New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 3/07/2025
Press Releases
Chair Schneider Slams President Trump’s Joint Address with “Hard Truth” About the State of our Union
Following President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10) issued a statement rejecting Trump’s chaotic and harmful agenda for the American people:
“Tonight, President Trump continued his gaslighting of the American people. His 100-minute speech was just the same old, tired routine, chock full of lies and offering more chaos, corruption, and confusion. Absent from his hollow promises were any real solutions to the challenges that are facing the American people: high prices, a weakening economy, housing prices through the roof and affordable health care out of reach.
“Here’s the hard truth about the state of our union: just two months in, Trump and House Republicans are making our country weaker, and the chaos they are creating is making life harder for hardworking Americans.
“Today, families who were already facing rising prices now face Trump’s 25% ill-conceived ‘Trade War Sales Tax’ — costing the average family up to $2,000 this year alone. The stock market is in freefall as economists and industry experts prepare for a recession. Bird flu is raging, and measles is sickening children and threatening communities across the country. Meanwhile, the Trump administration demonizes vaccines and blocks research fighting diseases.
“Elon Musk is arbitrarily and maliciously firing thousands of people – including more than 6,000 Veterans – responsible for keeping our skies safe, our communities healthy, and our Veterans supported. Trump is endangering our national security and threatening democracy around the world by bowing to dictators like Vladimir Putin while attacking, and even abandoning, our closest allies.
“At the same time, House Republicans are plotting to demolish Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security benefits to line the pockets of Trump’s oligarchs like Elon Musk. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire friends are thriving on the Republican agenda, getting a free ride on the backs of middle class Americans.
“New Dems and House Democrats are united in our fight to make life better for all Americans, to lower costs, keep our communities safe and healthy, and stand up for democracy, and protect our national security. When Republicans stop burying their heads in the sand and hiding from their constituents at town halls, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and start working together to lift up our nation and tackle the challenges confronting our country.”
New Dems on Trump’s 25 Percent Tax: “What Happened to Lowering Costs?”
Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Economic Growth Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Trade Task Force Chair Don Beyer (VA-08) issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to impose 25% tariffs – taxes that are paid by American consumers – on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico.
“What happened to lowering costs? President Trump came into office promising to slash prices ‘on day one,’ yet six weeks later, prices are up, inflation is rising, and Trump has done absolutely nothing to lower the high cost of living burdening hardworking Americans.
“Instead, today he is inexplicably slapping a 25 percent sales tax on hardworking people who are already struggling to get by, skyrocketing the cost of everyday essentials and taking up to $2,000 out of the average American family’s bank account this year.
“The Trump Tax will impact gas at the pump, fresh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store, building materials at job sites, and cars at the dealership – where auto experts are predicting prices will spike up to $12,000 per vehicle. As if raising taxes on families wasn’t enough, Trump’s scheme will hammer American industry, increasing production costs and forcing mass layoffs for businesses and farmers – that’s why industry leaders, economists, and the stock market are all sounding the alarm.
“New Dems call on Speaker Johnson and House Republicans to stand up for the hardworking Americans who sent them to Congress and put an end to Trump’s chaos.”
Democrats are United Against House Republicans’ Plot to Cut Social Security and Health Care for Hardworking Americans
“Such cuts would push countless elderly Americans out of senior homes and deprive essential health and dental care to millions of Americans of modest incomes, taking those cuts to give away trillions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals and large corporations.”
New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35)together led a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson calling on him to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on behalf of millions of Americans who depend on these programs.
The leaders of the two largest ideological Democratic caucuses were joined by more than 200 House Democrats:
“Despite their public pledges to safeguard Social Security benefits and health care coverage for well over 100 million Americans, House Republicans have been working behind closed doors to slash these programs and rip away earned benefits from working people, families, children, seniors, and Veterans,” said New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10). “House Democrats won’t stand idly by as Congressional Republicans sacrifice the wellbeing of hardworking people to line the pockets of billionaires like Musk. New Dems are proud to stand alongside our colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus to demand that House Republicans uphold their promise to ensure a dignified retirement and accessible, high quality health care for every American.”
“Democrats are uniting to say with one voice: hands off Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” said Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35). “The Congressional Progressive Caucus is proud to join New Dems to fight Republicans’ betrayal of the promises Donald Trump made working people. With Democrats united, the question becomes: are any three House Republicans willing to change course, or will they all own the devastating consequences of these proposed cuts?”
You can read the full letter here
New Dem in the News
Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-07) was featured in the Fredericksburg Free Press after attending a VA Health Care Center ribbon cutting in Fredericksburg. This will be the largest center across the nation, but is only 1/3 staffed because of Trump's federal hiring freeze.
Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) was featured in Mercury News after his guest to Trump's Joint Address- Daniel, a Veteran who was fired from the VA- was hired back. While relieved that he was rehired, Liccardo said that Daniel never should have been fired in the first place, and that this isn't saving money, it's creating chaos.
New Dem in Action
New Dems Host Industry Roundtable on Impact of Trump's Tariffs
New Democrat Coalition Vice Chair for Outreach Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) hosted a roundtable with experts on key U.S. industries to discuss the impacts of President Trump’s tariffs and his Administration’s broader trade agenda across the U.S. economy.
Member Highlights
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) hosted a telephone town hall with Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Georgetown Law Professor David Vladeck on litigation against the Trump Administration. They had thousands of people on the call and engaged in a productive conversation on the lawsuits against the Trump Administration's actions.
Congressman Morgan McGarvey's (KY-03) bipartisan Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2025 (H.R. 1621) passed unanimously out of the House Small Business Committee this week, clearing the path for a full vote on the House floor. This bill will support Americans with disabilities who want to start their own businesses.
Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13) hosted four town halls, and has three more coming up. At these town halls, he discussed the fight against DOGE, the dangers of dismantling of federal organizations, and the direct implications of the administration’s policies on MI-13 constituents.
Member Legislation
Rep. McBath Co-Leads Reintroduction of Bipartisan Aviation Workforce Development Act
Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA) reintroduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act (H.R. 1818) to make training at FAA-certified commercial pilot and aircraft maintenance technician schools a qualified expense for 529 college savings plans. Rep. McBath is a former 30 year flight attendant for a major airline.
Reps. Carbajal, Lawler, and U.S. Senators Britt, Kaine Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Proposal to Make Child Care More Affordable
Congressmen Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Mike Lawler (NY-17) along with U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act (H.R. 1827) and the Child Care Workforce Act (H.R. 1826)—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that together form a bold proposal to make child care more affordable and accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers.
Rep. Brownley Introduces Legislation to Promote Bilingual Proficiency Among Students and Strengthen U.S. Workforce Competitiveness
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) announced the reintroduction of the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act (H.R. 1660), a bill that establishes a federal grant program at the U.S. Department of Education to recognize high-level student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language. Under this program, states would be able to establish or improve their own Biliteracy Seal programs to award seals to K-12 students.
Rep. Johnson Introduces Bill to Strengthen Border Enforcement
Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) introduced the Border Workforce Improvement Act (H.R. 1930), which will require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review their current staffing needs and identify where they need additional support from Congress to do their jobs.
Rep. Craig Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Safe Highway Truck Parking
Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) joined U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (IL-12), Pete Stauber (MN-08), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) in reintroducing the bipartisan Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 1659). This legislation addresses the dangerous, nationwide shortage in safe, accessible parking spaces for large commercial trucks by providing U.S. Department of Transportation funding for the construction of new lots and spaces.
Next Article Previous Article