September 23, 2022

New Dem Weekly Wrap 9/23/2022

NDC Chair DelBene Applauds House Passage of Public Safety Legislation, Including Three New Dem Bills

New Dem Leadership Endorsed Public Safety Bills Led by New Dem Reps. Gottheimer, Horsford, and Demings to Invest in Resources and Reforms to Fight Crime and Keep Americans Safe 

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Members of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) voted to pass a package of four public safety bills, three of which were endorsed by New Dems and authored by New Dem Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Steven Horsford, and Val Demings. Tackling crime and keeping our communities safe are top priorities for New Dems. That’s why the Coalition’s leadership endorsed a slate of seven public safety bills in July, and our Members have been working hard to pass this legislation through the House.
 
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement celebrating the House passage of the public safety package:
 
“New Dems are proud to see this critical public safety legislation pass today, which will invest in the key reforms and resources local law enforcement desperately need to do their jobs effectively,” said NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Our Members worked hard to get this crime-fighting legislation across the finish line, and New Dems applaud Reps. Gottheimer, Horsford, and Demings for their tireless efforts. 
 
“Democrats know we must support our communities and work to stop violence before it happens. That’s what these bills will do, and that’s why it’s critical we get this legislation to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”  
 
The public safety package that passed the House today includes three NDC-leadership endorsed bills: 
  • H.R. 6448, the Invest to Protect Act of 2022, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05)
  • H.R. 4118, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04)
  • H.R. 5768, the VICTIM Act of 2022, Rep. Val Demings (FL-10)
Passing this package builds on New Dems’ previous action to reduce crime, prevent gun violence, and improve public safety. In July, New Dems helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, historic gun violence prevention legislation. Last year, New Dems passed the American Rescue Plan, providing critical funding for state and local law enforcement, and House Democrats also secured more than $100 million in Community Project Funding for law enforcement and community policing initiatives across the nation. 
 
 
New Dems In the News
 
MSNBC

Rep. Bustos on MSNBC: 
MAGA Republicans “Want to Send Uncle Sam to the Doctor’s Office With Us”

Freeze frame of Rep. Cheri Bustos' interview on MSNBC with Peter Alexander.
This week, Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) joined Peter Alexander on MSNBC to discuss Democrats' efforts to fight inflation and protect access to reproductive health care.
 
Bill Action
 
Demings’ Police Funding Bill Passes House of Representatives
The House passed Rep. Val Demings’ (FL-10) NDC-leadership endorsed bill, the VICTIM Act, with bipartisan support. H.R. 5768 funds local police departments to hire victim support personnel as well as investigators to solve unsolved homicides and violent crimes. A Senate companion to Rep. Demings’ VICTIM Act, S. 4402, was introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL). 
 
House Judiciary Committee Advances Blunt Rochester's Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill
The House Judiciary committee voted to advance Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester's (DE-At Large) NDC-leadership endorsed Clean Slate Act to the House floor. H.R. 2864 would give more than 70 million Americans with low-level and nonviolent criminal records a second chance to fully participate in society. 

House Unanimously Passes DelBene-Larsen Bill to Add Mount Vernon Court Location to Western District of Washington
The House unanimously passed Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rick Larsen’s (WA-02) bill, H.R. 3034, that would add Mount Vernon as a court location in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington by voice vote. This change would make it easier for Skagit, Snohomish,and Island County residents to access the federal justice system services and attend court.
 
Brownley Introduces Bill to Name Ventura County CBOC After Woman Veteran
The House passed Rep. Julia Brownley’s (CA-26) bill, H.R. 7698, to name the new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Ventura after Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner. If enacted, this would be the third VA facility named after a woman veteran in the country. 
 
Jacobs’ End Veteran Hunger Act Passes HVAC
The House Veterans Affairs Committee voted to advance Reps. Sara Jacobs’ (CA-53) and Julia Brownley’s (CA-26) bill, the End Veteran Hunger Act, to the House floor. H.R. 8852 seeks to combat food insecurity among veterans by providing grants to improve veteran access to proven federal food and nutrition programs like SNAP. 
 
