January 18, 2019
Weekly Wrap
New Democrats are committed to securing our country’s borders. Any solution should be based on evidence, not on fulfilling a campaign promise. We know that improvements in security technology, funding for additional customs officials and enhanced screening at ports of entry will help secure our border, intercept drugs and prevent criminal activity like smuggling and human trafficking. Barriers on the border make sense in some places, but it does not make sense to arbitrarily spend billions of dollars on an ineffective wall that can be tunneled under, climbed over, or cut through.
Wasting money on an ineffective and archaic solution takes us further from our goal of securing the
border because it diverts needed resources away from proven technologies that work best. We should be making smart investments in technology and customs personnel to ensure that our borders are secure.
More on what NDC Members have been up to below.
Coalition Highlights
NDC Members Appointed to Key Committees
- This week the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee met to appoint Members to key House Committees. NDC Members, of all the newly appointed Members, listed below:
- Ways & Means Committee (5/11): Reps. Don Beyer, Brendan Boyle, Stephanie Murphy, Brad Schneider, and Tom Suozzi. Chairman Richard Neal’s statement.
- Energy and Commerce Committee (6/8): Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Annie Kuster, Don McEachin, Tom O’Halleran, Darren Soto, and Marc Veasey.
- Appropriations Committee (6/8): Reps. Cheri Bustos, Ed Case, Charlie Crist, Ann Kirkpatrick, Brenda Lawrence, and Norma Torres.
- Agriculture Committee (10/17): Reps. Anthony Brindisi, Cheri Bustos, Salud Carbajal, Angie Craig, Josh Harder, Ann Kirkpatrick, Al Lawson, Tom O’Halleran, Kim Schrier, and Abigail Spanberger.
- Financial Services Committee (5/16): Reps. Sean Casten, Al Lawson, Ben McAdams, Dean Phillips, and Jennifer Wexton.
- Foreign Affairs Committee (9/12): Colin Allred, Jim Costa, Vicente González, Chrissy Houlahan, Tom Malinowski, Dean Phillips, Abigail Spanberger, Juan Vargas, and Susan Wild.
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (11/16): Reps. Colin Allred, Anthony Brown, Salud Carbajal, Angie Craig, Sharice Davids, Lizzie Fletcher, Tom Malinowski, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Chris Pappas, Harley Rouda, Greg Stanton. Chairman Peter DeFazio’s statement.
- Veterans’ Affairs Committee (6/12): Reps. Colin Allred, Anthony Brindisi, Susie Lee, Elaine Luria, Chris Pappas, Max Rose.
- Armed Services Committee (9/16): Jason Crow, Veronica Escobar, Katie Hill, Chrissy Houlahan, Bill Keating, Elaine Luria, Mikie Sherrill, Elissa Slotkin, and Xochitl Torres Small.
- Education and Labor Committee (4/14): Susie Lee, Kim Schrier, Haley Stevens, and Susan Wild.
- Judiciary Committee (4/9): Lou Correa, Veronica Escobar, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and Greg Stanton.
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (3/4): Val Demings, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Sean Patrick Maloney.
Member Highlights
Kilmer's Bipartisan Open Government Data Act Signed into Law
- The President signed Rep. Derek Kilmer’s (WA-06) the Open, Public, Electronic and Necessary (OPEN) Government Data Act into law. The bill opens government data to the public and makes it easily searchable, so innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers can access government-funded data to create new businesses and apps.
Kuster Speaks Out Against Government Shutdown
- Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) spoke out about the risks associated with the shutdown and the safety of all Americans. “Air traffic controllers, TSA agents, DEA agents and even, ironically, Border Patrol agents are not receiving their pay, and our safety is at risk," Kuster said.
Peters Declines Trump’s White House Invite: “Not Interested in a Photo Op”
- Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) declined President Trump’s invitation to the White House amid the ongoing government shutdown. Peters also sent a letter to the president to officially decline the invitation until the government shutdown ends.
Norcross: Now Is Our Chance to Do What Americans Need & Deserve – Raise the Minimum Wage
- Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and a bicameral group of Democratic leaders introduced the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour responsibly over the next seven years, helping over 40 million Americans who will put that money back into their local economies. A large majority of New Democrat Coalition Members also signed on to the bill.
