New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 02/05/2021
This week, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Members continued to engage with House Leadership and committee chairs to advance the NDC’s COVID-19 economic stimulus priorities and 100 Day Agenda.
New Democrats spoke with Dr. Wendy Edelberg, Director of the Hamilton Project and a Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution, about the macroeconomic impact of the American Rescue Plan, and the need to quickly move a package that meets the scale of both the public health and economic crises we face. The NDC also met with Speaker Pelosi to urge for the inclusion of the New Dem COVID-19 relief and economic stimulus priorities in upcoming legislative packages.
Today, the Senate and House passed a budget resolution which paves the way for both chambers to work with President Biden to move COVID response legislation on an expedited basis. The NDC will continue pushing for a package that meets the scale needed to end the pandemic and support families, workers, communities, and businesses.
Finally, the House voted on a bipartisan basis to pass The National Apprenticeship Act, which was co-led by New Dem Rep. Donald Norcross and previously introduced by former New Dem Rep. Susan Davis.
More on what New Dems have been up to in the past month below.
More NDC Members were selected to serve as Committee Vice Chairs and Subcommittee Chairs. Check out the updated list. More on NDC’s membership in the 117th Congress.
ICYMI: NDC Unveiled 100 Day Agenda
In case you missed it: The NDC endorsed and unveiled its First 100 Days Agenda. Through this agenda, the NDC will take actionable steps to end the pandemic, create jobs, and solve the challenges of the 21st century. In the first 100 days, the NDC will work to:
- End the pandemic and get people back to work. New Dems will work to end the pandemic and reopen schools and our economy safely; protect workers, families, and local businesses; help the hardest hit, especially communities of color, and stimulate the economy.
- Modernize our infrastructure, combat climate change, and create jobs. New Dems will work to update our transportation infrastructure; create quality jobs; tackle climate change; build our clean energy future; invest in our nation’s preparedness and resilience; develop more affordable housing; and close the digital divide.
- Protect and expand Americans’ health care. New Dems will take immediate action to reengage in the international community as a dependable global leader and ally; bolster democracy and renew faith in government; lead with a smart and targeted national security strategy; enact a trade agenda that works for American workers, farmers, and businesses; and build a fair and inclusive immigration system and work to enact comprehensive immigration reform.
- Restore American global leadership. New Dems will take immediate action to reengage in the international community as a dependable global leader and ally; bolster democracy and renew faith in government; lead with a smart and targeted national security strategy; enact a trade agenda that works for American workers, farmers, and businesses; and build a fair and inclusive immigration system and work to enact comprehensive immigration reform.
This week, the Coalition continued to make progress on advancing its top agenda item to end the pandemic and get people back to work safely. Read the NDC’s full First 100 Day Agenda, one-pager, and statements of support. Check out what Members and stakeholders are saying on Twitter.
Featured Video
DelBene Joins Progressive Policy Institute (PPI)’s Podcast: “Let’s Get to Yes”
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined PPI President Will Marshall to discuss her leadership of the New Democrat Coalition and the Coalition’s vision for the 117th Congress. She spoke about Americans’ desire to see governance work again and how the NDC is well-positioned to build consensus in Congress and in collaboration with the Biden-Harris Administration.
NDC Member COVID-19 Legislation
Davids Introduces Legislation to Increase Supply of Equipment Needed to Fight COVID-19
NDC Vice Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03) introduced the SUPPLIES Act to increase the supply of equipment like face masks, hospital gowns, ventilators, and testing materials needed to get the coronavirus under control. The bill would also promote manufacturing these goods at small and medium businesses in the United States. The SUPPLIES Act creates a grant program for small businesses that shift their production to manufacture personal protective equipment and testing supplies.
Panetta, Crow, Gottheimer, Suozzi, Murphy Introduce Nursing Home Strike Team Bill
Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Jason Crow (CO-06), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) introduced the Sending Out Support Act to authorize the Health and Human Services Secretary to allocate certain amounts of funding to states for the creation of strike teams of clinical and non-clinical staff to assist nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities with the management and treatment of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Carbajal Introduces Resolution Honoring Frontline Workers
Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-26) introduced a House resolution that expresses support for frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledges the risk they have taken on in order to continue to provide essential services, ensure public safety, and keep America running.
