May 03, 2019

Weekly Wrap

On behalf of the New Democrat Coalition, we are saddened to learn about the passing of former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, a founding Member of the New Democrat Coalition. Rep. Tauscher was an influential member of the New Democrat Coalition when she came to the Congress in 1997 and served as the Coalition’s Chair in the 109th and 110th Congress. As Chair, Rep. Tauscher made a consequential impact on the direction of the New Democrat Coalition, leading the effort to modernize the governance of the Coalition and professionalize its operation. Under her Chairmanship, the Coalition fought for a forward-looking innovation agenda, strong national defense, and more effective government. Those who knew her well remember her tenacity, creativity, and patriotism. We extend our condolences to Rep. Tauscher’s daughter Katherine and the Tauscher family.

This week the House of Representatives passed the Climate Action Now Act, landmark climate legislation that would prevent the United States from withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change and require the President to develop a plan for the country to meet its emissions reduction targets under the accords. NDC was proud to fully endorse this legislation. NDC also launched a nationwide infrastructure listening tour, starting with stops in Dallas, TX, and Charleston, SC, over the district work period.

More on what NDC Members have been up to below.

Coalition Highlights

NDC Chair Statement on the House Passage of Broad Legislation to Fight Climate Change

  • After the House of Representatives passed the Climate Action Now Act, NDC Chair Derek Kilmer released a statement of support: “Addressing climate change is not just a necessity for our planet but is also an opportunity to create new green-collar jobs and sustainable economic growth. The time for action is now, and I am proud that the New Democrat Coalition voted to support this landmark legislation.”

New Dems Endorse Broad Legislation to Fight Climate Change

  • NDC Chair Derek Kilmer, Vice Chair for Policy Suzan DelBene, and Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Susan Wild (PA-07) announced the Coalition’s endorsement of the Climate Action Now Act. The bill would prevent the United States from withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change and require the President to develop a plan for the country to meet its emissions reduction targets under the accords.

NDC Chair Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher

  • NDC Chair Derek Kilmer released a statement after the passing of former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, a founding Member of the New Democrat Coalition. Read the full statement.

NDC Climate Change Task Force’s Statement on Earth Day

  • NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Susan Wild (PA-07) issued a statement on Earth Day: “We remain focused on protecting clear air and water, safeguarding America’s natural resources, and prioritizing environmental justice. Earth Day is a reminder that we only have one planet, and we must work together to protect it.”

NDC Launches Nationwide Infrastructure Listening Tour

  • The Coalition launched a nationwide infrastructure listening tour. Reps. Colin Allred (TX-32) and Joe Cunningham (SC-01) kicked off the tour in their home states of Texas and South Carolina, and both were joined by Infrastructure Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL). The listening tour was comprised of townhalls, roundtables with stakeholders and experts, and tours of critical infrastructure sites. Read more about the listening tour

Member Highlights

Committee Action

Stevens’ American Manufacturing Leadership Act Passes the House Science Committee

  • The House Science Committee passed Rep. Haley Stevens’ (MI-11) American Manufacturing Leadership Act. The bipartisan bill will reauthorize and improve the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act by increasing funding for the Manufacturing USA program, strengthening the Manufacturing USA institutes’ role in advanced manufacturing workforce development, and facilitating regional supply chain development.

DelBene’s Bill to Protect Communities from Landslides Passes the Natural Resources Committee

  • The Natural Resources Committee passed Rep. Suzan DelBene’s (WA-01) National Landslide Preparedness Act. The bill would help protect communities and property, save lives and improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in current science and mapping critical to understanding landslide hazards and risks.

Crow’s Small Business Cybersecurity Bill Passes the House Small Business Committee

  • The House Small Business Committee passed Rep. Jason Crow's (CO-06) Small Business Administration Cyber Awareness Act. This legislation is designed to expand cyber security operations at the SBA by requiring the Small Business Administration to issue a report assessing the agency's ability to combat cyber threats. The SBA Cyber Awareness Act would require SBA to notify Congress of future breaches with information on those affected. 

Floor Action

Foster’s Financial Literacy Resolution Passes the House

  • The House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Bill Foster’s (IL-11) Financial Literacy Resolution. The resolution encourages collaboration between the public and private sector to promote financial literacy for students. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of financial literacy for consumers of all ages and supports the efforts of federal agencies to expand financial education resources.

Gottheimer’s Bipartisan Bill to Target Financial Fraud and Scams Against Senior Citizens Passes the House

  • The House of Representatives passed Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s (NJ-05) Senior Security Act. This bipartisan bill creates a Senior Investor Task Force at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to help stop financial predators from targeting seniors.

