March 12, 2021

New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 03/12/2021

This week, every Member of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) took action to end the COVID-19 pandemic, provide economic relief to workers and families, safely reopen schools, and get Americans back to work safely. With President Biden’s leadership, the House voted to advance the final version of the American Rescue Plan, historic relief and recovery legislation to the President’s desk. As President Biden said, help is on the way.

The NDC also unveiled the first four policy task forces and co-chairs for the 117th Congress: The Climate Change, Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure Task Forces. The task forces will play an integral role in advancing the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda and working with the Biden-Harris administration to deliver solutions to tackle some of the biggest challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The NDC plans to launch additional task forces on other New Dem priorities in the future.

The NDC Immigration Task Force leaders held a press conference to announce the Coalition’s endorsement of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1537, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The bills aim to promote justice and fairness for America’s Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure holders and create stability and economic opportunity for immigrant workers and the United States’ agricultural sector.

More on what New Dems have been up to below.  

 

NDC Highlights

NDC Votes to Provide Critical Relief & Stimulus to Families, Workers, and Businesses

The NDC voted to pass the final American Rescue Plan Act, which President Biden has since signed into law. This historic relief and recovery package that will help end the pandemic, support the health and financial wellbeing of families and workers, and set the foundation for an economy that builds back better. The NDC secured additional NDC-endorsed priorities in the final American Rescue Plan, as well as several other vital provision advocated for by New Dem Members, including:

  • A national recovery strategy, including funding for testing and vaccine manufacturing and distribution
  • An enhanced and expanded Child Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
  • Funding for mental health and substance abuse prevention programs
  • The longest extension of emergency unemployment insurance (UI) benefits yet
  • An extension of the employee retention tax credit
  • Increased health insurance affordability and access
  • Increased federal match rate for state Medicaid expansion
  • An extension of enhanced SNAP benefits and other nutrition support
  • Emergency rental and housing assistance
  • Newly added funding for the Tech Modernization Fund to help government IT systems better serve the public
  • Funding to support IT modernization for state health insurance exchanges
  • Funding for schools and state and local aid

See what NDC Members are saying about the American Rescue Plan across the country.

NDC Unveils Policy Task Forces

The NDC announced the creation of four policy task forces, which will work to advance solutions that address the challenges of the 21st Century. Each task force is co-chaired by issue area experts committed to delivering durable progress on the Coalition’s legislative priorities. The NDC task forces are:

NDC Endorses Immigration Reform Bills

The NDC endorsed two pieces of legislation to help advance meaningful reforms to improve our nation's immigration system, which is critical to our economy, our communities, and families across the U.S.:

  • H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, is landmark legislation that provides permanent protections to the nation’s Dreamers, as well as to TPS and DED holders, allowing them to contribute fully to their local communities and the country while providing a pathway to citizenship.
  • H.R. 1537, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, makes meaningful reforms to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program and creates a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed for the nation’s agricultural sector. These changes will help stabilize and preserve the American agricultural sector by ensuring farmers can meet their labor needs well into the future.

 

Featured Video

NDC Immigration Task Force Holds Press Conference to Announce Endorsement of Immigration Reform Bills

NDC Immigration Task Force Co-Chairs Greg Stanton (AZ-09) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Kathy Manning (NC-06) held a press conference to announce the Coalition’s endorsement of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1537, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The NDC Immigration Task Force was joined by Reyna Montoya and Maria Praeli, two DACA recipients, who shared their stories and experiences.
 

Floor Action

House Passes Pappas’s Legislation to Expand Vaccine Access for Veterans

The House passed Rep. Chris Pappas’s (NH-01) bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans’ and Caregivers’ COVID-19 Immunizations Now Expanded (VA VACCINE) Act to take critical steps in allowing VA to fully protect our veterans by granting VA the ability to vaccinate veterans and essential caregivers who are not currently eligible for or enrolled in the VA health care system. 

 

NDC Member Legislation

DelBene Introduces National Consumer Data Privacy Legislation

NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced the Information Transparency and Personal Data Control Act to create a national data privacy standard to protect Americans’ most personal information and bring the laws into the 21st century. The NDC endorsed the bill last Congress. Read more in Vox.

Moulton, Boyle, DelBene Introduce Legislation to Invest in High-Speed Rail Infrastructure

Reps. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), and NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced the American High Speed Rail Act to increase investment in a national high-speed rail system, which would create at least 2.6 million American jobs in the next five years.

Norcross, Kuster Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enforce Mental Health Parity

Reps. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Parity Enforcement Act to expand the U.S. Department of Labor’s authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Kuster Introduces Legislation to Increase High-Speed Internet Access

NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act to increase funding to ensure unserved and underserved communities have affordable high-speed internet access.

Craig Introduces Legislation to Provide Additional Funding to the Indian Health Service

Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to provide additional funding to the Indian Health Service – with the goal of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and improve health outcomes for the country’s native populations.

 

NDC Member COVID-19 Legislation

Pappas Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Empower Charitable Giving

Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the bipartisan Universal Giving Pandemic Response and Recovery Act to expand and extend universal charitable deductions for individuals not itemizing deductions in years 2021 and 2022.

Bourdeaux Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Extending Paycheck Protection Program

Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07) introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act. This critical bipartisan legislation will extend the life of the PPP, enabling small businesses to continue accessing much-needed financial assistance, as they continue to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

 

NDC Member Action

Strickland Meets with Dr. Jill Biden to Listen to and Deliver for Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Families

Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) met with Dr. Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States, at JBLM during her first official trip as First Lady. They discussed ways to deliver for our military families and the re-launch of the Joining Forces program to improve employment, education, and wellness programs for military families.

Bourdeaux, Aguilar Address the Importance of the American Rescue Plan

At the weekly House Democratic Caucus Press Conference, Reps. Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07) and Pete Aguilar (CA-31) addressed the importance and impact of the American Rescue Plan and the impact it will have on the nation’s recovery from the public health and economic crises caused by COVID-19.

McBath Addresses the Importance of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act

Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) spoke out in support of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, to ensure background check procedures are followed for all gun sales, including sales made by unlicensed dealers.

Schrier Urges Investigation Into Shipping Container and Export Issue

Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08) sent a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission with concerns about foreign-owned ocean carriers returning empty containers to China for quick turnaround in order to get more Chinese exports to the U.S. This practice is harmful to U.S. farmers, who are left unable to reliably ship their goods overseas.

Bustos Calls for Meal Reimbursement of National Guard Deployed to U.S. Capitol

Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) sent a bipartisan letter to Major General Timothy P. Williams, President of the Adjutants General Association, to allow members of the National Guard deployed to the nation’s capital to be reimbursed for missed meals. 

Trahan: We Need the American Rescue Plan via The Lowell Sun

Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) penned an op-ed in The Lowell Sun to voice her support for the American Rescue Plan and highlight the various provisions in the bill: “This isn’t about “bailing out” red states or blue cities. This is about saving lives in communities across our nation and doing so regardless of political party. There’s a reason that this package has overwhelming public support and has been endorsed by Republican, Democratic, and Independent local elected officials far and wide.”

--->