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This week, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) was joined by Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (SCCC), who provided updates on the SCCC’s work so far in 2020. She applauded the NDC’s Priorities for U.S. Climate Policy ([link removed]) and the endorsed bills ([link removed]) the Coalition put forth last fall and thanked Members for their active participation in the SCCC’s recent Member Day hearing ([link removed]) . The NDC reiterated its commitment to working with the SCCC in developing innovative and politically durable solutions to the climate crisis.

The NDC Trade Task Force sent a letter to President Donald Trump rebuking him for violating the law by not releasing to Congress the report on the Section 232 investigation on proposed tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts. The President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which required his administration to release the completed Section 232 report by January 19, 2020. Despite this legal requirement, President Trump continues to undermine the constitutional balance of power between the co-equal branches of government.

Happy Valentine’s Day ([link removed]) ! ([link removed]) Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable weekend with your loved ones.

Programming Note: We will not have a Weekly Wrap newsletter next week. We’ll be back February 28^th.

More on what Members have been up to below.

NDC Sends Letter to Trump on Section 232 Tariffs ([link removed])
NDC Vice Chairs Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Ron Kind (WI-03), Rick Larsen (WA-02), and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), and Trade Task Force Members Don Beyer (VA-08), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Susan Davis (CA-53) sent a letter to President Trump criticizing his decision to withhold from Congress the report on the Section 232 investigation on proposed tariffs on imported auto and auto parts and urging him to abandon further tariff action that threatens global rules of trade and endangers the automotive industry, the nation’s economy, and hard-working Americans. Read the full letter ([link removed]) . More in Politico Morning Trade ([link removed]) , Inside U.S. Trade
([link removed]) , Law 360 ([link removed]) , and Detroit Free Press ([link removed]) .

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Floor Action
House Passes Kilmer’s Legislation to Protect the Environment and Grow Jobs ([link removed]-)
The House passed NDC Chair Derek Kilmer’s (WA-06) Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild Scenic Rivers Act as part of a package of bills called the Protecting America’s Wilderness Act, which would permanently protect more than 126,000 acres of public land as wilderness and nineteen rivers and their major tributaries as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

House Passes Axne’s Legislation to Protect Against African Swine Fever ([link removed])
The House passed Rep. Cindy Axne’s (IA-03) Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act from the threat of deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) through expanded agricultural inspections. The bill authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire, train, and deploy 240 new agricultural specialists to prevent this dangerous disease from reaching the American food supply.
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The House passed Rep. Cindy Axne's (IA-03) Legislation to Protect American Pork Industry
[link removed]
NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chair Sean Casten (IL-06) speaks about the progress of his NDC-endorsed Clean Industrial Technology Act.
Committee Action
Science, Space, and Technology Committee Passes Casten’s Bipartisan Legislation to Develop Technologies to Decarbonize American Industries ([link removed])
The Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed Rep. Sean Casten’s (IL-06) Clean Industrial Technology Act to establish a program to incentivize innovation and to enhance the industrial competitiveness of the United States by developing technologies to reduce emissions from various American industries through decarbonization.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee Passes Bera’s Bipartisan Electric Grid Security Bill ([link removed])
The Science, Space, and Technology Committee unanimously passed NDC Leadership Member Ami Bera’s (CA-07) bipartisan Grid Security Research and Development Act. The legislation will ensure a strong and secure electric grid, which is critical to Americans’ quality of life, the economy, and national security.

Bill Introductions
Rice Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Increase VA Oversight ([link removed])
NDC Leadership Member Kathleen Rice (NY-04) introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act ([link removed]) to strengthen the oversight at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). The legislation would provide the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) with testimonial subpoena authority. Granting VA OIG with this new authority will better protect America’s veterans and help ensure the VA is operating efficiently, effectively, and in their best interests.

Sewell Introduces Bill to Help Families Repair and Replace Wastewater Systems ([link removed])
NDC Vice Chair Terri A. Sewell ([link removed]) (AL-07) introduced the Decentralized Wastewater Grant Act to establish a grant program under the Clean Water Act to make additional federal funding for low and moderate-income families to repair and replace failing wastewater systems.


