March 15, 2019

Weekly Wrap

This week, New Democrats raised concerns with the President Trump’s budget request for being light on details, fiscally irresponsible, and not prioritizing investments critical to our future. New Democrats support a bipartisan, long-term approach to address structural causes of our growing deficits and debt therefore enabling us to make important investments to innovate, make the economy work better for everyone and keep our country safe.

This week, NDC Members also joined their colleagues in unanimously voting to require the Justice Department to provide the upcoming report from Special Counsel Robert Muller to the Congress and public. The NDC Infrastructure and Trade Task Forces released their priorities for this Congress. 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 Releases Trade Task Force Goals for the 116th Congress

  • The NDC Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Ron Kind, Rick Larsen, Greg Meeks, and Lizzie Fletcher released their goals for the 116th Congress. Trade Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:

The New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force is committed to maintaining the United States’ position as a global leader and supports smart trade policy that benefits American workers, businesses, farmers, and consumers. We must pursue a policy that promotes a competitive workforce, respects and strengthens our global relationships, brings outdated agreements into the 21st century, and promotes American excellence and values abroad. We also support reigning in the unilateral trade actions the administration has taken and reasserting Congress’ involvement in tariff policy. We need to continue setting the rules for the global economy, not have them set by others. In doing so, our Trade Task Force will focus on championing the economy of the future, not the economy of 50 years ago. Read more from the Co-Chairs here.

  • NDC Members met with Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to discuss USMCA and the Administration’s trade policy at our weekly lunch. Read more in Politico.

NDC Releases Infrastructure Task Force Goals for the 116th Congress

  • The NDC Infrastructure Task Force Co-Chairs Stacey Plaskett, Jason Crow, Elissa Slotkin, and Salud Carbajal released their goals for the 116th Congress. Infrastructure Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:

The New Democrat Coalition Infrastructure Task Force will work to create jobs, spur economic growth, and modernize America’s transportation, port, air, water, energy, and communications infrastructure. We must make sustainable and innovative public and private investments across the U.S. to repair and upgrade existing assets and build vital new projects. We will seek to support projects that help communities become more energy efficient, resilient and better prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change and environmental cleanup. Finally, we will seek to give communities ownership of local development, and encourage innovation, regulatory streamlining, and more comprehensive and multi-project long term planning. Read more from the Co-Chairs here.

NDC Climate Change Task Force Highlights Priorities for 116th Congress

  • NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Co-Chairs: Reps. Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Susan Wild, and Elaine Luria laid out their priorities for the 116th Congress.
  • The Hill writes, “Speaking to reporters Thursday, the four leaders of the 17 member task force said their goal was to brainstorm and introduce market driven climate initiatives that carry political weight.” 

Member Highlights

Floor Action

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act Signed Into Law

  • President Trump signed into law S. 47, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, a package of public lands bills that included many NDC Member priorities. Read more from Reps. Derek Kilmer, Annie Kuster, and Pete Aguilar.

Bill Introductions

Stevens' Introduces Bipartisan STEM Education Bill

  • Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) introduced her first ever bill, the Building Blocks of STEM Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill directs the National Science Foundation to more equitably allocate funding, with a focus on supporting STEM education research on early childhood. The bill also directs the NSF to support research on the factors that discourage or encourage girls to engage in STEM activities, including computer science.

Moulton Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral CHANCE in Tech Act

  • Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06) reintroduced the Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology (CHANCE in Tech) Act. The bipartisan legislation would provide industry intermediaries, like state tech associations, the ability to receive federal grants to develop apprenticeships within the technology sector. It also works to alleviate the skills gap that may slow the continued growth of the technology sector. This bill was included in the NDC’s Economic Opportunity Agenda: A Future that Works. Read more in Closing the Skills and Opportunity Gaps.

Casten Introduces the Taxpayer Extension Act

  • Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced legislation that would extend the tax filing deadline by 5 weeks from April 15 to May 20 for individual filers for 2018. This bill provides relief for filers that may need additional time due to the changes in tax law and the 5-week Trump Shutdown.

Sewell Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Delay Auto Tariffs, Legislation to Spur Investment in Low-Income Areas, and Legislation to Tackle Doctor Shortages

  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced bipartisan legislation to require the International Trade Commission (ITC) to conduct a comprehensive study on the economic importance of automotive manufacturing in America before tariffs on automobiles and auto parts could be applied.
  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced legislation to spur private investment in low-income rural communities and urban neighborhoods by providing New Market Tax Credits for private investments made in underserved communities. The New Market Tax Credit Expansion Act would reauthorize and make permanent the NMTC.
  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced legislation that would take critical steps towards reducing nationwide physician shortages by boosting the number of Medicare-supported residency positions. The Resident Physician Shortage Act would support an additional 3,000 positions each year for the next five years, for a total of 15,000 residency positions.

