.R. 4202, the Multiple Firearm Sales Reporting Modernization Act. The legislation requires all federal firearms licensees to report the sale of two or more long guns, including semi-automatic rifles such as AR-15s and AK-47s, to an individual within a 5-day period.
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