Axne Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Unemployed Americans
Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) introduced the bicameral Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits Tax Relief Act to provide tax relief to Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year to allow them to focus their benefits on covering essentials during the pandemic and recession. The bill would waive federal income taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020.
NDC Member Legislation
Stanton, Veasey Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Energy Efficiency Projects
Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-09) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) introduced a bipartisan bill to expand funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The bill provides additional funding for grants to state, local, and tribal governments to support initiatives that will reduce fossil fuel emissions and conserve energy.
Aguilar, Vargas Introduce Legislation to Help DACA Recipients Towards Homeownership
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Juan Vargas (CA-51) introduced the Homeownership for Dreamers Act to ensure that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiaries, or Dreamers, are eligible for Federal Housing Administration home loans, home loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and Rural Housing home loans.
Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act today to expand voter registration and increase participation in the democratic process. The PROVE Act would allow citizens who are 16 and 17 years old to pre-register to vote so they can be added to voter rolls automatically when they turn 18.
McBath Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Fund National Child Abuse Hotline
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the bipartisan Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to establish a national hotline to help prevent child abuse and neglect. The bill strengthens the original CAPTA law by providing evidence-based support for victims of child abuse and neglect, establishing national reporting requirements, expanding research, and improving the process to apply for federal grants.
Brownley Introduces Legislation to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act to incentivize the production of sustainable aviation fuel and help the aviation sector reduce carbon emissions.
Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) introduced the bicameral College Athlete Economic Freedom Act to allow college athletes to make money off their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The bill would establish a federal right for college athletes to market the use of their name, image, likeness, or athletic reputation – individually and as a group – by prohibiting colleges, conferences, and the NCAA from setting or enforcing rules that restrict this right or otherwise colluding to limit how athletes can use their NIL, including by setting rules restricting this right for prospective college athletes.
Suozzi, Schneider, Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Fully Restore the SALT Deduction
Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), along with NDC Leadership Member Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), introduced the bipartisan SALT Deductibility Act to restore the full State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. In 2017, the SALT deduction was capped at $10,000 and resulted in a tax increase for many middle-class families.
NDC Member Action
NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters (CA-52) spoke on the House floor in support of the budget reconciliation process, urging bipartisan support and reiterating the urgent need to pass relief for the American people. He also once again advocated for the inclusion of automatic stabilizers for unemployment insurance benefits in future COVID-19 relief packages.
Houlahan Speaks on House Floor on the Need for Childcare to Aid in Economic Recovery
NDC Whip Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) spoke on the House floor to elevate the crisis the American childcare industry faces. Rep. Houlahan urged her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help pass a COVID relief package that includes adequate funding and support for the childcare industry.
Escobar, Trahan Launch Moms Task Force Focused on Migrant Family Reunification
Reps. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) launched the Congressional Moms Task Force on Family Separation to provide fellow mothers in Congress with a platform to lead reunification efforts in coordination with the Biden administration for migrant children who are still separated from their parents.
Rep. David Trone (MD-06) led a bipartisan effort, along with 36 NDC Members, in sending a letter to urge congressional leadership to include additional funding for mental health disorder and substance abuse disorder prevention and treatment. Rep. Trone’s proposal was included as one of the eleven COVID-19 economic stimulus priorities endorsed by the NDC. Read more in CQ News.
McBath Recognized in Forbes’ 50 Over 50
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) was included in Forbes’ 50 Over 50 and featured for her ascent to Congress following the death of her son, Jordan Davis, who was shot and killed in a gas station parking lot. In Congress, she is fighting to ensure other American families do not lose their loved ones to gun violence.
Carbajal, Panetta Urge Protection for Monarch Butterflies
Reps. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) expressed concern to the Principal Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the recent decision to forego listing the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act and urged substantial investments in monarch conservation efforts.
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