New Dem Weekly Wrap 7/22/2022
New Democrat Coalition Chair Calls for Swift Passage of Chips Act for America to Secure Supply Chains, Lower Costs, and Protect U.S. National and Economic Security
This week New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) called for swift passage of the Chips Act for America package in the Senate and House. Since last December, New Dems have pushed for passage of a bipartisan innovation bill and most recently urged action on this legislation as part of our Action Plan to Fight Inflation. The Chips Act for America legislation will help fix our supply chains, lower costs for consumers, and help American companies better compete in the global economy.
The legislation includes top NDC priorities, including Chair Emeritus Derek Kilmer’s RECOMPETE pilot program to create lasting economic growth and jobs in persistently distressed communities. Read more here.
New Democrat Coalition Health Care Task Force Endorses 14 Bills to Lower Out of Pocket Costs, Improve Health Care, and Strengthen the Affordable Care Act
Yesterday, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Health Care Task Force, led by Co-Chairs Kim Schrier (WA-08) and Terri Sewell (AL-07), endorsed a slate of 14 health care bills focused on lowering health care costs, improving health care delivery, and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. The bills would also address the health care workforce shortage, increase health equity, streamline care, and increase transparency.
Protecting and expanding access to quality, affordable health care has always been a top priority of the NDC, and this health care slate is central to the New Dems’ Affordability Agenda, which focuses on lowering costs for Americans on necessities like health care. New Dems called on Congress to act on an Affordability Agenda in their Action Plan to Fight Inflation, a comprehensive policy roadmap for lowering costs and fighting inflation. New Dems will work to get these bills across the finish line and deliver on these priorities in the remaining legislative weeks. See the endorsed bills and read more here.
New Dems Applaud President Biden’s Safer America Plan and Push for Passage of Public Safety Bills Endorsed by New Dem Leaders
Yesterday, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released a below statement applauding President Biden’s Safer America Plan to invest in community policing and crime prevention to make our communities safer. This announcement follows NDC leadership’s endorsement of a slate of bills to protect our communities by investing in law enforcement, community policing, and gun violence prevention.
The statement reads in part, “Last week, New Dem Leaders endorsed and called for passage of seven smart pieces of legislation that would improve public safety, invest in effective law enforcement, create violence interruption programs, and reform our criminal justice system. Congress needs to answer President Biden’s call for a safer America and pass these bills. I salute Reps. Horsford, Demings, Blunt Rochester, Spanberger, Gottheimer, Phillips, and Wild for their leadership to fight crime and improve public safety for all.” Read the full statement here.
More on what New Dems have been up to below
New Dems in the News
It's on All of Us to Protect a Woman's Right to Choose: Chair DelBene via Newsweek
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) penned an op-ed in Newsweek on the economic impact of overturning Roe v. Wade and the steps that the government *and* private sector can take now to reverse the wide-ranging damage of the Dobbs decisions.
“Overturning Roe v. Wade is only one part of an ongoing attempt by far-right extremists to undermine individual freedom and our democracy. And this latest attack isn't the end. That's why it's on all of us to fight tooth and nail to guarantee a woman's right to choose and stop the wide-ranging negative impacts of overturning Roe. There is a moral, political, and economic imperative to act quickly. When we lift up women, we lift up families, communities, and society overall.” Read more from Chair DelBene here.
New York Times: Why a Middle-Class Lifestyle Remains Out of Reach for So Many by Ezra Klein
“The New Democrat Coalition, which is made up of 99 moderate-ish House Democrats, recently released a package of policy proposals meant to address inflation. But much of it is aimed at the affordability crisis that predates the rise in inflation. It includes legislation that would use federal transportation dollars to push cities and states to make it easier to build housing, that would ease worker shortages by raising legal immigration and that would cap insulin costs and allow Medicare to negotiate more drug prices.” Read more here.
New Dems meet with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan on Climate via E&E
New Dem members met with EPA Administrator Michael Regan at our weekly Member lunch this week to discuss steps Democrats are taking to combat climate change, protect our planet & communities equitably, and build a green economy. Read more here.
Bill Action
House Passes Manning’s Bill to Protect Access to Birth Control
On Thursday, the House passed NDC Leadership Member Kathy Manning’s (NC-06) bill, H.R. 8373 the Right to Contraception Act which would codify access to contraception. New Dems unanimously voted for this legislation.
Member Highlights: NDC Member Legislation
Davids Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to Reproductive Health Care Services
In light of the Dobbs decision, Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) introduced H.R. 8424, the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act to increase access to birth control and reproductive health care services. Specifically, the legislation will fund the Title X Family Planning program over 10 years to provide comprehensive, confidential family planning and preventive health services, often to low-income or minority populations.
Kilmer Introduces Legislation to Establish a Work-Based Learning Grant Program
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) introduced H.R. 8363, the Earning Experience Act of 2022 to create a work-based learning opportunities pilot grant program. Specifically, the legislation will establish a grant program for institutions to develop work-based learning positions, focus on students with exceptional need, and identify in-demand industries and employers to partner with.
Trone Introduces Legislation to Ensure Individuals in Crisis Gain Access to Follow-Up Services
Rep. David Trone (MD-06) introduced H.R. 8391, the bipartisan Continuity in Necessary Evaluative Crisis Treatment (CONNECT) Act to connect individuals experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis with follow-up services. Specifically, the bill authorizes $30 million to create a new grant program through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support follow-up services including check-ins, outreach, and collaboration with support systems.
Blunt Rochester Introduces Legislation to Improve Air Quality Monitoring and Protect Frontline Communities
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) introduced H.R. 8352, the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022 to require the EPA to implement immediate fenceline monitoring for toxic air pollutants at facilities contributing to high local cancer rates and other health threats from dangerous pollutants. Specifically, the ensures that fenceline and emission monitoring are core components of national emissions standards, requires a rapid expansion of the NAAQS, deploys new air quality sensors in communities, and directs the EPA to integrate the data they collect.
Member Highlights: NDC Member Actions
Bustos Launches the Know-Your-Rights Silenced No More Initiative to Educate Sexual Assault and Harassment Survivors
Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) is launching Silenced No More: Survivors Speak, a public awareness campaign to educate stakeholders about the restoration of survivors’ constitutional rights to pursue a claim in court. This initiative builds on Rep. Bustos’ work on the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act which was signed into law by President Biden.
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