Weekly Wrap
This week, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which is a sweeping campaign finance and election reform bill that seeks to restore the voice of the American people in their democracy by making it easier to vote, ending the dominance of big money in the political process and ensuring public officials work for the public interest. NDC Members proposed many of the pro-democracy, anti-corruption reforms included in the packages, ranging from election security measures, ethics reforms, transparent campaign ads, and other voting rights measures.
This week, NDC Members sent a letter to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Neal, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Pallone, and Education and Labor Committee Chairman Scott, urging the Committees to prioritize strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and continue the path toward affordable universal coverage. The NDC also released climate change priorities for this Congress through the NDC Climate Change Task Force.
Over the next few weeks, the Coalition will continue to rollout Task Force priorities. More on what NDC Members have been up to below.
Coalition Highlights
NDC Chair Statement on H.R. 1 House Passage
- NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released this statement on H.R. 1 passing the House of Representatives:
- “For a long time, folks have been justifiably frustrated with the performance of the government. There’s been too much money, too many special interests, and too little accountability. Today, Congress finally took a step forward in hopes of ensuring that government works better for the American people. Reducing the role of big money in politics, strengthening ethics rules so elected officials are working for the public interest, and protecting voting rights for every American, are things everyone should agree on. I’m also proud that this bill includes two bipartisan proposals I wrote – provisions that increase transparency in elections and crack down on politicians that cheat.”
- NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) shares why he’s excited to Chair the New Democrat Coalition in the 116th Congress. The NDC is now 101 Members strong and the largest ideological caucus in the House. The Coalition makes up over 40% of the entire House Democratic Caucus in the 116th Congress. Read the full piece in The Well here.
NDC Endorses H.R. 1 and H.R. 4
- NDC endorsed H.R. 1 and H.R. 4, the first legislative endorsements of the 116th Congress. NDC Members proposed many of the pro-democracy, anti-corruption reforms included in the packages, ranging from election security measures, ethics reforms, transparent campaign ads, and other voting rights measures. Video from Wednesday’s press conference on the endorsement can be found here. These are first two bills to be officially endorsed by the Coalition utilizing an updated internal procedure NDC implemented earlier this year.
NDC Releases Climate Change Task Force Goals for the 116th Congress
- NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Elaine Luria, and Susan Wild released their goals for the 116th Congress. More from the Co-Chairs.
- Climate Change Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:
Climate change is an existential threat to the health, national security, economic prosperity, and future of our people and planet. The New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force seeks to foster a pro-climate agenda that would meet the targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Our best shot of hitting these goals is if we use all of the tools and solutions we can get our hands on as we transition to more sustainable and clean energy. We will seek to eliminate barriers to growth for pro-climate businesses, support market based mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, eliminate clean energy inequities in federal policy, boost resilience, energy innovation, and technologies that address climate change, and promote policies that advance energy efficiency as well as help foster business practices that eliminate energy waste.
- NDC Members sent a letter to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Neal, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Pallone, and Education and Labor Committee Chairman Scott, urging the Committees to prioritize strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and continue the path toward affordable universal coverage. Read the full letter.
Member Highlights
Floor Action
House Passes H.R. 1
- NDC Members proposed many of the pro-democracy, anti-corruption reforms included in the packages, ranging from election security measures, ethics reforms, transparent campaign ads, and other voting rights measures.
- More in The Hill, Nexstar, Univision, Crooked Media, and Essence.
Bill Introductions
DelBene Reintroduces Major Proposal to Cut Taxes for Families with Children
- Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) reintroduced the bicameral American Family Act of 2019 to overhaul the existing Child Tax Credit and make it a dramatically more effective tool for supporting middle-class families with kids and reducing child poverty. Read more in Vox.
Connolly Reintroduces FAST Voting ACT
- Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) reintroduced the FAST Voting Act. The legislation aims to enhance voting system security, improve voter participation, and encourage automatic voter registration. Modeled after the Department of Education’s successful Race to the Top program, the FAST Voting Act would allow states to apply for funding to implement innovative policy changes designed to increase voter access and voting system security.
- Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), along with over 50 cosponsors, reintroduced the Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting (EMPOWER) Act. This legislation will lift the veil of secrecy surrounding workplace harassment, and bolster transparency and accountability.
Member Happenings
Fletcher Featured in Houston Chronicle: Life in the center of the political crossfire
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) was featured in the Houston Chronicle about the growing number of New Democrats in Congress. “More than 30 of the 40 GOP seats that Democrats picked up in November were won by centrist, New Democrat Coalition candidates like Fletcher, vying to wrest victories in potentially swing districts,” the piece notes.
- “We’re largely people who come out of district’s like Lizzie’s,” said Rep. Jim Himes, the chair emeritus of the NDC to the Chronicle. “We’re pretty sensitive to being literally on the front lines … We’re the repository of knowledge on how you win in tough areas.” Fletcher co-chairs a New Democrats task force on trade, a top priority in the Houston business community.
Schneider Talks Bipartisanship with Bipartisan Policy Center
- Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) discusses real life examples of Congress finding common ground on the most pressing challenges facing our country on the Bipartisan Backstory. Listen to the podcast.
Davis Requests Information from Ed. Depart. on Mismanagement of Federal Student Loan Program
- Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), Chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, and Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent two letters to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on the recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report that found internal failures at the Department to appropriately oversee student loan servicers that receive federal contracts.
Perlmutter: Coloradans should know what they are paying for in health care via Denver Post
- Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) penned an op-ed in The Denver Post on the cost of health care. “Congress has an opportunity to lead on this issue and show voters that we heard their concerns about affordable health care and are taking steps to ease the burden they are experiencing. These efforts will improve transparency and accountability in the healthcare market as well as help to drive competition and bring down prices. Coloradans should know what they are paying for,” writes Perlmutter.
Veasey Kicks off Women's History Month with Pelosi
- Rep. Veasey (TX-33) held a discussion at Young Women's Leadership Academy in Fort Worth with Speaker Pelosi to kick-off Women's History Month and discuss the importance of fostering young women in STEM careers.
Trone Takes Bipartisan Addiction Working Group to Johns Hopkins
- Rep. David Trone (MD-06) took five members of the House of Representatives to Johns Hopkins facilities this week in order to learn and implement some of the research from experts on how to end the addiction crisis in our country. Trone started the bipartisan Freshmen Working Group on Addiction in order to promote policies to end addiction in this country.
Kuster Fights for Robust Opioid Funding
- Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) is urging President Donald Trump to prioritize funding for State Opioid Response grants in his annual budget proposal to Congress. Kuster emphasized the importance of set-aside funding for states with the highest mortality rates, including New Hampshire.
Norcross Hosts First Bipartisan Building Trade Caucus Meeting of 116th Congress
- Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) hosted the inaugural meeting of the Congressional Bipartisan Building Trades Caucus in the 116th Congress. With both new and seasoned colleagues in attendance, the meeting focused on infrastructure, apprenticeships, retirement security and prevailing wage.
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