New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 2/13
Weekly Highlight
New Dems Release Affordability Agenda
The New Democrat Coalition unveiled its Affordability Agenda, a policy roadmap to help make life more affordable across the country by focusing on lowering five core costs for hardworking Americans: health care, housing, energy, family care, and household essentials like groceries.
Despite promising to lower prices “on day one” and “end inflation,” President Trump and Congressional Republicans have failed. Instead, their billionaire-first agenda makes life more expensive across the board for hardworking Americans. With the Affordability Agenda, New Dems are offering a better path to lower everyday costs in the short- and long-term by rolling back harmful policies pushed by Republicans in Washington, promoting competition and supporting small businesses to boost consumer choice, and breaking down regulatory barriers across the government that prevent us from meeting the needs of the American people.
New Dems released a video detailing the New Dem Affordability Agenda featuring New Dem Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10), Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Trade and Tariffs Task Force Chair Don Beyer (VA-08), Freshman Leadership Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Health Care Working Group Chair Terri Sewell (AL-07), Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50), and Care Economy Task Force Chair Sarah McBride (DE-AL).
Press Releases
Housing, Infrastructure, and Transportation Working Group Chair Norma Torres on House Passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act
New Democrat Coalition Housing, Infrastructure, and Transportation Working Group Chair Norma Torres (CA-35) issued a statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 6644, Housing for the 21st Century Act.
Today’s vote supports American families looking to not just get by, but get ahead. The United States needs approximately 3.8 million more homes to meet demand, and the federal government should be a partner for Americans looking to afford a home.
As laid out in the Coalition’s Housing Affordability Agenda, New Dems will continue to pursue policies that build more housing, get homes on the market and into the hands of families, and make it easier to buy, rent, or sell a home.
Working Group Chair Norma Torres issued the following statement on House passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act:
“At a moment where so many families across the country are feeling the strain of rising rents and home prices, it is encouraging to see the House advance serious policies to address the housing crisis. This package reflects the urgency of that crisis and demonstrates real momentum toward expanding housing supply and lowering costs for Americans.
“I’m especially proud that this legislation reflects many of the recommendations from New Dems’ Housing Affordability Agenda, including 11 bills sponsored by New Dem Members to build more homes, get them on the market faster, and surge resources where they’re needed most.
New Substack
New Dems Release a New Episode of the Fly-In: Reforming ICE and Lowering Costs with Third Way's Lanae Erickson
In this episode, hosts Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Greg Landsman (OH-01)are joined by Lanae Erickson, Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics at Third Way, a D.C.-based think tank and advocacy organization. Lanae discusses the latest in public opinion about ICE operations ahead of the deadline to fund DHS at the end of this week, and gives her thoughts on how Democrats should communicate about reforms.
Then, Lanae talks through the recently-released New Dem Affordability Agenda – the Coalition’s answer to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis – and how it meets the moment and contrasts with other proposals.
For the Clip of the Week, the group reacts to President Trump saying he wants to raise housing prices. To wrap up the episode, Lanae plays “Affordability Price is Right,” a game about all the price increases in the past year under the Trump Administration.
New Dems in Action
This week, Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50), Innovation & Technology Working Group Chair Sam Liccardo (CA-16), and New Dem Members hosted a Data Center Roundtable to learn more about how Congress can create smart policy that protects local ratepayers, communities, workers, and the environment with the rapid buildout of data centers.
Member Highlights
Congresswomen Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) wrote an Op-Ed for Fox News about the New Dem Affordability Agenda. They highlighted how the New Dem plan offers a serious fix to rising costs that are hurting families across the country.
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02) advanced the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7386) out of the Energy & Commerce Committee to be voted on and passed by Congress. Their bill strengthens accountability measures and extends current funding levels for FirstNet, a wireless broadband network that helps ensure our nation’s first responders can effectively communicate and save lives in an emergency.
Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) wrote an Op-Ed for Newsweek, announcing her K-30 platform: a bold, practical agenda and commitment for Democrats to support young Americans from kindergarten through age 30.
Member Legislation
Reps. Davids and Cole Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Investigate History of Indian Boarding Schools
Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chairs, reintroduced H.R. 7325, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2025, to formally investigate, document, and report on the history and policies of Indian boarding schools, as well as the long-term effects that these institutions have on Native American peoples.
Rep. Peters Unveils Legislation to Protect Job Training Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act (H.R. 7472), legislation to address an unfair rule in federal law that can create unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits. No one, especially disabled veterans, should lose access to education and job-training benefits because of a technicality in the law. His bipartisan, bicameral bill fixes this unfair disparity and ensures veterans can fully access their hard-earned benefits after serving our nation.
Reps. Elfreth, Evans Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Domestic Violence-Related Homicides
Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Domestic Violence Homicides Through Lethality Assessment Training and Technical Assistance Act (H.R. 7494). The legislation would authorize a national training and technical assistance center to support the promotion and adoption of lethality assessment programs (LAPs) in an effort to reduce domestic violence-related homicides.
Rep. McClellan Introduces GRAD Act to Expand Funding for HBCUs and PBIs
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) introduced the Growing Reputable Academic Department (GRAD) Act (H.R. 7341), to support graduate-level STEM programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) across the nation by expanding their access to federal funding.
Rep. McDonald Rivet Introduces Bill to Support Local Roads and Bridges
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Congressman Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) introduced the bipartisan Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act (BASICS Act) (H.R. 7437). This bill would help local governments access more federal resources to repair and rebuild roads and bridges.
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