May 10, 2019

Weekly Wrap

This week, the House of Representatives passed the New-Dem led Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019. This legislation, led by NDC Vice Chair for Communications Annie Kuster and co-sponsored by Rep. Don Beyer, would revoke Section 1332 guidance released by the Trump Administration in October of 2018, which weakened protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

NDC endorsed H.R. 5, the Equality Act, a bill to ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in arenas such as housing, employment, federal funding, education, credit, and jury service. Watch the press conference here. The NDC Trade Task Force Co-Chairs also released a statement after the announcement that President Trump may raise tariffs on China, continuing to harm American businesses, farmers, and families.

More on what NDC Members have been up to below.

Coalition Highlights

NDC Endorses H.R. 5, The Equality Act

  • The New Democrat Coalition announced its official endorsement of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, a bill to ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in arenas such as housing, employment, federal funding, education, credit and jury service. The legislation will amend the Civil Rights Act to protect individuals against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Speakers at the press conference included NDC Vice Chair for Communications Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, NDC Future of Work Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Chris Pappas, NDC Vice Chair for Policy Coordination Rep. Suzan DelBene. NDC Members were joined by Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, Niki Christoff, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Government Relations of Salesforce, Chris Padilla, Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs of IBM, and Patrick Hedren, Vice President of Labor, Legal and Regulatory Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers.   

NDC Celebrates National Small Business Week

  • New Democrat Coalition Members celebrated National Small Business Week. NDC Members recognize that entrepreneurs & small businesses spur growth that makes everyone prosperous, bolster our nation’s economy, & drive innovation, competition & development. Read more from NDC Members.

NDC Trade Task Force Statement on Section 301 Tariffs Announcement

  • The New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Ron Kind, Rick Larsen, Greg Meeks and Lizzie Fletcher released a statement after the announcement that President Trump would raise tariffs on China, continuing to harm American businesses, farmers and families: "We urge the administration to reverse their plans to increase taxes by over double on a quarter of goods purchased from China by U.S. consumers or used as input parts for goods manufactured in the U.S.”

House Passes New Dem-Led Bill to Protect Americans with Preexisting Conditions

  • The House of Representatives passed NDC Vice Chair for Communications Annie Kuster’s the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Don Beyer. This legislation would push back on the Trump Administration’s repeated and ongoing attack of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

Member Highlights

Committee Action

Appropriations Committee Passes Blunt Rochester’s Bill

  • The House Appropriations Committee passed Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester’s (DE-AL) fiscal year (FY) 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill, which includes funding for the ACA education, marketing, and outreach efforts. This critically important funding ensures H.R. 987, the MORE Health Education Act is fully implemented, helping to ensure that Americans are aware of open enrollment dates, coverage options, and financial support available to those seeking health insurance on the ACA marketplaces.

House Education and Labor Committee Passes McBath’s Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

  • The House Education and Labor Committee passed Rep. Lucy McBath’s (GA-06) Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Stronger CAPTA). This legislation would establish a national hotline to help prevent child abuse and neglect.

Bill Introductions

Peters Introduces Bipartisan Chabad of Poway House Resolution

  • Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced a bipartisan resolution that condemns the attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue, honors the memory of Lori Gilbert Kaye, recognizes the congregants who helped stop the attacker, acknowledges the community’s grief, and thanks law enforcement and emergency response officials. It also renounces the violence and growing white supremacy and white nationalism in light of American values of dignity and respect of all people.

Sewell Introduces Bipartisan Bills on Health Care, Infrastructure, and Taxes

Blunt Rochester Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Seniors from Predatory Scams

  • Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) introduced the Stop Senior Scams Act, legislation which would establish a federal advisory council to coordinate industry and government agencies in developing tools for retailers to help stop a payment before it is made, so seniors don’t fall victim to fraud or scams.

Sherill and Cisneros Introduce SALT Relief and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act

  • Reps. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Gil Cisneros (CA-39) introduce bipartisan legislation to raise the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act limited the SALT deduction to $10,000, and married couples filing jointly are harmed by having the same limit to $10,000 cap as individuals. The SALT Relief and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act would make the SALT deduction equal to the standard deduction taken by taxpayers: $12,000 for individual filers; $18,000 for Head of Households; and $24,000 for joint filers.

Crow Introduces Bill to Address Cyber Security at Small Business Administration

  • Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced the Small Business Administration (SBA) Cyber Awareness Act, a bill that takes several important steps to strengthen the SBA’s cybersecurity to handle and report cyber threats that affect small businesses.

Kuster and Pappas Introduce PFAS Bill

  • Reps. Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Protecting Communities from New PFAS Act. This legislation would prevent new PFAS chemicals from being approved through the US Environmental Protection Agency’s pre-manufacture notice system. 

Phillips Introduces Bipartisan Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights

  • Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) introduced a resolution to stand up for small businesses and protect them from predatory, irresponsible lending. The resolution lists the rights of small business owners seeking financing, expresses the House’s support for these principles, and declares that they should be used as a framework for future legislation to protect small business.

Houlahan and Lee Introduce Bipartisan Newborn Care Improve Act

  • Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the Newborn Care Improvement Act to give veterans – particularly mothers – more peace of mind. This bipartisan bill will extend coverage of newborn health care of veteran parents from 7 days to 14 days, providing additional time for veterans to find the best health coverage, especially during a high-stress period.

Member Happenings

Foster Named Chair of Artificial Intelligence Task Force

  • Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) was named Chair of the Financial Services Committee’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. The Task Force on Artificial Intelligence will examine issues including applications of machine learning in financial services and regulation, algorithms and big data, emerging risk management perspectives, digital identification technologies and combatting fraud, and automation and its impact on jobs in financial services and the overall economy.

Davids: Celebrate Small Business Week – Invest in Young Female Entrepreneurs via The Hill

  • Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) penned an op-ed in The Hill encouraging Members of Congress to tackle the challenges that female entrepreneurs and small businesses face: “We’re proud to be part of the 116th Congress, one full of so many firsts. We know that this Congress can be the first in other ways too. We can expand access to capital, lessen the burden of student loans, reinvest in our infrastructure, and connect people through better broadband.”

Casten: Climate Change Is a Threat, but It Could Be an Economic Boon. We Just Took the First Step via USA Today

  • Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06) authored an op-ed in USA Today addressing the existential threat of climate change, the important of the Climate Action Now Act, and the potentially positive economic impacts of revamping our existing infrastructure system and implementing clean, alternative energies into it: “Replacing our old, dirty energy infrastructure with new, efficient and clean infrastructure isn’t a cost to be feared but an investment we should be eager to make. Lowering fossil fuel use will make our energy bills lower, our manufacturers more profitable, our wallets a little fuller and our planet safer.”

Trone and McBath Hold Gun Violence Prevention Forum

  • Reps. David Trone (MD-06) and Lucy McBath (GA-06) held a gun violence forum in Rockville, Maryland. The Members discussed the House’s recent passage of a landmark bill that would institute universal background checks for the first time in 25 years. 
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