Foster Introduces Bipartisan Pi Day Resolution and Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Education Benefits for Military Families

  • Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced bipartisan resolution in honor of Pi Day. Pi (represented by the Greek letter π) is an irrational number representing the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle that mathematicians, architects, engineers, and scientists use in calculations. Although the decimal digits of π continue randomly forever, the number is commonly rounded to 3.14, making March 14 the appropriate day to celebrate the number.
  • Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the bipartisan GI Education Benefits Fairness Act, H.R. 1718. This legislation would align definitions of an eligible child in the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense for the purposes of the education benefit transfer. Currently, veterans and service members receive education benefits that they can transfer to their children, but a discrepancy in the definitions across agencies has led to the denial of this benefit to military families.

Torres Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reclassify 9-1-1 Dispatchers as Protective Service Occupations

  • Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35) introduced the bipartisan 9-1-1 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act to reclassify 9-1-1 call-takers and dispatchers from Office and Administrative Support Occupations to Protective Service Occupations. The current classification reflects an outdated, misinformed view of the nation’s 100,000 public safety telecommunicators.

Rouda Introduces Resolution to Preserve Interpreter Records in Meetings with Foreign Leaders

  • Rep. Harley Rouda (CA-48) introduced a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that, under the Presidential Records Act, it is imperative to preserve all records relating to the President’s meetings with foreign leaders. 

Member Happenings

Kilmer Recognized for Bipartisan Accomplishments by National Think Tank

  • Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) was honored with a 2019 Legislative Action Award by the Bipartisan Policy Center, a nationally-recognized think tank that actively works to find consensus and common ground to address key challenges facing the nation. The annual award recognizes Members of Congress committed to solving problems and developing sound policy for the American people.

Trump Budget Director Admits No Plan B if Inflated Growth Projections Aren’t Realized

  • Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) questioned the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought after President Trump released his Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The budget blueprint calls for major cuts to education, environmental protection, energy, health care, and housing programs. Rep. Peters was recently appointed to the House Budget Committee.

Carbajal Discusses the Path Forward for an Infrastructure Package

  • Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, participated in an infrastructure panel hosted by Politico and the National League of Cities where he discussed the path forward for an infrastructure investment package in Congress this year.

Houlahan, Trahan Urge Democratic Leadership to Make Legislative Process More Open and Transparent

  • Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) along with 15 other Members of the Freshman Class sent a letter to Democratic Congressional leadership urging action to fix the procedural rule in the House of Representatives known as the Motion to Recommit (MTR). The letter was addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, and Chairman of the House Rules Committee Jim McGovern.

McAdams: Both parties must work to lower our country's dangerous debt burden via Deseret News

  • Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04) wrote an op-ed about our country’s debt burden in the Deseret News. “National headlines say that no one in either political party is talking about the debt.  We must have that conversation and work until we find solutions to the harm caused by the debt. It is clear we are on a dangerous and unsustainable course. The decisions won’t be easy, but our children and our grandchildren are counting on us to make this right,” writes McAdams.
  • Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04) was also featured on NewDEAL’s podcast, An Honorable Profession, on healing division and gridlock in Congress. Listen to the full podcast.

Schrier: More stringent immunization requirements, combating bad information needed in measles fight via The Hill

  • Rep. Kim Schrier's (WA-08) wrote an op-ed on the importance of vaccines, the need for more stringent immunization requirements, and combating bad vaccine information on the internet. “I encourage parents to meet with their pediatrician, learn about the benefits of immunizations, and then get their children vaccinated. Then we can again say that measles is a disease of the past,” writes Schrier.

Kuster: Regional program is key to helping rural communities via Sentinel Source

  • Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) penned an op-ed with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) on the Northern Border Regional Commission, an important partnership between New Hampshire and the federal government. “The NBRC provides opportunities to Granite State startups, projects and programs, helping economically distressed areas of New Hampshire that otherwise wouldn’t have access to the investments they need,” write Kuster and Shaheen.

Phillips: Campaign reform bill needs your support via Star Tribune

  • Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) penned an op-ed for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune urging support for H.R. 1. “Politicians shouldn’t be giving special treatment to people like me. In an enlightened democracy, the red carpet should be rolled out for everybody, not just a privileged few,” said Phillips. 

Kuster Successfully Pushes for Environmental Protects in New Hampshire

  • Rep. Annie Kuster said the protection of the Nashua River and its tributaries and the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund will “contribute to the long-term protection of our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.”

Luria leads effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay

  • Rep. Elaine Luria (VA-02) recently announced that she is leading bipartisan House legislation that would fully fund the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program for the next five years, ensuring that states get the resources they need to comply with their obligations to protect and preserve the Bay.

Lee Helps Teacher Obtain License

  • Rep. Susie Lee recently helped a local teacher who needed assistance obtaining his teaching license. Ralph Schatzki moved to Las Vegas from Pennsylvania earlier this year and was looking to update his teaching license to Nevada in time to accept a position with Clark County School District. Lee’s office worked with Clark County School District, the Nevada Department of Education, and the FBI to expedite the process. Flagging there was a disconnect between the agencies about Mr. Schatzki’s fingerprint results and background check, Lee successfully moved the process along, got the background check approved, and got the license issued in time for Mr. Schatzki to begin his new job with the school.
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