Weekly Wrap 02/28/2020
This week, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) launched its new 20 for 2020 policy agenda, which outlines a path forward for Congress to act now on some of our nation’s most pressing issues and top priorities for Americans.
The NDC also inducted Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) to the Coalition. The NDC’s membership has reached historic heights with 104 members, building on its position as the largest ideological caucus amongst House Democrats. New Dem members are the majority makers in the House.
More on what Members have been up to below.
Coalition Highlights
NDC Launches 20 for 2020 Policy Agenda
The NDC, led by NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Vice Chairs Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Annie Kuster (NH-02), and Scott Peters (CA-52), Freshman Whip Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and Freshman Leadership Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), launched the 20 for 2020 policy agenda. The NDC is focused on solving the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The NDC will continue to advocate forward-looking policies that expand opportunities, promote innovation, keep Americans safe, and reinvigorate government. This agenda outlines a path forward for Congress to enact durable change on some of our nation’s most pressing issues to help ensure America leads the future. The time to act is now. Americans cannot afford to wait.
The NDC was proud to induct Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) to the Coalition in the 116th Congress. With the addition of Rep. Cox, the NDC is 104 members strong, accounting for over forty percent of the Democratic Caucus and making the NDC the largest ideological caucus amongst House Democrats. Of the 40 seats that were flipped red-to-blue in 2018, 33 of them are NDC freshmen members, including Rep. Cox.
Member Highlights
Floor Action
House Passes Panetta’s Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Legal Services to Homeless Veterans
The House passed Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s (CA-20) bipartisan Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act. The legislation directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants to organizations that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. The legislation would also appropriate at least $20 million to organizations that have a focus on providing assistance to women veterans and their families.
House Passes Torres’ Bipartisan Military Education Bill
The House unanimously passed Rep. Norma Torres’ (CA-35) GI & Veteran Education Empowerment (GIVE) Act. The bill expands the G.I. Comparison Tool – an online resource intended to provide service members with the information they need to find a school that’s right for them.
House Passes Bustos’ Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Veterans’ Spouses and Families
The House passed Rep. Cheri Bustos’ (IL-17) Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act to ensure the spouses and dependents of servicemembers receive the support and protections they deserve.
House Passes Rose’s Bipartisan VA Transparency Legislation
The House passed Rep. Max Rose’s (NY-11) VA Reporting Transparency Act to protect the nation’s veteran communities by ensuring increased transparency and accountability of the VA.
Bill Introductions
Plaskett Introduces Legislation to Promote the Construction of Resilient Infrastructure
Rep. Stacey Plaskett (USVI-AL) introduced the Resiliency Enhancement Act to allow the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to rebuild infrastructure to increase resiliency. The legislation expands the infrastructure eligible for additional resiliency assistance to include roads, bridges, ports, airports, affordable housing, and stormwater infrastructure as the islands rebuild following the devastating hurricanes and earthquakes in the region.
Carbajal Introduces Bill to Halt Future Oil and Gas Drilling
Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) introduced the California’s Land Preservation and Protection Act to place a moratorium on fracking as well as new oil and gas drilling on federal lands on California’s central and southern coasts. The legislation prohibits the Bureau of Land Management from authorizing future oil and gas leasing until the department publishes a comprehensive environmental impact statement to assess potential environment, wildlife, frontline communities, and water quality, among other factors.
Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Sharice Davids (KS-03) introduced legislation to provide a foundation for climate change mitigation practices and technologies in the civil aviation and aerospace sectors. The National Evaluation of Aviation and Aerospace Solutions to Climate Change Act directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a database of and report on current climate change mitigation efforts in aviation and aerospace.
Heck Housing Bill Reported Out of Committee
Rep. Denny Heck’s bipartisan Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act, H.R. 4351, passed the House Financial Services Committee by voice vote. The YIMBY Act, which was endorsed by the NDC, addresses housing construction regulations by requiring local governments applying for federal housing development funds through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to report on policies that may affect housing affordability.
Houlahan Introduces Bipartisan National Service Bill
NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) introduced the bipartisan National Service GI Bill Act to incentivize forms of service like Teach for America, the Peace Corps, FEMA Corps, and more through the guarantee of in-state tuition for their volunteers.
Panetta Introduces Gun Safety Bill to Ensure Completion of Background Checks
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced gun safety legislation to ensure completion of background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) system. The legislation would close existing loopholes that can potentially allow for gun sales without a completed background check.
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) introduced the bipartisan Built to Last Act to bolster America’s infrastructure systems against the risks of climate change.
Cárdenas Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Address Immigration Backlogs
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) introduced the bipartisan Case Backlog and Transparency Act to address the severe case backlog at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The bill establishes new reporting requirements for USCIS and the Government Accountability Office to determine the reasons for process delays and to find potential solutions to reduce the immigration case backlog.
Member Happenings
Moulton: We Need to Defend America’s Research and Science from Foreign Spying via Time Magazine
Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06) penned an op-ed in Time Magazine on the importance of passing his legislation, the FIRM Act, to help ensure the protection of American research and development. This legislation would reform the Foreign Agents Registration Act to protect American innovators from China and other adversaries who are stealing American research and intellectual property through corporate and academic espionage: “We should encourage collaboration among scientists and nations around the world. We just need to ensure authoritarian governments like the Chinese Communist Party aren’t able to steal our scientists and our secrets. The stakes are too high.”
Craig Meets with District Stakeholders to Discuss the Impact of USMCA
Following the passage of the implementing bill for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) met with members from the wine, trucking, and farming industries to discuss the impacts of the new trade agreement on their day-to-day work.
McBath Urges Action on Gun Violence Prevention Legislation Anniversary
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) joined survivors, advocates, and colleagues on the year anniversary of the House passage of H.R. 8, the bipartisan Background Checks Act: “It has been a year since we stood together in the House chamber, Democrats and Republicans, and voted to pass a common-sense bill that will help save lives. I voted “Yes” for my son, Jordan Davis, and for all the lives lost to gun violence.”
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