New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 1/16
Press Releases
New Dems Call on DHS to Reverse Policy Threatening Health Care Workforce
New Dem Reps. Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Chair of the Coalition’s Housing Task Force, and Terri Sewell (AL-07), Chair of the New Dem Health Care Working Group, led members of the New Democrat Coalition and other members of Congress, in calling onthe Department of Homeland Security to exempt health care workers from a new H-1B visa fee that is now in effect and already placing added strain on hospitals and health care providers.
A September 19, 2025 Presidential Proclamation implemented a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions, a dramatic increase that health care leaders warn will worsen workforce shortages, raise costs, and reduce access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The United States is already facing critical shortages of physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers, and other medical professionals.
Providers say the fee is already making it harder to recruit and retain doctors, especially in pediatric and specialty care. They also note that rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to limited infrastructure, transportation challenges, and fewer local medical professionals. The added cost and uncertainty for employers threatens innovation, research, and the quality of patient care across the region.
“As Members of Congress, access to health care is one of our top priorities,” the members wrote. “The Proclamation issued September 19, 2025, poses a serious threat to the healthcare workforce in our districts. Fewer healthcare workers means higher costs, longer wait times, and greater distance traveled for our constituents to access the care they need. We urge the administration to prevent any disruptions in access to care and exempt health care professionals from these fees.”
In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers urged the administration to act quickly to exempt health care professionals from the new fee and prevent further disruptions to patient care nationwide.
The full letter can be read here, and below:
New Dem Trade & Tariffs Task Force Chair Don Beyer Calls on House to Pass Reauthorization of AGOA and the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act
New Democrat Coalition Trade & Tariffs Task Force Chair Don Beyer (VA-08) issued the following statement ahead of House votes on the AGOA Extension Act and Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act:
“The expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Haiti trade preference programs last year injected uncertainty into our trading relationships with Haiti and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These programs incentivized private investment in these emerging markets, which helped grow their economies, strengthen their ties to the U.S., and lower prices here at home. The lapse in access put these gains in jeopardy, threatening to further destabilize the Haitian economy, accelerate the deterioration of U.S. influence in Africa, and weaken supply chains that we rely on. These bills will help put our policy back on the right track and restore some faith in the U.S. as a reliable trading partner.
“These programs have been critical to economic development, job creation, and innovation in beneficiary nations and the U.S. over the last two decades and serve as the primary framework that supports our trade and investment relationships in Haiti and Sub-Saharan Africa. New Dems urge all our colleagues to restore certainty to intercontinental trade, secure our supply chains, and build the foundation for the future.”
New Dems previously called on Congressional Leadership to prioritize AGOA reauthorization ahead of its expiration at the end of 2025.
New on Substack
New Dems Launch Season 2 of the Fly-In with Episode 1: Venezuela, ICE, & the Fed with Rep. Adam Smith
In the first Fly-In episode of 2026, Congressmen Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) are joined by Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), the current Ranking Member and top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Smith gives a comprehensive overview of the Trump Administration’s lack of strategy to prevent chaos in Venezuela, and further threats against countries like Greenland.
The Members also touch on the developing situation in Iran and the potential for American involvement.
Then, the Members turn to the home front to talk through the killing of 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis at the hands of ICE, and the dangerous lack of accountability for Administration officials and federal agents. They wrap up by watching Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s response to the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation against him, connecting it to the Administration’s broader efforts to bully and pressure independent bodies to do Trump’s bidding.
New Dems in Action
New Dems Host Stakeholder Roundtable on Affordable Housing Solutions
This week, New Dem Members hosted a roundtable with housing policy experts and industry representatives for a robust conversation about what Congress can do to help build more homes and address the national housing affordability crisis. New Dem Vice Chair for Outreach Salud Carbajal (CA-24) hosted the roundtable alongside Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation Working Group Chair Norma Torres (CA-35), and Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and were joined by a dozen additional New Dem Members and nine stakeholders for the discussion.
This roundtable is part of the Coalition’s ongoing efforts to develop and advance commonsense affordable housing solutions and follows the release of the New Dem Housing Affordability Agenda in 2025, which endorsed fourteen bills led by New Dem members to lower housing costs.
New Dems Launch Third Cohort of the NextGen NewDems Staff Academy
This week, the New Democrat Coalition launched the third annual NextGen NewDems Staff Academy, the Coalition’s flagship program to foster the development of the next generation of leaders on the Hill, offering unique opportunities to learn, grow, and network to promising staffers in New Dem offices.
NextGen NewDems is led by the program’s four Co-Chairs – New Dem Vice Chair for Member Services Josh Harder (CA-09), Vice Chair for Communications Marc Veasey (TX-33), Leadership Member Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), and Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01).
Member Highlights
Congresswoman Sarah McBride (DE-AL) penned an op-ed in the Delaware News Journal reflecting on her first year in Congress and outlining her continued commitment to standing up for Delaware families and delivering real results for the state. In the piece, titled “I fight to protect Delaware. And I’ll keep going,” McBride describes how her work in Congress has been shaped by rising costs, threats to health care and democracy, and the everyday challenges Delawareans are facing — while making clear that progress is still possible when leaders put people over politics.
Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) published an op-ed "Maduro is gone. Now what?" in the Seattle Times on Sunday morning. This piece touches on regime change efforts by the Trump administration, history into previous Venezuelan governments, and the state of geopolitics following the capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) spoke at a press conference on Capitol Hill to unveil the framework of the Farm and Family Relief Act with Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee. The Farm and Family Relief Act is a plan that would provide real relief to family farmers struggling due to senseless tariffs.
Congressman Gil Cisneros (CA-31) spoke with his constituent, Toby, on how their family is impacted by Medicaid cuts and rising grocery costs. Toby shared their story coming from a household that relies on Medicaid and SNAP to survive -- a reminder of why the fight for affordable healthcare and lower costs is so important.
Member Legislation
Rep. Pappas Introduces the Energy Burden Tax Credit Act
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced new bipartisan legislation, the Energy Burden Tax Credit Act (H.R. 7044), that would provide a refundable tax credit to families struggling with high energy costs, saving households hundreds of dollars a year on energy. Specifically, it would provide individuals and households who spend more than 3% of their income on energy with a refundable tax credit equal to 75% of the excess amount they spend on energy.
Reps. McBath, Leger Fernández, Pappas Reintroduce Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act
Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06), Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) reintroduced the Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act (H.R. 7019), legislation that helps colleges and universities prevent alcohol and substance misuse and make sure students have access to recovery support when they need it.
Rep. Johnson Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Military Financial Literacy
Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), alongside Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), introduced the bipartisan Military Financial Literacy Accountability Act (H.R. 6717) to give servicemembers the financial tools they need to protect their paychecks, plan for their futures, and avoid predatory practices.
Rep. Peters Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Medicaid Coverage for Genomic Sequencing in Children
Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced the Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act (H.R. 7118), which would clarify that children enrolled in Medicaid who have a suspected rare disease or genetic disorder can access genomic sequencing, a diagnostic tool that has quickly become the standard of care, to help get answers more quickly.
Rep. Elfreth Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent the Sale of Critical American Energy to Foreign Adversaries
Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), a member of the Natural Resources Committee and House Armed Services Committee, introduced the bipartisan Protecting American Energy Security Act (H.R. 7061) alongside co-lead Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14). The bill will create commonsense oversight measures for one of our most crucial resources (liquefied natural gas) to ensure American producers are powering our nation and not our enemies.
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