April 12, 2019
Weekly Wrap
In our first 100 days in the House majority, the New Democrat Coalition has hit the ground running to push bold ideas and innovative solutions. With 101 total Members and 40 Freshman Members in the Coalition, NDC is the largest ideological House Democratic caucus making up over forty percent of Democratic Members.
A few highlights of the New Dems first 100 days:
- New Dems led a letter urging the Committees of jurisdiction to prioritize strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and continue the path toward affordable universal coverage. These ideas helped lead to the pivotal health care bill introduced in the House just last month. Last week, the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation championed by NDC Members.
- New Dems were the first ideological caucus to endorse H.R. 1 and H.R. 4. 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.
- The NDC Trade Task Force sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to abandon any further action that threatens the American automotive sector, auto workers, and our economy. Imposing tariffs under Section 232 on autos and auto parts for reasons not related to national security concerns clearly oversteps the authority granted by Congress.
- The House rules package for the 116th Congress includes many changes that Rep. Derek Kilmer and the New Democrat Coalition advocated to modernize the House and make its processes more accessible and ultimately accountable to the American people.
- New Democrat Coalition Members have at least 40 percent of the seats on all the exclusive committees and have greater representation on many of the national security committees like Armed Services and Intelligence.
- NDC launched 8 policy task forces in the 116th Congress. The task forces are led by freshman Members, Committee Members, and New Dem issue area experts in order to develop policies to help Americans get ahead in a changing economy and make America more secure.
Already it’s clear the Democratic agenda in the first 100 days has reflected many NDC priorities. NDC Members will continue this momentum and leadership to advance pro-growth, innovative policy ideas as we head into the next 100 days.
Coalition Highlights
Members of the NDC Help Lead Effort to Improve Access to Affordable Health Care
- Last week, the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced five pieces of legislation championed by New Democrat Coalition members to help lower the costs of health care and strengthen protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. The efforts come as the Trump Administration aims to eliminate the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. New Dems have been at the forefront of efforts to improve the health care system and will continue to fight for affordable and universal coverage.
Member Highlights
Floor Action
House Passes Craig’s Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Water Pollution
- The House passed Rep Angie Craig’s (MN-02) bipartisan bill to reduce harmful water pollution in local waters. The Local Water Protection Act would reauthorize and increase voluntary grants from the Environmental Protection Agency designed to give local and state governments the flexibility to create conservation programs to reduce water pollution from storm runoff and snowmelt that are specific to their communities.
House Passes Sewell Proposal in IRS Improvement Package
- The House passed the Taxpayer First Act which includes a provision introduced by Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), the Preserving Taxpayers’ Rights Act. Sewell’s bill maintains taxpayers’ legal right to have cases heard by the IRS Office of Appeals; further defines which IRS cases can be designated for litigation and when tax liability assessments can be levied; and eliminates the use of outside law firms for federal tax audits.
House Passes Bipartisan Murphy Bill to Help Move Unemployed Americans to Good-Paying Jobs
- The House passed Rep. Stephanie Murphy’s (FL-07) bipartisan legislation to create more opportunities for working families to get ahead. The BRIDGE for Workers Act would give states more flexibility in administering existing unemployment benefits to help more Americans re-enter the workforce and find good-paying jobs. The bill would give as many as 25,000 Floridians claiming unemployment insurance benefits each week access to re-employment services.
Bill Introductions
Blunt Rochester, McBath & Peters Introduce New Personal Savings Retirement Bill
- Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Scott Peters (CA-52), and Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the Saving for the Future Act, legislation to address the nation’s retirement savings crisis and help ensure that Americans are able to afford emergency expenses. The Saving for the Future Act establishes a minimum employer contribution to a savings plan of 50 cents per hour worked, which equals $20 per week and more than $1,000 per year.
Connolly Reintroduces the Global Health Security Act
- Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly reintroduced the bipartisan Global Health Security Act, which reaffirms the United States’ commitment to promoting global health security. The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Ami Bera (CA-07) and Rick Larsen (WA-02).
- Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced the Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2019. This bill establishes a new initiative to grow and expand highly successful Apprenticeship Hubs, which are organizations that help employers design, develop, and deliver registered apprenticeship programs.
Cisneros Introduces Legislation to Expand GI Bill Benefits
- Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-39) introduced the Break Relief for Every Academic Kind of Period in an Academic Year (BREAK PAY) for Veterans Act. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a housing allowance to individuals between school terms, which will ensure GI Bill beneficiaries continue to receive financial assistance during winter breaks up to eight weeks in length.
Moulton Introduces Sanctions Legislation Targeting Chinese Fentanyl Producers
- Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced the Fentanyl Sanctions Act, bipartisan legislation to force China to stem the flow of deadly, synthetic opioids being trafficked into the United States.
