New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 1/19/2024
Press Releases
New Democrat Coalition Leadership on Bipartisan, Bicameral Tax Package to Boose Innovation and Lower Costs for American Families and Small Businesses
As Leaders in Congress on Pro-Growth, Pro-Family Tax Policies, New Dems have Long-Championed Legislation in this Package, including the Child Tax Credit, R&D Tax Credit, Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and Increased Trade with Taiwan
Today, New Democrat Coalition Leadership released the following statement on the breakthrough bipartisan, bicameral tax package, which passed out of the Ways and Means Committee today. This bill would expand the Child Tax Credit and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, incentivize research and development, support small businesses, and create a tax treaty with Taiwan. Last month, New Dems endorsed a slate of tax legislation, which included key priorities reflected in this package.
“Throughout the 118th Congress, New Dems have worked diligently to find common ground on a bipartisan, bicameral tax package that lowers the cost of living, supports main street businesses, and bolsters U.S. innovation – and this legislation that passed out of committee today will help achieve those goals.
“From the beginning, and specifically under New Dem Chair Emeritus Suzan DelBene, our Members have championed the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the expanded Child Tax Credit – ultimately securing this policy in the American Rescue Plan before the House Republicans let the policy lapse.
“While there are many victories for families and our economy in this package, we were disappointed that the Child Tax Credit provisions did not do more for kids, and particularly kids living in poverty, and that House Republicans voted against adding the fully enhanced Child Tax Credit during today’s markup. Let's be clear: New Dems will never stop fighting to make this critical policy permanent and help the kids most in need.
“Nevertheless, this tax package would make significant progress on the Coalition’s top priorities laid out in our 2023 Economic Opportunity Agenda. In a time of increasing instability around the world, hard working Americans and the small business community are looking to Congress to provide economic certainty and stability.
“Our Members will continue working to ensure this critical tax package gives a meaningful tax cut to families with children, spurs development of affordable housing, provides disaster relief to ravished communities, and extends trade benefits to Taiwan. We urge Speaker Johnson to bring this bill to the floor quickly."
New Democrat Coalition Leadership Members on the Bipartisan Continuing Resolution to Avoid a Government Shutdown
On Monday, New Democrat Coalition Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), Vice Chair for Communications Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Vice Chair for Policy Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement on the bipartisan agreement for a clean Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown by extending funding until March 1 and March 8:
“New Dems have always been laser-focused on working across the aisle to deliver durable policies for hard-working Americans. From the beginning, our Members have worked to find common ground with Republicans on everything from funding the government and preventing a catastrophic default on our debt, to ensuring our allies around the globe have the resources they need to fight for freedom and democracy.
“That’s why we support this continuing resolution to extend funding and avert a harmful and costly government shutdown. Last year, New Dems were essential to passing the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, and we look forward to working with our colleagues across the aisle and Capitol to pass a long-term government funding bill in line with this bipartisan agreement.
“It’s more important than ever that Americans have certainty and trust in our government. New Dems will help provide much-needed stability as we vote to keep the government open and working for the American people.”
New Dem Letter
New Democrat Coalition Implores Speaker Johnson to Put Partisan Politics Aside, Negotiate a Bipartisan Border Bill
Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), Vice Chair for Policy Derek Kilmer (WA-06), and Vice Chair Salud Carbajal (CA-24), led nearly 60 New Dem Members on a letter to Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, urging him to once and for all work with Democrats in good faith on a bipartisan border bill that will secure our southern border and reform our immigration system.
The letter reads in part:
“It is unfortunate that you and members of your Conference have described the situation as a winning political issue, and suggested that you would wait to act on the border until a Republican president is elected. This is unacceptable. We respectfully urge you to put the American people and our nation’s security ahead of petty partisan politics. It is long past time to negotiate in good faith on a bipartisan solution to humanely secure our southern border and reform our immigration system.”
New Dems in the News
"Freedom is On the Ballot in 2024"
By New Democrat Coalition Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) and NewDEAL CEO Diane Cox Bultan
With another election year upon us, it is time for Americans to decide which candidates best represent their values.
As leaders of the nearly 100 member New Democrat Coalition, one of the largest blocs of House Democrats, and NewDEAL Leaders, a group of nearly 200 forward-looking state and locally elected Democrats, we recognize the stark differences between our pragmatic approach to politics and the chaotic, backward tenets of the GOP.
As we look to November 2024, we urge Democrats to unite around a core strategy: Focus on how Democrats are committed to protecting our fundamental freedoms while Republicans work to derail Americans’ most basic rights.
Our groups jointly released our 2024 Freedom Agenda, a comprehensive playbook laying out the guiding principles that will shape our policy priorities into the future. It calls for Democrats to avoid the distractions of the 24-hour news cycle and instead underscore how our Democratic values resonate with Americans in every state and ZIP code.
