New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 04/16/2021
Over the district work period, NDC Members continued to advance the Coalition’s First 100 Day Agenda, meet with local leaders, public health officials, and other experts to help their communities learn about and access the robust assistance in the American Rescue Plan.
NDC Members continue to engage with the Biden Administration, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttitgieg and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, to discuss the American Jobs Plan and ensure the needs and priorities of their constituents are addressed. Members underlined the need for infrastructure investment that promotes innovation and better planning, zoning, land-use, and development, and an ambitious climate agenda that positions the U.S. and its workers as the global leaders in the climate economy. The Members also discussed how New Dems can build on President Biden’s framework through their committees to further develop the legislation.
This week, the House passed H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to help end gender-based wage discrimination and fulfill the promise of equal work for equal pay. NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) presided over the floor as Speaker Pro Tempore and gaveled in House passage of the legislation.
More on what New Dems have been up to the past two weeks below.
NDC Highlights
NDC Members Meet with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
NDC Members met with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to discuss the American Jobs Plan and their priorities for the package. In the meeting, there was an active discussion about the need for infrastructure investment and how to unlock private investment through public private partnerships, high speed rail, transit-oriented development and affordable housing, dig-once policies, and permitting streamlining.
NDC Members Meet with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm
NDC Members met with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to discuss the American Jobs Plan, progress made with the Energy Act included in the 2020 end of year package, and future opportunities to get to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. In the meeting, they discussed unlocking every tool available to decarbonize the energy and infrastructure sectors, including nuclear, renewable, carbon capture, grid modernization, electric vehicle deployment, and transformational investment in research development, demonstration, and deployment.
Featured Video
Plaskett Urges Investment in America’s Infrastructure
NDC Leadership Member Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL) addressed the urgent need to modernize American infrastructure and create quality jobs. In her remarks, she highlighted the NDC’s priorities for infrastructure in the Coalition’s 100 Day Agenda.
Bill Action
House Passes Schneider’s Legislation to Prevent Cuts to Hospital Payments
The House passed NDC Vice Chair Brad Schneider’s (IL-10) Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act to prevent annual 2% cuts to hospital payments through the end of 2021. The legislation is now headed to President Biden’s desk for signature.
NDC Member Legislation
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Don Beyer (VA-08), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Ron Kind (WI-03) introduced a resolution to direct the Biden administration to restart and conclude negotiations on the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). The EGA negotiations are designed to incentivize a greener global economy by eliminating tariffs globally on a range of environmental products, like wind turbines, solar water heaters, and bicycles. These negotiations also represent a significant opportunity to help countries across the world access high-quality affordable environmental goods while leveling the playing field for American manufacturers and supporting green jobs. The NDC endorsed Chair DelBene’s EGA resolution last Congress as part of its climate change agenda.
NDC Vice Chairs Scott Peters (CA-52) and Ami Bera (CA-07), NDC Chair Emeritus Derek Kilmer (WA-06), and Reps. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), David Scott (GA-13), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) introduced the bipartisan Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage the construction of low and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations. The bill would provide incentives for transit applicants who meet requirements related to building more housing along the future transit corridor. It covers projects submitted under the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts and Core Capacity programs, which fund projects like commuter rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit through the Capital Investment Grants Program. The NDC endorsed the legislation last Congress.
NDC Whip Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) introduced the bipartisan PPP Revenue Adjustment Calculation to Increase Capital Accessibility Long-term Act, or the PRACTICAL Act. The PRACTICAL Act amends current law to allow small businesses that are eligible for the second-draw PPP to calculate their revenue based off a 90-day earning period rather than a set quarter calendar year. This rule change would make more small businesses eligible for a second round of PPP, particularly businesses where revenues increase and decrease seasonally, like restaurants with outdoor dining during this pandemic. This bill would ensure that those hardest hit small businesses get the capital they need.
Kirkpatrick, O’Halleran, Stanton Introduce Resolution to Support the A-10 Program
Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), and Greg Stanton (AZ-09) introduced a resolution that recognizes the A-10 aircraft as a critical component of America’s national security and the most effective and cost-efficient Close Air Support attack aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory.
Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) introduced the bipartisan Social Determinants Accelerator Act to create a federal grant program to empower states and local governments to tackle persistent economic and social conditions — like limited access to health care providers, stable housing, reliable transportation and healthy foods — that often hinder health outcomes.
McBath Introduces ‘Red Flag’ Legislation to Curb Gun Violence
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to empower loved ones and law enforcement to ensure that those who pose a threat to themselves or others do not have access to firearms.
Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) Introduces Two Pieces of Bipartisan Legislation:
- The Expanding Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program (META) Act to support the reduction of air emissions from ports and vessels by authorizing an additional $3 million for the Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program, which will fund research and activities related to zero-emission technologies.