Pappas Introduces the PFAS Registry Act
- Reps. Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the PFAS Registry Act with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers. This legislation would create a national database for service members and veterans experiencing health problems possibly due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Schrier Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Prevent Child Abuse
- Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08) introduced the Early Detection to Stop Infant Abuse and Prevent Fatalities Act to improve early detection of infant abuse by expanding trainings and best practices to medical and child welfare professionals.
Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Bring Down Insulin Prices
- Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08) introduced the bipartisan Protecting Access to Biosimilars Act that would codify FDA guidance on biosimilars into law. The guidance says that biosimilars, or generic, forms of insulin now have a pathway for approval.
Cuellar & Escobar Condemn Trump’s Threat to Shutdown the US-Mexico Border
- Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced a resolution condemning President Trump’s recent threat to shut down the United States-Mexico border. Any potential closure of the border would cause extensive economic harm to U.S. markets and sever the bilateral trade relationship between the two countries.
Veasey Introduces the Notario Victim Relief Act
- Reps. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced the Notario Victim Relief Act to give immigrants an opportunity to seek legal asylum status, permanent residency or protected temporary stay after falling victim to fraudulent legal representation. For many immigrants, false legal representation could mean a denial of temporary protective status or a deportation order.
McAdams Proposes Balanced Budget Amendment
- Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04) introduced a bill that proposes a Balanced Budget Amendment. The measure would amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit the federal government from spending more than it receives in any given fiscal year with exceptions for times of war or recession. The measure also requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress each fiscal year.
- Reps. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Greg Stanton (AZ-09) introduced a bill to reauthorize and increase funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG).
Soto Introduces Digital Token Taxonomy Package
- Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced the Digital Taxonomy Act of 2019 which authorizes an additional $25 million in funding to prevent deceptive practices for cryptocurrency and blockchain projects. It also mandates the FTC to produce an annual report outlining the plan to further protect consumers and ensure the United States remains a global leader in these technologies. Soto also introduced the Token Taxonomy Act of 2019 which will further clarify the Digital Token definition to be more inclusive of changing technology.
Wasserman Schultz Introduces Families Not Facilities Act
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) introduced the bicameral Families, Not Facilities Act of 2019 to help unaccompanied migrant youth more quickly connect with sponsors by prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security from using information from the placement process to conduct deportation proceedings.
Lee Introduces Bicameral Bill to Invest in Students by Fully Funding Title I, Special Education
- Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, which would put Congress on a fiscally-responsible path to meet its obligation to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis over the next 10 years.
Member Happenings
Peters Unveils The Climate Playbook: Recommendations for Immediate Congressional Action
- Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) unveiled The Climate Playbook, a comprehensive plan he compiled of already existing legislation authored by both Republicans and Democrats, many of which have already earned bipartisan support. These legislative proposals together would take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gasses and slow—even reverse—the effects of climate change. The Playbook, as additional bills are workshopped and current bills are tailored, can serve legislators, experts, and the public as a reference on the status of legislation to tackle climate change.
Sewell Calls on Secretary Azar to Increase Access to Non-Opioid Pain Management
- Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) led 47 other Members of Congress in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar. The letter called on the agency to work with CMS to revise reimbursement policies that limit patient access to non-opioid drugs, biological products and medical devices to treat postsurgical pain in an effort to continue fighting the opioid epidemic.
Houlahan Leads Bipartisan Effort to Improve Women Veterans’ Access to VA Healthcare
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) led a bipartisan effort to improve women veterans' access to VA Healthcare. In a letter to the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Navy signed by 34 Members, Members requested that the Army and Navy pursue full participation in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Women’s Health Transition Assistance program pilot, which is currently fully implemented by the Air Force.
Hill Supports San Jose's Decision to Convert Market-Rate Housing to Affordable Housing
- Co-Chair of the NDC Housing Task Force, Rep. Katie Hill (CA-25) lauded the city of San Jose’s decision to tackle the homelessness crisis by converting market-rate housing to affordable housing.
Spanberger: From the CIA to the House of Representatives via POLITICO
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) joined POLITICO to discuss her life of public service. She began her career as an intelligence officer for the CIA, working to increase national security. "I can disagree with people on 100 things. The 101st thing we agree on is a good place to start the conversation," said Spanberger. She now brings that expertise to Congress as a Co-Chair of the NDC National Security Task Force.
- Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) warns of the threat of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu siding with the far right in his op-ed for The Washington Post. “Netanyahu may have narrowly prevailed in Israel’s election this week — but at what cost? His full-throated embrace of the far right’s extreme agenda has placed him on a dangerous track that is not in the interest of Israel, the Palestinians or the United States,” writes Connolly.
- Reps. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) address the growing need for immigrant communities to receive lawful legal representation in the wake of the Trump Administration in the Dallas Morning News. Read the piece in Spanish in Univision Noticas.
Larsen Joins CSIS and the US China Business Council for the US-China Innovation Forum
- Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined CSIS and the US China Business Council for the US-China Innovation Forum to discuss US-China relations, trade, national security and innovation.
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