New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 3/27
Press Releases
New Dem Leadership Refuses to Give ICE and CBP a Blank Check to Continue Harming American Cities
New Democrat Coalition Leadership issued a statement following the House vote on the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, which includes funding for ICE and CBP without any of the commonsense reforms the American people have demanded.
“Instead of working constructively with Democrats, House Republicans have bowed down to Trump’s maximalist demands and forced through a dead-on-arrival bill that ensures their shutdown will continue.
“House Republicans have once again made it clear that they will do anything except listen to the needs of their constituents. It seems as though they are dead-set on forcing Americans to suffer more costly travel delays and blocked paychecks for TSA agents, while continuing to see their neighborhoods overrun by out-of-control ICE agents.
“We could end this shutdown today! Congressional Democrats are at the table with a real plan to end the chaos at our airports and the suffering in our communities. We are proud to support legislation that will ensure crucial agencies, including TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, get the funding they need while also reining in ICE and CBP’s assaults on the American people and their fundamental freedoms.
“We call on Republicans to finally give the American people what they deserve: safe communities free from the brutal occupation of ICE and CBP.”
New on Substack
New Dems Release a New Episode of the Fly-In: The Pride of Puerto Rico with Resident Commissioner Pablo Hernández
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This week, hosts Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) are joined by Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), Puerto Rico’s sole elected representative in Congress, for a wide-ranging discussion on life and culture on the island. Hernández gives an overview of the unequal distribution of Medicaid and SNAP funds – which are provided via block grants to Puerto Rico – when compared to states, and the harm caused by Congressional Republicans’ cuts to these programs. The group also covers disaster relief, rising energy prices, and the ongoing debate about Puerto Rican statehood.
The members wrap up by reacting to Trump’s refusal to strike a deal that would end the DHS shutdown in the clip of the week, and debate Ricky Martin versus Bad Bunny, coffee versus piña coladas, and more in a Would You Rather game.
New Dems in Action
New Dems Hear from Small Businesses on the Harmful Impacts of Tariffs
New Dem Vice Chair for Outreach Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and New Dem Trade Task Force Chair Don Beyer (VA-08) hosted a roundtable discussion on how small businesses have been hurt by the Trump Administration’s sweeping tariffs.
Vice Chair Carbajal and Rep. Beyer, who is a member of the Ways & Means Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, were joined by several New Dem Members for the discussion, including New Dem Vice Chair for Communications Marc Veasey (TX-33), Leadership Member Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), and Lucy McBath (GA-06).
Member Highlights
Congressman John Mannion (NY-22) presented long-overdue military honors to Utica resident Frank J. Filippelli, Jr., a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Filippelli, a Disabled American Veteran, was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal in recognition of his service, sacrifice, and bravery in combat. These medals, earned in 1969, had never been formally received.
Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) and his colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee voted unanimously to advance the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 out of committee. The ALERT Act is comprehensive legislation drafted to address aviation safety issues raised by the midair collision near Reagan National Airport that claimed 67 lives in January 2025.
Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) celebrated House passage of his bipartisan bill, the Save Our Sequoias Act (H.R. 2709), legislation to protect California’s iconic Giant Sequoia groves from increasingly severe and catastrophic wildfires.
Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) wrote an Op-Ed for The Washington Times about his bipartisan Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act (H.R. 5566), legislation to address the growing water crisis.
Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) celebrated House passage of her bill, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (H.R. 4624), bipartisan legislation that modernizes and strengthens protections for professional fighters across the country.
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) joined local health care advocates and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference on the 16th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act to highlight the impact of skyrocketing health care costs, $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, and Congress’s failure to renew the ACA enhanced premium tax credits.
Congressman Gil Cisneros (CA-31) spoke to The Hill about Trump's lack of transparency on whether or not he will be sending troops into Iran.
Member Legislation
Rep. Johnson Introduces Bill Requiring DHS To Maintain Communication With Congressional Offices During Shutdowns
Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) announced the introduction of the DHS Oversight and Accountability Act (H.R. 7617) to ensure that Americans and congressional offices can continue to access critical oversight and constituent services from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), even during a government shutdown.
Rep. Davids, Senator Smith Reintroduce Legislation to Tackle Maternal Mortality Crisis Through Improved Data, Research
Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Senator Tina Smith (MN) introduced legislation to address America’s worsening maternal mortality crisis, underscoring their commitment to expanding research and improving maternal health care nationwide. Their Data to Save Moms Act (H.R. 8080) aims to better understand the root causes of this crisis by strengthening data collection on maternal mortality and morbidity.
Rep. McBath, Senator Alsobrooks Introduce Legislation to Support Families and Infants
Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) has re-introduced the Extending WIC for New Moms Act (H.R. 8055), a bicameral bill to expand eligibility and support mothers and infants into the postpartum and breastfeeding periods through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs. This legislation extends WIC eligibility in the postpartum period from 6 months to 24 months and in the breastfeeding period from 12 months to 24 months.
Rep. McDonald Rivet Introduces Bill to Give Service Members Housing Literacy Counseling
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced the bipartisan Military Financial Literacy Act (H.R. 8056). This bill would help service members access credentialed, personalized financial and housing counseling through the Department of Defense (DoD).
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