Our Freedom Agenda focuses on three core American values: Freedom of Opportunity, Freedom in Communities, and Freedom through Democracy... (read more here)
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Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) was featured in the Washington Post after she spoke during a legislative hearing on the FAIR College Sports Act, partisan legislation that would place burdensome restrictions and requirements on college athletes and their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. Trahan fought for college athletes’ NIL rights in prior hearings and introduced the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, the most pro-athlete NIL bill introduced at the federal level. She also introduced the Fair Play for Women Act to close Title IX loopholes that colleges use to overcount the number of women athletes in their programs.
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Rep. Nicki Budzinski (IL-13) was featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for her efforts to increase the Corps’ response funding cap from $100 million to $200 million, and also to give the Corps the authority to address stormwater management issues, to address Cahokia Heights’ flood and sewage issues.
New Dems in Action
New Dems Welcome Experts from Brookings and Moody's to Weekly Member Meeting
This week, New Dems welcomed Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics and Wendy Edelberg, Director of the Hamilton Project and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, for a conversation on the current state of the U.S. economy, economic projections, immigration, and affordable housing.
New Dem Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting with NLIHC CEO Diane Yentel
On Wednesday, the New Democrat Coalition Affordable Housing Task Force, led by Chair Norma J. Torres (CA-35), met with National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) CEO Diane Yentel to discuss what Congress can do to increase access to affordable housing across the country.
Chair Kuster and Rep. Budzinski Meet with New Dem Freshmen Members
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This week, NDC Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Freshman Leadership Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) met with New Dem freshman Members to discuss how the Coalition supported their offices in 2023 and what additional Member services the Coalition can provide for freshman in 2024.
Member Highlights
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, co-chaired a bipartisan hearing on the current state of our nation’s transportation infrastructure and supply chain challenges. During the hearing, Larsen emphasized how historic investments like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act are creating jobs, driving long-term economic growth, and building a cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible transportation system.
Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) led a bipartisan letter to House and Ways and Means Committee leadership expressing strong support for the inclusion of a legislative fix for Form 1099-K reporting requirements. Including this provision in the tax package will protect Americans who sell their used belongings online from increased tax burdens and unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves spearheaded a roundtable on the significant federal investments boosting economic development and job creation in Western Washington. The event, which took place at Longshoreman Union Hall in Tacoma, focused on federal investments in Western Washington that create good-paying jobs and lower costs for hardworking families. A key topic of discussion was the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Recompete Pilot Program, established by Rep. Kilmer’s Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People Everywhere to Excel Act (RECOMPETE Act), which is a part of the larger CHIPS and Science Act signed by President Biden in July 2022.
Taiwan Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06) welcomed Taiwan’s new Representative to the United States, Alexander Yui, to the Capitol alongside their House GOP counterparts. Following Taiwan's successful democratic elections last weekend, the lawmakers look forward to working with Representative Yui to further strengthen the U.S. - Taiwan relationship.
Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) welcomed U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to Birmingham for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They visited the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, the A.G. Gaston Motel, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) called for an investigation in Navy Federal Credit Union, the nation's largest credit union for service members, after reports found it rejected nearly half of its Black and Hispanic mortgage applications.
Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06) met with Pryor Garnett, a farmer from Sheridan, Oregon, to talk about sensible, climate-friendly agriculture practices that will help Oregon growers and producers stay competitive and profitable in a changing world. Following their meeting, Rep. Salinas and Mr. Garnett participated in a Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) roundtable on the same topic.
Member Legislation
Congresswoman Lee Introduces Bipartisan PATHS to Tutor Act to Expand Tutoring Access for Underserved Students
Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the bipartisan Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-Need Schools (PATHS) to Tutor Act (H.R.__), which would expand access to one-on-one and small group tutoring for students in underserved communities. The legislation also leverages our existing workforce pool and strengthens the pipeline and opportunities for future teachers by placing teacher-candidates in these tutoring roles.
Congresswoman Torres Joins Reps. Clarke & Fitzpatrick and Sens. Welch, Vance, Rosen, & Cramer to Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Protect Affordable Internet Access
Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced the introduction of the bicameral, bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act (H.R.6929) . This legislation provides $7 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), providing affordable high-speed internet options to qualifying households across the U.S. The program, which is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is projected to be exhausted by April 2024 without additional funding.
Brownly, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Encourage Bilingual Proficiency Among High School Students and Improve U.S. Workforce Competitiveness
Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act (H.R.__), legislation that establishes a federal grant program to help states create, implement, and improve Seal of Biliteracy programs that encourage and recognize high school students who achieve proficiency in both English and at least one other language, which will better enable young people to compete in the global workforce.
Salinas, Blumenthal Introduce Bicameral Bill to Combat Gambling Addiction, Promote Treatment
Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-6) introduced a new bill to make needed investments in studying, preventing, and treating gambling addiction in the United States. Currently, nearly 7 million Americans suffer from this kind of addiction but there are no federal resources devoted to problem gambling. The Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act (H.R.__) would pull from existing revenue and redirect it to state health agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations that study gambling addiction and help connect people with the treatment they need.
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