ICYMI in Axios:
 
“The combined muscle of the center-left New Democrat Coalition and center-right Republican Governance Group gives them greater leverage for joint initiatives”

 

On Thursday, Axios published a story about the bipartisan work the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), led by Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), is pursuing in the closely divided 118th Congress, from immigration and border security to permitting reform. New Dems have begun holding meetings with Members of the Republican Governance Group to find additional areas for bipartisan cooperation and ultimately to deliver real results for hard working Americans. 
READ MORE IN AXIOS
New Dems Welcome Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to Weekly Member Lunch



Yesterday, New Dems welcomed U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to our weekly Member lunch to discuss implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act and the work that lies ahead to make our economy work for all Americans.
New Dems Call for Funding to Stop Flow of Illicit Fentanyl and Secure the Southern Border
New Democrat Coalition Members, led by Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (TX-12) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) calling for increased federal funding to address the flow of deadly, illicit fentanyl into the U.S., tackle the opioid crisis that is impacting nearly every American community, and secure our southern border.
 
New Democrat Coalition Members, led by Immigration and Border Security Task Force Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Vice Chairs Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Lou Correa (CA-46) wrote to House Leadership calling for meaningful bipartisan action to address the crisis at the southern border and strengthen our economy. 

New Dem Immigration & Border Security Task Force Rejects House GOP Border Bill, Which Fails to Strengthen the Economy, Combat Crime, or Control the Flow of Illegal Drugs
New Democrat Coalition Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), Immigration Task Force Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Vice Chairs Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Lou Correa (CA-46) issued a statement ahead of the House’s consideration of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.

New Dem Climate and Clean Energy Task Force Secures Victory for Clean Energy Deployment, Applauds White House for Incorporating New Dem Priorities Into Permitting Reform Agenda
New Dem Climate Change and Clean Energy Task Force Chair Scott Peters (CA-50) and Vice Chairs Sean Casten (IL-06), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), and Susan Wild (PA-07) released a statement following the release of a Fact Sheet by the Biden-Harris Administration outlining their plans to accelerate the deployment of clean energy projects by reforming Federal permitting and environmental review processes. 
Reps. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) spoke with Puget Sound recovery advocates at the U.S. Capitol during the annual Puget Sound Day on the Hill.

As Co-Chairs of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, Reps. Kilmer and Strickland joined forces with other federal agencies to launch the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force, a direct result of the PUGET SOS Act they championed into law, and introduced legislation to restore the Puyallup Tribe's homelands.
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Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35) led over 30 Members of Congress in introducing a resolution to designate April 30th – May 6th as Wildfire Preparedness Week. The resolution aims to increase public awareness about wildfires nationally.
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Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07) led a bicameral letter with over 90 of her Congressional colleagues urging the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to implement federal rules to designate who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms to help close the gun seller background check loophole.
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Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) spoke at a press conference alongside fellow Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus opposing the extreme and partisan immigration bill put on the floor by House Republicans and reaffirmed his commitment to finding real bipartisan solutions that fix America's broken immigration system.
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE

House Unanimously Passes Caraveo Bill to Research Synthetic Opioids 
Dr. Yadira Caraveo’s (CO-08) bipartisan bill, H.R. 1734, passed the House this week in a unanimous vote. The TRANQ Research Act confronts the drug crisis head on by compelling additional research into emerging illicit drugs including xylazine.

Brownley Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veteran Entrepreneurs 
Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced H.R. 3214, the Veteran Entrepreneurs Act. This bipartisan legislation reduces barriers to entrepreneurship by lowering upfront costs for veterans operating small businesses.

Connolly Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Transparency at the Supreme Court
Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) reintroduced H.R. 3222, the Cameras in the Courtroom Act, to ensure transparency and accountability in the judicial branch by televising open proceedings before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Costa, Harder, and Panetta Introduce Legislation to expand SNAP Benefits for College Students
Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21), Josh Harder (CA-09), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced H.R. 3183, the Enhance Access to SNAP Act of 2023. This legislation permanently expands Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to millions of college students experiencing hunger.

Gottheimer, Horsford Reintroduce Bipartisan “Invest to Protect Act” to Support Local Police Departments
Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Steven Horsford (NV-04) reintroduced H.R. 3184, the Invest to Protect Act alongside several other New Dem colleagues. This bipartisan legislation makes targeted investments in small and midsize police departments with fewer than 200 sworn officers for the recruitment, retention, mental health support, and training they need to protect themselves and their communities.

McBath, House Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill Supporting Quality, Affordable Infant Formula
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07) introduced H.R. 3151, the WIC Healthy Beginnings Act. This bipartisan legislation encourages competition, reduced costs, and improves the quality of infant formula options available through the creation of an online database that provides information on state-level Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants and Children. 

Pappas Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Disabled Veterans
Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced H.R. 2818, the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act. This bipartisan legislation would increase the amount of funding available to disabled veterans by the Department of Veteran Affairs for veterans to make necessary modifications related to their disability to their homes.

Pappas, Kuster Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Assist Veterans & Service Members Exposed to PFAS Contaminants 
Reps. Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) reintroduced H.R. 3192, the PFAS Registry Act. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a national database for service members and veterans with health concerns due to potential exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Phillips Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Opioid Overdoses
Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) introduced H.R. 3065, the School Access to Naloxone Act. This bipartisan legislation provides funding for trained school personnel to administer drugs and devices for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdoses. 

Sorensen Introduces Bill to Lower Drug Prices
Rep. Eric Sorensen (IL-17) introduced H.R. 3030, the STOP GAMES Act to lower prescription drug prices by cracking down on “sham” citizen petitions, which big pharmaceutical companies file to slow down the FDA’s approval process for competing generic drugs.
New Dems Welcome U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly for Bipartisan Member Meeting



This week, New Dem Vice Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Republican Governance Group Vice Chair Young Kim (CA-40) welcomed U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to the Capitol for a bipartisan Member meeting on ways to strengthen U.S. - U.K. relations from transatlantic trade to national security cooperation.
FOLLOW REP. GREG LANDSMAN ON TWITTER
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