Casten’s Bipartisan Bill to Support Elderly Protection Through Financial Literacy Passes the House

  • The House of Representatives passed Rep. Sean Casten’s (IL-06) bill to protect elderly communities from financial exploitation through financial literacy education. It’s estimated that older Americans lose more than $36 billion every year to scams.

Bill Introductions

Kilmer Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Shipyard Workers, Other Federal Workers Retire On-Time

  • Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) introduced the bipartisan Federal Retirement Fairness Act to ensure that federal employees who started their careers as temporary workers – meaning they did not have the ability to make retirement contributions – are granted the opportunity to make catch-up retirement contributions so that they can retire on time.

Peters Introduces Two Bills to Address Veteran Homelessness

  • Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced the Veteran HOUSE Act and Homes for Our Heroes Act to address veteran homelessness. The bills are expected to be considered by the full Veterans’ Affairs Committee soon.

Schneider & Kuster Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Train More Doctors to Fight Opioid Epidemic

  • Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Opioid Workforce Act of 2019, which would create 1,000 additional residency positions over five years to hospitals with addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain management programs. This legislation to expand graduate medical education (GME) aims to alleviate the worsening physician shortage, which is particularly acute in the field of addiction medicine and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and threatens to harm our efforts to reverse the opioid epidemic.

Allred Introduces Bipartisan RAPID Act to Streamline Transportation Financing

  • Rep. Colin Allred (TX-32) introduced the Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development (RAPID) Act, which would incentivize investment in infrastructure through participation in the Transportation Infrastructure and innovation Act (TIFIA), bolstering transparency for the public and expediting projects that meet certain criteria.

Mucarsel-Powell Introduces Bill to Increase Funding for Environmentally-Innovative Water Infrastructure Projects

  • Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) introduced the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency (WISE) Act, legislation to strengthen our commitment to environmentally-friendly water infrastructure by requiring at least 20% of Clean Water State Revolving Fund be invested in green infrastructure and environmentally-innovative water projects.

Schneider Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Train More Doctors to Combat Opioid Epidemic

  • Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to train more doctors equipped to combat the opioid epidemic.

Wild Introduces Resolution to Reaffirm Congress’ Commitment to Free Press

  • Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07) introduced a resolution affirming a commitment to a free press and demanding the Trump Administration and all future administrations permit press access to briefings and prohibit discrimination based on viewpoint.

Crow Introduces Bill for Accelerated Payments to Small Business Contractors

  • Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced the Accelerated Payments for Small Business Act. The bill would direct federal government agencies that contract with small businesses to pay those small businesses within 15 days, rather than the current 30 day standard, a commonsense move that would provide the predictability and cash flow that small businesses need to grow and succeed.

Foster Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Mortgage Access for Self-Employed Workers

  • Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the Self-Employed Mortgage Access ACT (SEMAA), which would expand access to mortgages for self-employed individuals, gig workers, and other creditworthy borrowers who have non-traditional forms of income. In addition, the legislation would allow lenders to verify a borrower’s income using additional forms of documentation beyond a W-2. 

Trone and Sherrill Introduce State Opioid Response Grant Bill

  • Reps. David Trone (MD-06) and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced the first out of dozens of bills from the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction. This bill would authorize $5 billion over 5 years for State Opioid Response Grants (SOR), which provide funding to states to combat the opioid epidemic.

Lee Introduces the Bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act

  • Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act to help ensure that all student veterans can take advantage of valuable paid internships or work opportunities while in school.

Member Happenings

Sewell: Alabama’s Workers Deserve a Raise via AL.com

  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) addresses the need for an increased minimum wage in the state of Alabama on AL.com: “Congress must be clear-eyed and laser-focused on uniting behind comprehensive and pragmatic solutions to address the systemic issues facing American workers. A smarter, higher minimum wage is a critical step in the right direction.”

Connolly to Hold Oversight Hearing on Effects of Government Shutdown

  • Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, will hold a field hearing examining the effects of the longest ever government shutdown had on federal contract employees.

Kuster Adds Support to the New Hampshire Broadband Improvement Efforts

  • Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) voiced support for the improvement of New Hampshire’s infrastructure and broadband development: “The safety of our nation’s roads, bridges, waterways, and water treatment infrastructure should not be a partisan issue. Investing in our nation’s infrastructure, including expanding rural broadband, is about ensuring public safety and our economic competitiveness.”

Phillips Hosts Opioid Town Hall

  • Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) invited experts from the law enforcement, health care and nonprofit sectors to join him for a community conversation about Minnesota’s opioid crisis. Following the meeting, community members were trained on how to administer naloxone to save a life from overdose.


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