Himes Talks Twitter to Members
- Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04) (@jahimes – 76,500 followers) trained House Members "on the most effective ways to engage constituents on Twitter and the importance of digital storytelling." USA Today writes, “The Connecticut Democrat has made a deal with his staff that he can manage his own Twitter unless he's drank more than two beers (that rule came after "a beautiful haiku" Himes put up about the Metro North train after drinking). He also can't tweet about body parts (he once tweeted that his scalp was sweating after eating "super spicy chili.") And he's not allowed to tweet about all he learns on the House Intelligence Committee because, well, that's sensitive stuff.”
Bustos’ All-American Flag Act Passes the House
- The House passed Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) bipartisan All-American Flag Act, which requires all American flags purchased by the federal government to be made in the United States and from materials grown or produced in the United States.
- Reps. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the Financial Relief for Feds Act which would provide relief to federal employees affected by the partial government shutdown. This bipartisan bill will allow federal employees and contractors to withdraw funds from their retirement accounts without being penalized.
Connolly Reintroduces Legislation to Preserve 6-Day Postal Delivery
- Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) introduced bipartisan legislation to preserve six-day mail delivery, including Saturday delivery, by the U.S. Postal Service.
Larsen, Veasey Introduce America Votes Act
- Reps. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the America Votes Act to allow voters arriving at polls, without the identification required by their state, to submit a sworn written statement affirming their identity.
Murphy Introduces Combat Online Predators Act
- Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) reintroduced the Combat Online Predators Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would crack down on adults who stalk children online or in their communities.
Veasey Introduces the Incentivizing Medicaid Expansion Act
- Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33) introduced the Incentivizing Medicaid Expansion Act to extend Medicaid coverage availability in the fourteen states that have yet to accept Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
Kuster Introduces 'Blue Water Navy' Bill
- Rep. Annie Kuster, D-New Hampshire, co-sponsored the new Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. This legislation would expand veterans benefits for 90,000 Navy veterans who served in the coastal waters of Vietnam and are impacted by toxic exposure as a result of their service.
Soto Introduces Bipartisan Venezuela TPS Act of 2019
- Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced the Venezuela TPS Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation to allow Venezuelan nationals to become eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States. The Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 would support Venezuelan individuals fleeing their country.
Members Introduce Legislation Allowing DREAMers Employment on Capitol Hill
- Reps. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Lou Correa (CA-46), Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), Darren Soto (FL-09), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), and Greg Stanton (AZ-09) introduced the American Dream Employment Act, a bill that would allow DACA beneficiaries to serve on Capitol Hill. The American Dream Employment Act would amend the provision to specify DREAMers as eligible candidates for employment on Capitol Hill.
Vargas, Soto, Torres Introduce Dreamer House Employment Act
- Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), Darren Soto (FL-09), and Norma J. Torres (CA-35) introduced the DREAMer House Employment Act of 2019. This bill would allow DACA participants to be eligible for employment by an office of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
House Passes Rouda’s Small Business Bill
- The House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Harley Rouda’s (CA-48) Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act, to add new investment to the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) programs while increasing competitiveness and diversity. The Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act will help small businesses grow and develop by stimulating innovation, which will promote job creation. Read more in the LA Times.
Brownley Introduces Bill to Help More Americans Pay Back Student Loans
- Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Act, legislation to help college graduates more easily repay their student loan debts by incentivizing more employers to offer student loan repayment assistance.
California Members Call on USDA to Help California Avocados Access Chinese Market
- A bipartisan group of Members from the California delegation called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to accelerate efforts to help California Hass avocados gain market access in China. The letter calls on the Trump Administration to prioritize a California avocado trade agreement as part of upcoming trade negotiations with China. Reps. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Jim Costa (CA-16) all signed the bicameral letter.
- Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Senator Mark Warner led a letter to President Trump on the direct and immediate consequences of the shutdown on housing stability for more than four million households across the country. Both the short-term operations and long-term viability of affordable housing programs are dependent on Housing and Urban Development’s rental assistance initiatives. An estimated 2.2 million low income households are among those at risk of eviction, including housing for thousands of veterans, seniors, and people living with disabilities.
Connolly Speaks Out about Emoluments Clause with Trump Hotel
- The Inspector General for the General Services Administration revealed that that agency lawyers decided to ignore the constitutional issues when they reviewed the lease after Trump won the 2016 election. In response, Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) said, "GSA OIG confirmed what we all knew: The Trump Administration is in violation of the Emoluments clauses of the United States Constitution. GSA's decision to not consider whether the President's business interest in the Old Post Office lease might be unconstitutional has enabled the President to line his pockets."
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