New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 02/19/2021
New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Members continued working to advance the NDC’s COVID-19 economic stimulus priorities and First 100 Day Agenda.
Reps. Kim Schrier (WA-08), Bill Foster (IL-11), and NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. They urged the FDA to determine the most effective rapid tests, which would allow Americans to test themselves regularly and take themselves out of circulation if they are positive.
The NDC endorsed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, following a Member level meeting with Rep. John Sarbanes. NDC Members proposed many of the provisions included in the package, ranging from election security measures, ethics reforms, transparent campaign ads, and other voting rights measures. This bill advances the fourth pillar of the NDC’s First 100 Day Agenda to restore American global leadership.
More on what New Dems have been up to below.
NDC Highlights
NDC Endorses H.R. 1, the For the People Act
The NDC endorsed H.R. 1, the For the People Act. H.R. 1 is a sweeping finance and election reform bill that will make it easier for Americans to vote, end the dominance of money in politics, and help ensure all elected officials work in the public interest. Last Congress, the NDC endorsed the bill and our Members unanimously supported it on the floor.
NDC Members Push FDA to Conduct Review of Most Effective Rapid Tests
Reps. Kim Schrier (WA-08), Bill Foster (IL-11), and NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01), with NDC Vice Chairs Ami Bera (CA-07), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Scott Peters (CA-52), acted on the first pillar of the NDC’s First 100 Day Agenda to end the pandemic and get people back to work by sending another letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. In the letter, NDC Members urged the FDA to conduct a comparative evaluation of rapid antigen tests to determine which are most effective and can be scaled up quickly for mass production and distribution. Last month, the NDC endorsed a proposal from Reps. Kim Schrier (WA-08) and Bill Foster (IL-11) to quickly scale up manufacturing and deployment of inexpensive rapid tests that can be used frequently at home, school or the workplace to help reduce community spread of COVID-19.
In case you missed it: the NDC was pleased to secure several New Dem priorities in the House Committees’ American Rescue Plan bills and make progress on the 100 Day Agenda:
- An expansion and enhancement of the Child Tax Credit that could cut child poverty by nearly half
- Additional funding for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment
- Additional funding for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and testing
- The longest extension of emergency UI benefits yet
- Endorsement of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to help restore American global leadership
Featured Video
Peters Joins NewDEAL Leaders to Discuss the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda
NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters (CA-52) joined NewDEAL’s CEO, Debbie Cox Bultan, President Biden’s senior advisor and former NDC Member Cedric Richmond, and other leaders to discuss the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda and how the NDC can advance its shared priorities in coordination with the Biden Administration.
NDC Member COVID-19 Legislation
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Emergency Unemployment Relief for Nonprofits Act to provide greater relief to struggling nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would protect unemployment benefits for laid-off workers and make sure nonprofits can continue providing critical services in their communities.
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced the bipartisan Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act to provide greater tax relief and fairness to salon owners and beauty professionals by extending the Federal Insurance Contribution Act tax tip credit to the beauty service industry. The credit helps ensure accurate reporting of tipped income and the legislation would also reimburse small businesses for implementing reporting systems.
NDC Leadership Member Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced the bipartisan Protecting Providers Everywhere (PPE) in America Act to address shortages in PPE and testing supplies. The legislation would boost domestic PPE and testing supply production and promote a more sustainable supply chain by ensuring more predictable, dedicated funding from the Strategic National Stockpile to American manufacturers of applicable medical supplies.
Craig Introduces Legislation to Ensure Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Fairness Act to ensure that COVID-19 vaccinations are equitably allocated and distributed. The legislation would direct the Biden Administration to report on their efforts to effectively deliver and administer the vaccine to all communities and would also require the Centers for Disease Control to report vaccination rates by race, ethnicity, and geography. This legislation was endorsed by the NDC as part of the Coalition’s First 100 Day Agenda priority to end the pandemic and get people back to work.
Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Primary Care
Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08) introduced the bipartisan Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act to expand access to Medicaid by increasing reimbursement rates for doctors and expand eligibility for enhanced rates to additional providers.
NDC Member Legislation
Larsen, Veasey Introduce Legislation to Combat Discriminatory Voter ID Laws
Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) introduced the America Votes Act to protect citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive voter identification laws. The legislation establishes new federal protections for voters arriving at polls to affirm their identity by submitting a sworn, written statement, even if they do not have government-issued identification.
Aguilar Introduces Legislation to Prevent White Supremacists from Infiltrating U.S. Military
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) introduced the Shielding Our Military from Extremists Act to help prevent white supremacists and other domestic extremists from enlisting in the U.S. military. The introduction of the bill follows the publication of a recent report by the Department of Defense that confirms white supremacists’ organizations have actively worked to infiltrate the U.S. military in recent years in order to gain combat and tactical training, identify new recruits and use the presence of active-duty service members to bring recognition to their organizations.
McBath Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Pregnant Workers
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to establish a pregnant worker’s clear-cut right to reasonable workplace accommodations, provided they do not impose an undue hardship on their employer.
Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06), an army veteran, introduced the GWOT Memorial Act to authorize the establishment of a memorial for service members of the global war on terrorism on the National Mall.
Foster Introduces Legislation to Increase Transparency for Investors
Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the Shareholder Political Transparency Act to shed light on corporate political spending by public companies and increase transparency to investors and the public. The bill would mandate public companies periodically share political spending information with their shareholders.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) introduced a bipartisan resolution to officially designate February as “Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.” According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 11 high school females and 1 in 15 high school males report having experienced physical dating violence. Raising awareness of this issue, breaking the stigma, and promoting the importance of safe, healthy relationships are essential to help teens suffering from this abuse.
NDC Member Action
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led a group of Members, including NDC Chair Emeritus Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Reps. André Carson (IN-07), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), in sending a letter to demand HHS ban preferential access to COVID-19 vaccines. Their letter also requested responses to three questions related to preferential access and the inequitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Davids Calls on Small Business Administration (SBA) to Investigate Fraudulent Small Business Loans
NDC Vice Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03) sent a letter to the SBA to investigate claims of fraudulent small business loans. Numerous cases of identity fraud have been reported in the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program, which was expanded by Congress to provide relief to small businesses during the pandemic.
NDC Whip Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) urged President Biden to Rescue the USPS by replacing the entire USPS Board of Governors, which has continued to enable Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and his harmful acts.
Ross, Manning Send Letter Urging Extended Restaurant Relief
Reps. Deborah Ross (NC-02) and NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Kathy Manning (NC-06) led Members in sending a letter urging House leadership to make independent restaurants a top priority in COVID-19 stimulus negotiations.
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) led the Texas delegation, including NDC Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Colin Allred (TX-32), in sending a letter to urge FEMA to quickly approve Texas’ request for a major disaster declaration. This major disaster declaration would unlock federal funding as communities continue to mitigate the impact of this week’s winter storm and begin recovery from this week's winter storm.
Strickland Speaks Out on Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) joined Speaker Pelosi and members of the Tri-Caucus – the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – to denounce the recent spike in anti-Asian hate crimes and violence.
McBath Honors Her Son on What Would Have Been His 26th Birthday
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) honored her late son, Jordan, who would have turned 26. In 2012, Jordan was shot in a gas station parking lot. Since his death, Rep. McBath has dedicated her life to from preventing other families from losing loved ones to gun violence.
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