New Democrat Coalition Weekly Wrap 6/12
Press Releases
New Dems Oppose Placing FISA Authority in the Hands of Bill Pulte
New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10) and National Security Working Group Chair Gil Cisneros (CA-31) issued a statement on the upcoming vote to extend FISA Section 702:
“Bill Pulte is a national security threat — full stop.
“New Dems will not vote in favor of extending FISA if our most sensitive intelligence can be manipulated by a wholly unqualified and biased individual with none of the experience required of the Director of National Intelligence.”
“FISA is critically important to our national security, and the President must treat it with the gravity it demands. We will await the opportunity to revisit the FISA extension once the Administration withdraws Pulte’s temporary appointment and places someone qualified and serious in the DNI role.”
New Dem Leadership Condemns House Republicans’ $70B Blank Check to Out-of-Control ICE & CBP
New Democrat Coalition Leadership issued a statement after House Republicans voted to give an additional $70 billion to ICE and CBP without any of the common-sense safeguards and reforms that Americans overwhelmingly support to rein in these reckless agencies.
To make matters worse, by advancing this legislation House Republicans also left the door open for President Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund and $1 billion taxpayer subsidy for his ballroom.
“House Republicans are now nothing more than a rubber stamp for President Trump’s extreme and corrupt agenda. This legislation betrays the American people, signing a $70 billion blank check to out-of-control enforcement agencies and giving the green light to Trump’s self-serving slush fund and gold-plated ballroom.
“House Republicans could be spending their time improving the lives of everyday Americans – building more affordable housing, making healthcare more affordable and accessible, and lowering gas prices. Yet over and over again, Republican lawmakers slash funding and raise prices for working families just to blindly follow orders from the one person they actually listen to: President Trump.
“New Dems are fighting to make government work for the people, not Trump. We’ll continue working tirelessly to block funding for Trump’s corrupt schemes, rein in ICE and CBP to protect our communities, and lower costs for Americans struggling every day in Trump’s economy.”
New on Substack
New Dems Release New Episode of The Fly-In: "Republican Reconciliation, Corruption, & Baseball" with Rep. Mike Levin
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This week, co-hosts Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) are joined by Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) to discuss Republicans’ legislation to give an additional $70 billion to ICE and CBP without any of the common-sense reforms Americans overwhelmingly support. Rep. Levin also talks about his recent visit to a detention center in San Diego, sharing some of the difficulties that Members of Congress face when trying to inspect facilities and speak with detainees.
Importantly, this Republican bill does nothing to prevent President Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund and $1 billion taxpayer subsidy for his ballroom. As co-founder of the recently-formed End Corruption Caucus, Rep. Levin speaks on the blatant levels of corruption coming out of this administration, and what Congress needs to do to address it.
In honor of the Congressional Baseball Game this week, Landsman and Veasey wrap up the show by asking Rep. Levin about early-morning team practices and quizzing him on his baseball knowledge.
New Dems Lead with Real Solutions while House Republicans Collapse
This week, House Republicans have once again failed the American people by acting as a rubber stamp for Trump instead of addressing real issues. They jammed through an extreme, partisan reconciliation package that gave a $70 billion blank check to ICE and CBP – agencies that 3 in 4 Americans want seriously reformed, now funded at three times their annual budget – and left the door open for Trump’s $1.8 billion January 6th Slush Fund and his $1 billion taxpayer-funded, gold-plated ballroom.
Meanwhile, gas prices are at $4.10 nationally and inflation hit 4.2 percent – its highest point in three years. Trump’s war in Iran is escalating once again without any approval or oversight from Congress. Five million ACA enrollees are expected to drop coverage this year after Republicans blocked tax credits. Electricity costs are expected to spike by nearly 10 percent this summer. And the Administration is bungling a screwworm invasion in the southwest that threatens to raise beef prices even higher, after mindless DOGE cuts eliminated a program that kept the crisis at bay.
Member Highlights
Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Chair of the New Dem Immigration & Border Security Working Group, alongside cosponsor Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Chair of the New Dem Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group, introduced the Careworker Visa Act (H.R. 9234) to address the nation's growing shortage of childcare providers, eldercare workers, and in-home caregivers and bring down care costs by creating a new legal visa pathway for qualified careworkers.
Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27) introduced the bipartisan Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act (H.R. 9235), legislation which requires state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to identify roads, bridges, and other transportation assets that are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, as well as those that are essential to emergency operations when disasters occur. These reports will be passed on to local governments and emergency response agencies to improve their ability to prepare for extreme weather events.
Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led 46 colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Acting Director Angie Salazar, demanding answers about ORR’s prolonged detention of unaccompanied children.
Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) convened a press conference to spotlight common-sense, evidence-based tools proven to prevent domestic violence. The event, titled “Stopping Domestic Violence with Common-Sense Tools,” highlighted key legislative efforts during Gun Violence Awareness & Prevention Month.
Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) introduced a House amendment to ban the Federal Bureau of Prisons from using taxpayer funds to provide VIP perks, luxury transportation, or lifted legal holds to pardoned drug and child traffickers. The measure was launched after records revealed that convicted former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández received a taxpayer-funded tactical escort to a luxury Manhattan hotel and had an immigration hold bypassed immediately following his presidential pardon.
Member Legislation
Rep. Lee Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Expanding Access to Affordable Child Care
Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act (H.R. 9224). This bill would help working families with young children by strengthening CCDBG, giving parents more options through new supply and facilities grants, supporting child care professionals with more accurate reimbursement rates, providing new technical assistance to in-home and rural providers, and enable states to better meet the growing child care needs of working families, providers, and employers. In Nevada, 1 out of 4 children currently do not have access to a licensed child care professional.
Reps. Johnson, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Prior Authorization Reform for Autoimmune & Blood Disorders Act
Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) announced the introduction of their bipartisan Prior Authorization Reform for Autoimmune & Blood Disorders Act (H.R. 9192). The legislation will limit the number of prior authorizations required by private health insurance plans to once per year for patients with autoimmune diseases or blood disorders.
Rep. Hoyle, Rep. Carbajal, and Sen. Wyden Reintroduce the DASH Act
Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All (DASH) Act (H.R. 9281). This legislation would provide a $15,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and make crucial investments to end homelessness and tackle the housing affordability crisis by increasing housing supply.
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