- The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act to ensure federal firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county, and municipal firefighters.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) Introduces Two Pieces of Legislation:
- The bipartisan Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act to restore the rights of Holocaust-era insurance beneficiaries in recovering billions in unclaimed payments that were left behind amid the chaos and destruction of World War II. Due to federal court rulings and a failure by insurance companies to adequately publish the names of recipients and pay these claims, 97 percent of the approximately 800,000 policies held in 1938 have yet to be honored.
- The bicameral Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Survivors Act to provide legal protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and sex trafficking who are seeking housing.
NDC Members Promote the American Rescue Plan
NDC Members, in coordination with President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, hosted events to promote the American Rescue Plan:
- NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) held a press call to discuss the state and local funding provisions.
- NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) welcomed Dr. Jill Biden to New Hampshire on the “Help Is Here” tour.
- NDC Whip Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) welcomed President Joe Biden to Pennsylvania on the “Help Is Here” tour.
- NDC Whip Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) hosted a forum on equity in support of people still struggling from financial woes caused by the pandemic.
- Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) welcomed Dr. Jill Biden to Alabama on the “Help Is Here” tour.
- Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris to Nevada on the “Help Is Here” tour.
- Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) hosted a telephone town hall with local county officials to highlight provisions, including funding for vaccine deployment, school re-openings, and stimulus checks.
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) hosted a small business webinar with Small Business Administration experts, who were available to answer questions from business owners.
- Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) hosted a virtual roundtable on shuttered venues with experts from the Small Business Administration.
- Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) visited a local veterans’ vaccination clinic, where he discussed vaccine provisions.
- Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) visited a local vaccination clinic for rural communities and essential farm workers, where he discussed vaccine provisions.
- Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), along with the governor and New Jersey officials, visited a local vaccination clinic for teachers and child care workers, where he discussed provisions to get children back to school safely.
- Rep. David Trone (MD-06) launches an American Rescue Plan tour across his district to highlight how the bill will help local communities put vaccines in arms, money in pockets, workers back on the job, and children back in the classroom safely.
- Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02) and Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) visited a local vaccination site and met with nurses, doctors, volunteers, and city officials to thank them for their work and discussed the provisions in the American Rescue Plan.
- Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) toured a local vaccine and testing site with several elected and public health officials.
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a virtual town hall on expanding health care in Texas and discussed the Medicaid expansion funding provision she introduced that was included in the American Rescue Plan.
- Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) hosted a COVID-19 telephone town hall with Washington Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah and Acting Assistant Secretary of Health Michele Roberts.
- Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03) touted the relief provided by the American Rescue Plan at the UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Vaccine Facility and The Rail Trail Flatbread Co.
NDC Member Action
DelBene Calls on Biden Administration to Reverse Trump Fetal Tissue Ban
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging for the immediate revocation of Trump-era bureaucratic hurdles that effectively prohibit the use of fetal tissue in biomedical research.
Bera Joins PPI Podcast to Discuss Health Care During Public Health Week
NDC Vice Chair Ami Bera (CA-07) joined the Progressive Policy Institute’s (PPI) Radically Pragmatic Podcast. Rep. Bera, a practicing physician, discussed the critical funding provisions in the American Rescue Plan and the state of health care after the COVID-19 pandemic with PPI’s Director of Health Care, Arielle Kane. Rep. Bera spoke on his unique role as a physician and Member of Congress, discussed the provisions in the American Rescue Plan and the NDC’s work to stabilize the Affordable Care Act, and highlighted the importance of expanding access and driving down costs. Listen to the full PPI Podcast. Read more on the NDC’s Third Pillar of the 100 Day Agenda: Protect and Expand Americans’ Health Care.
Peters Joins PPI Twitch Town Hall on Climate Change
NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters (CA-52) joined PPI’s Twitch town hall on climate change and how the center-left can approach the climate crisis in a pragmatic way. Rep. Peters has advocated for a three-pronged approach to fighting climate change: instituting a carbon tax, regulating and reducing emissions of so-called “super-pollutants” such as ozone and black soot, and removing existing carbon from the atmosphere using “carbon capture” technology.
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) led 15 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging the urging optimum utilization of the of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and adequate vaccine allocation to community and retail pharmacies to inoculate more Americans.
McBath Stands in Solidarity with Biden Administration to Call for an End to Gun Violence
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) joined President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, and Attorney General Merrick Garland in the Rose Garden at the White House for a landmark announcement of actions to end instances of gun violence and save countless American lives.
NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) penned an op-ed in Roll Call to highlight the need for a national privacy standard and her work to protect Americans’ sensitive information: “We can manage consumer privacy without stifling innovation but not without the federal government first setting a clear domestic policy. The Biden administration should see this as an opportunity to meet one of its core goals of restoring American leadership on the global stage and adopt this as one of its priorities.”
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