May 17, 2019

Weekly Wrap

This week, the House passed H.R.987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. The New Democrat Coalition is committed to strengthening the ACA, lowering costs for patients, and reaching universal coverage. This legislation combats efforts to undermine the ACA and builds on the framework to make our healthcare system work better for all Americans. NDC formally endorsed the bills that would help lower drug prices.

The House also passed 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. The New Democrat Coalition announced its endorsement of H.R. 5 at a press conference in front of the Capitol last week with the Human Rights Campaign and business leaders. Watch the full press conference here.

And most importantly – Happy Infrastructure Week! The NDC Infrastructure Task Force has been hard at work since kicking off the listening tour this spring. More on what NDC Members have been up to below.

Coalition Highlights

NDC Celebrates National Infrastructure Week

  • NDC Members celebrated National Infrastructure Week. NDC Members partnered with Infrastructure Week, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, the U.S. Chamber, and the AFL-CIO to recognize that the modernization and maintenance of our nation’s infrastructure is essential to the economic advancement of the country and creates millions of new opportunities for Americans. Watch our Members celebrate infrastructure week. Read more from NDC Members.

House Passes New Democrat Coalition-Supported Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act

  • The House of Representatives passed H.R.987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. NDC is committed to strengthening the ACA, and this package of bills will not only strengthen the ACA but also fight efforts to undermine the ACA and look for ways to make the ACA work better for all Americans. Included in this package are New Dem-led bills to strengthen the ACA and important bills to help lower drug prices. NDC formally endorsed:
    • H.R. 965 The CREATES (Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples) Act. This would establishes a process by which generic drug manufacturers can obtain drug samples for testing and developing a generic version of that drug
    • H.R. 938 The BLOCKING (Bringing Low-Cost Options and Competition While Keeping Incentives for New Generics) Act led by Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05). This would discourage generic manufacturers from using exclusivity periods to block the approval of other generics.
    • H.R. 1499 Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs of 2019. This would Prohibits the use of pay-for-delay agreements that result in generics delaying development or market entry.
    • More from Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Annie Kuster, and Lucy McBath. More on Rep. Annie Kuster in The New York Times.

House Passes NDC-Endorsed H.R. 5, The Equality Act

  • NDC Chair Derek Kilmer released a statement after the House of Representatives passed 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 New Democrat Coalition announced its endorsement of H.R. 5 at a press conference in front of the Capitol last week. Watch the full press conference here.

Member Highlights

Bill Introductions

Kuster, 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 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals from being approved through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s pre-manufacture notice system.

Stanton Introduces Bill to Require Warning Labels on Prescription Opioids

  • Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-09) introduced bipartisan Lessening Addiction by Enhancing Labeling (LABEL) Opioids Act to require warning labels on addictive prescription opioids. The bill would amend the Controlled Substance Act to require the Food and Drug Administration to issue regulations to require warning labels be added directly to the opioid prescription bottle that states that the drugs may cause “dependence, addiction, or overdose.”

Wasserman Schultz Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Women’s Access to Mammograms

  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) reintroduced the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings (PALS) Act. The PALS Act protects access to annual mammograms with insurance coverage with no-copay starting at age 40 by extending the moratorium on the USPSTF breast cancer screening guidelines, and also ensures that women veterans treated in the Veterans Health Administration do not face these same obstacles to getting the care they and their health care providers deem necessary.

Norcross Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Make Apprenticeships More Affordable

  • Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced the bipartisan 529 Opening Paths to Invest in Our Nation’s Students (529 OPTIONS) Act, which makes apprenticeships more affordable by allowing individuals enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program to fund tools and equipment for the program out of a “529” college savings plan.

Foster Introduces Legislation to Make Transportation Funding More Fair

  • Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the Fair Allocation of Highway Funds Act. The bipartisan measure would make sure states receive a fair share of transportation funding through the Highway Trust Fund.

Peters Introduces Bill to Establish Support Network for Servicemembers’ Mental Health

  • Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Daniel Somers Network of Support Act, which would create a network of support for servicemembers and their families. These networks are intended to improve servicemembers’ mental health by engaging directly with families on the challenges servicemembers experience, potentially preventing isolation and suicide.

Larsen Introduces the Bipartisan Summer Meals Act

  • Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the bipartisan Summer Meals Act to fight childhood hunger by expanding access to summer meal programs in Washington, Alaska, and throughout the country.

Rouda Introduces Bipartisan House Bill to Protect Rail and Bus Manufacturing from Chinese Threats

  • Rep. Harley Rouda (CA-48) introduced the bipartisan Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act, a bill combatting Chinese efforts to undermine the US economy and national security. The bill would prevent federal transit funds from being used by transit agencies to procure Chinese rail assets and ensure transit agencies develop and execute a cybersecurity plan. 

McBath Introduces Legislation to Protect Workers and Provide Resources to Fight Social Injustices

  • Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to protect pregnant workers from discrimination. This legislation would prioritize the health and safety of a mother and her baby.
  • Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Co-Chair of the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Caucus, introduced legislation that would provide resources to address the social inequities and injustices that adversely affect black men and boys under the US Commission on Civil Rights.

Member Happenings

Houlahan Launches First Ever Servicewomen and Women Veterans (SWWV) Congressional Caucus

  • As founder of the caucus, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) will serve as its Chair, and co-founders Reps. Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) will serve as Vice Chairs. Together, these women set a record – this is the largest number of women veterans ever serving in Congress. This caucus is bipartisan and open to all members of Congress. To date, there are 51 members of the caucus. SWWV will foster collaboration among Members and address issues facing America’s servicewomen and women veterans.

Sewell Speaks Out Against Voter Suppression at Birmingham Field Hearing

  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) hosted a congressional field hearing in Birmingham, AL, to discuss reports of voter suppression.  She was joined by members of the House Administrative Subcommittee on Elections and voting rights activists.

Norcross, Boyle, and Rose Hold Press Conference on Infrastructure

  • Reps. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-13), and Max Rose (NY-11) held a press conference to discuss the need for infrastructure investments. They were joined by the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU).

Connolly, Wexton, Beyer Hold Forum to Hear Impact Stories of the Government Shutdown

  • Reps. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), and Don Beyer (VA-08) held a forum at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, to learn more about the impact of the longest partial government shutdown on their constituents. Attendees included federal contract business leaders and individuals who had been personally affected.

Spanberger Leads First Hearing as Chair of Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee

  • Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) held her first hearing as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry to discuss the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill conservation programs. She highlighted how sustainable agriculture practices can help address current challenges related to declining farm income, extreme weather, and climate change, and discussed how the conservation programs implemented by the USDA are critical components of agricultural resiliency, profitability, and sustainability. 
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