VA Committee Passes Brownley’s Veterans Infertility Treatment Act
The House Veterans Affairs Committee voted to advance Rep. Julia Brownley’s (CA-26) bill, the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act, to the House floor. H.R. 1957 would make infertility care, including in-vitro fertilization, a part of VA health care for veterans struggling with infertility, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, service-connection, or need for donated genetic material. 
 
Member Highlights
 
Member Action
Demings Calls for Full Federal Aid to Puerto Rico
Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) called on FEMA to approve a temporary 100% federal cost-share for all emergency protective services for Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Fiona. 
 
Carter Celebrates $400,000 Federal Grant to Promote Black Youth Mental Health in Southeast Louisiana
Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has awarded more than $3 million to eight organizations nationwide for a new initiative to demonstrate policy effectiveness to promote Black youth mental health. Southeast Louisiana will receive a total of $400,000 under one grant for the Institute of Woman and Ethnic Studies.

Larsen Participates in Bipartisan "Fireside Chat" on the Future of Advanced Air Mobility with Rep. Garret Graves
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman, said on Wednesday during the Honeywell Air Mobility Summit that his subcommittee is planning to provide “clear direction” to the FAA on preparing for the emerging advanced air mobility (AAM) segment in the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill. Rep. Larsen added that the upcoming bill would contain a title on AAM to make sure that the FAA is properly organized to address regulatory and operational requirements in a timely fashion. 

McBath Issues Statement after House Passage of the Break the Cycle of Violence Act  
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) reaffirmed her commitment to ending gun violence after the House passed the Break the Cycle of Violence Act: “Ever since I came to Congress, I made a promise that I would spend every day fighting to protect our children and to give them the chance to grow and thrive in ways my son Jordan never got to,” said Rep. McBath. “Thank you to my colleagues and our partner organizations for their diligence in working to stop the cycle of violence at its core and where it begins. Together, we can help break the cycle of violence that is killing our children and tearing our families apart.”
 
Member Legislation
 
Strickland Introduces Chehalis Tribal Rights Bill
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) introduced H.R. 6964, a bill to expand economic development and protect treaty rights for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis. This bill would allow the Chehalis Tribe to lease their lands held in trust for up to 99 years.
 
Larsen and DelBene: Investment in Global Digital Infrastructure Boosts U.S. Competitiveness
Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced H.R. 8938, the Prioritizing Digital Infrastructure Financing Act, legislation to enhance U.S. leadership in global digital infrastructure financing to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative and enhance data security around the world. 
 
McEachin Introduces Bipartisan Youth Fishing Legislation
Rep. Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced H.R. 8977, the bipartisan Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act, to create a grant program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish youth fishing programs for urban and underserved communities. The bill would allow nonprofits, educational institutions, and local governments to pursue federal grant funding for the development and implementation of youth fishing programs.
 
Congressman Gonzalez Introduces Safe Zones Act of 2022, Providing a Safe and Legal Process for Migrants to Seek Asylum
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) introduced H.R. 8823, the Safe Zones Act (SZA) of 2022, a critical piece of immigration legislation that addresses the safety of migrants and the security of the United States by offering a streamlined asylum process. 
 
In Case You Missed It
 

New Democrat Coalition Celebrates Addition of New Member Pat Ryan

Last week, the New Democrat Coalition added Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-19) as the Coalition’s newest Member. At 99 Members strong, New Dems look forward to working with Rep. Ryan to advance an agenda that strengthens our economy, keeps our communities safe, preserves Americans’ freedoms, and levels the playing field to ensure that every American has the opportunity to succeed. 
 
Screenshot of tweet from New Democrat Coalition account that reads:  
Screenshot of New Dem Coalition


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