June 28, 2019

Weekly Wrap

This week’s supreme court decision on gerrymandering is disappointing and reaffirms the need for redistricting reform. That’s why NDC endorsed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a political reform bill that would make our government work for the people, including protecting Americans from partisan gerrymandering. This week, the House took another step to secure our democracy by passing H.R. 2722, the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act, to provide assistance to states in securing our elections. The Senate must act on these House-passed reforms and protect our democracy by ensuring fair and free elections. 

As we seek to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the border, the House and Senate passed legislation which will provide the most comprehensive support to-date to ensure the safety and health of those seeking refuge in our country. What we’ve seen at the Southern Border has been completely unacceptable, and this bill will provide the critical resources needed to provide relief to the children and families suffering the unconscionable conditions at the border.

NDC hosted its first ever policy pitch day where Members pitched economic policy ideas they are developing or have introduced to the NDC Membership and a panel of guest moderators. The policy pitch day highlighted a number of bold ideas and innovative solutions Members are working on to grow the economy and give more Americans the opportunity to earn a good life. More on what NDC Members are up to below.

Coalition Highlights

NDC Hosts First Ever Policy Pitch Day, Phillips Named Champion

  • NDC hosted its first ever Policy Pitch Day, where Members pitched economic policy ideas they are developing or have introduced to the NDC Membership and a panel of guest moderators. Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) won for his “Companies Are Responsible Employers” (CARE) Award, a certification for businesses that share success and treat employees well by providing them with a livable wage, paid family leave, secure retirement, and other benefits. CARE certified companies would be entitled to tax and regulatory relief and become known to consumers as companies that do right by their employees.  
  • Moderators included Anna Mason, Partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and Javier Saade, Venture Partner at Fenway Summer and former Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. They were asked to join us for their experience in running start-up pitch competitions and their interest in economic policy.

Member Highlights

Committee Action

Ways and Means Committee Passes DelBene’s Mental Health Legislation

  • The Ways and Means Committee passed Rep. Suzan DelBene’s (WA-01) Beneficiary Education Tools Telehealth and Extenders Reauthorization (B.E.T.T.E.R.) Act, legislation that would expand access to mental health services through telemedicine for Medicare beneficiaries.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Passes Mucarsel-Powell Infrastructure Legislation

  • The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s (FL-26) Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure Improvement Act. This legislation will help reduce and better manage the serious maintenance backlog for Coast Guard shore infrastructure.

Bill Introductions

DelBene Introduces Resolution Marking June 26th “LGBTQ Equality Day”

  • Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced a resolution to recognize June 26th as “LGBTQ Equality Day” across the United States. The resolution honors the anniversary of three landmark Supreme Court victories – Lawrence v. Texas, United States v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges – for LGBTQ Americans.

Shalala, Hill, Moulton Introduce ACTION for National Service Act

  • Reps. Donna Shalala (FL-27), Katie Hill (CA-25), and Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced the ACTION for National Service Act to expand national service opportunities like AmeriCorps, while offering student loan relief in exchange for service.

Ruiz, Shalala, Bera Introduce Surprise Billing Legislation

  • Reps. Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Donna Shalala (FL-27), and Ami Bera (CA-07) introduced the bipartisan Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act to end surprise billing practices.

Slotkin Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

  • Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) introduced the Real-Time Benefits Act, bipartisan legislation to help lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs by giving patients and doctors real-time updates on the price of prescription drugs, before they leave the doctor’s office.

Sewell Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Rural Jobs Act

  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Rural Jobs Act, legislation that would increase New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocations to spur economic revitalization in rural economies, creating jobs and opportunities, and improving services and facilities.

Beyer Introduces Bipartisan NO HATE Act

  • Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the bipartisan NO HATE Act to strengthen federal laws that combat hate speech, threats, and attacks by improving reporting and expanding assistance and resources for victims of hate crimes.

Heck Introduces Bipartisan Remove the Stain Act

  • Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) introduced the bipartisan Remove the Stain Act to rescind the 20 Medals of Honor awarded for the Wounded Knee Massacre in which hundreds of unarmed Lakota Indians were killed.

Stanton Introduces Bill to Grow Arizona’s Water Management Workforce

  • Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-09) introduced legislation to help grow Arizona’s wastewater management work force. The municipal drinking water, wastewater and stormwater management sector is facing extremely high turnover rates without enough skilled workers to replace them.

Lee Introduced the PROTECT Students Act

  • Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories (PROTECT) of Students Act to protect students from predatory higher education institutions that take advantage of students by using fraudulent and misleading practices that leave students saddled with debt and an often unsatisfactory or incomplete education.

Norcross Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Collective Bargaining Rights for Public-Sector Workers

  • Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act to guarantee public-service workers in every state have the right to stand together and negotiate for fair wages and working conditions.

Member Happenings

Sewell Holds Press Conference on Voting Rights Advancement Act on the 6th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder Case

  • Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) held a press conference on the sixth anniversary of the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court case. Sewell recently introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act to address the most egregious forms of recent voter suppression by developing a process to determine which states and localities with a recent history of voting rights violations must pre-clear election changes with the Department of Justice. Read more in her op-ed here. NDC formally endorsed H.R. 4 earlier this Congress.

Lawson Authors Letter Demanding Answers Regarding HUD Inspection

  • Reps. Al Lawson (FL-05) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis to express concerns regarding the physical inspection process for Hud-assisted housing. HUD-assisted housing is a vital resource for communities across the nation. More than 10 million Americans use federal rental assistance, 68% of whom are seniors, children or people living with disabilities.

Maloney: The Senate Should Stand Up for All Americans and Advance the Equality Act via The Hill

  • Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) penned an op-ed in The Hill urging the Senate to pass the Equality Act. He writes, “the Equality Act will ensure nationwide protection from discrimination for LGBTQ people in the workplace, in housing, in the classroom, and in many other public places. By amending our current civil rights laws and including sexual orientation and gender identity we can bring 30 states lacking full protections for LGBTQ people up to speed and create comprehensive protections for all Americans - no matter their zip code.”

Brownley Hosts Roundtable on Challenges in Advocacy for Women Veterans

  • Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) held a roundtable with a diverse group of women veterans who are current or past leaders in Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to discuss how to address and resolve representational challenges in our nation’s VSO’s. 
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