Panetta Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Seniors in Hospice Care ([link removed])
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the bipartisan Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments (HOSPICE) Act to require additional oversight and transparency of Medicare hospice providers. The HOSPICE Act would achieve parity with other quality care, improve surveys and surveyor education, and increase transparency for patients and caregivers, including requiring states to maintain a toll-free hotline for hospice patients and their families to report abuse and neglect.

Moulton Introduces Bill to Protect National Security & American R&D ([link removed])
Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced the Foreign Influence Registration Modernization (FIRM) Act to modernize the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and focus law enforcement’s efforts on compliance by narrowing those who must register as foreign agents to include only those people working on behalf of foreign governments or foreign political parties. It would also greatly improve the enforceability of FARA by adding civil penalties in addition to criminal penalties.

Rep. Elaine Luria (VA-02) Introduces Two Pieces of Legislation to Help Veterans:
* The bipartisan Military Pilot Cancer Incidence Study Act ([link removed]) to empower the Department of Defense and Department of Veteran Affairs to more fully understand the incidence of cancer diagnosis and mortality among pilots in the uniformed services. This legislation would help ensure veterans’ access to quality, preventative health care for servicemembers.
* The GI Bill Comparison Tool Data MOU Act ([link removed]) to provide servicemembers with the most accurate information to make informed decisions about their education.

Plaskett Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve the Resilience of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure ([link removed])
NDC Infrastructure Task Force Co-Chair Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL) introduced the bipartisan Resiliency Enhancement Act to expand infrastructure eligible for additional resiliency assistance to include roads, bridges, ports, airports, affordable housing, and stormwater infrastructure, which would minimize the need for future taxpayer investments in recovery. This legislation aims to reduce global disaster loss through the construction of more climate-resilient infrastructure that can endure increasingly severe climate events.

Trahan, Dean Introduce Legislation to Protect Students and Taxpayers ([link removed])
Reps. Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Madeleine Dean ([link removed]) (PA-04) introduced the Accreditation Reform Act to protect students and taxpayers by enhancing transparency, strengthening a system of checks and balances by establishing a bipartisan advisory board, modernizing the accreditation process, and increasing accountability by encouraging disciplinary action by the Department of Education against bad actors.

Norcross Introduces Bill to Help Military Families ([link removed])
Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) introduced the Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act, which focuses on reducing military spouse unemployment by changing the tax code to incentivize businesses to hire military spouses and improve servicemembers’ access to affordable childcare.

Kilmer Receives Recognition from Nation’s Largest Native American Organization ([link removed])
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) received the 2020 Congressional Leadership Award from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the interests of tribal governments and communities.

Panetta Sent a Letter to the IRS Calling for Answers on Omitting MilTax for Veterans in Advertisements ([link removed])
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles P. Rettig demanding answers for the agency’s omission of the MilTax program when advertising free tax preparation and filing programs for military servicemembers.

Sherrill Announces Infrastructure Revitalization Project Moves Forward ([link removed])
NDC Freshman Whip Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new rating for the Portal North Bridge, which represents a significant step toward replacing the existing bridge. The 110-year-old swing bridge often fails to close properly and can cause extensive delays of the nation’s busiest rail corridor.

Kuster Leads Bipartisan Opioid Task Force Roundtable ([link removed])
NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) led the bipartisan Opioid Task Force in hosting a roundtable discussion on challenges in accessing mental health and substance use treatment under certain insurance plans. Despite federal laws requiring equal treatment and coverage of mental and behavioral health care versus other medical services, inequities remain. Watch the full roundtable discussion ([link removed]) .

Fletcher Calls on Treasury Department to Provide Guidance on Carbon Capture Tax Credit ([link removed])
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) sent a letter ([link removed]) to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to issue critical guidance on the 45Q tax credit, which aims to incentivize carbon capture and removal technology deployment in the United States.

Ruiz Receives Outstanding Government Service Award from American Medical Association ([link removed])
Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-36), one of three M.D.’s in the NDC, received the Outstanding Government Service Award from the American Medical Association, an award given annually to Member of the U.S. House of Representatives who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to improving public health.

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