Following the failed House floor vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the New Democrat Coalition Immigration and Border Security Task Force, led by Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Vice Chair Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Vice Chair Lou Correa (CA-46) released a statement.

New Dems previously urged House Republican leadership to bring the Senate’s bipartisan national security bill to the floor for a vote.

“Today, extreme House Republicans once again chose chaos over order, partisan politics over bipartisan solutions. While they ultimately failed in their efforts, in forcing a vote to impeach Secretary Mayorkas without a shred of evidence, House Republicans are attempting to distract from their own failure to secure the border.

"From the beginning, this extremist campaign was cynical, shameful, and based on lies – an affront to the Constitution and the seriousness an impeachment demands.

“Republicans have relentlessly pursued this hyper-partisan impeachment to claim they’re taking action on border security. But when a bipartisan, commonsense solution was offered, they rejected it out of hand before even reading the text. 

“Rather than work with Democrats to pass a strong bipartisan national security bill that would help secure the border and address the broken asylum system, House Republicans prefer to use this issue as a political prop to help Trump in the next election. This is a clear dereliction of duty. 

“Despite Republican dysfunction, New Dems will continue fighting tooth and nail to pass comprehensive legislation to address the very real challenges at our border while also supporting our allies, Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance to citizens caught in conflicts. These issues are far too urgent to wait.”

New Democrat Coalition Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) and NDC Leadership Member Marc Veasey (TX-33) released a statement on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which stopped accepting new applications and enrollments on Wednesday in order to maintain the integrity of the program. Without congressional action, this game-changing initiative will cease entirely in April 2024.

“In the nearly three years since New Dems championed the establishment of the Affordable Connectivity Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the initiative has provided critical subsidies that enable millions of Americans to access affordable broadband and participate in the 21st-century economy.

“Despite its incredible impact on the 23 million households that have enrolled across the country, House Republicans have turned their back on the ACP. For months they have blocked any consideration of the funding it needs to keep running, pushing us towards the program’s extinction.

“The stakes are clear: unless House Republicans join Democrats at the table, the ACP will expire as early as April. More than three-quarters of ACP-enrolled households could either experience a disruption or lose access to the internet entirely. We can’t let this happen.

“As champions of this critical program, New Dems have remained steadfast in our commitment to funding the ACP. Today, as the program stops accepting new applications, we are reaffirming our call to House Republicans to deliver for the American people and provide the ACP with the funding it needs without delay. 

“For the sake of millions of households across the country, New Dems will continue our work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to get this done.”

Washington, D.C. — New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Leadership, Immigration and Border Security Task Force Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and National Security Task Force Chair Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) released the following statement on the bipartisan national security funding bill to secure the border and address the broken asylum process, support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and deliver humanitarian relief:

“New Dems are very encouraged by the bipartisan agreement on a national security supplemental bill to help address both critical immigration and border security issues – including addressing the broken asylum system – as well as supporting our allies in their existential fights for freedom and against tyranny and terror. 

“Throughout the 118th Congress, and long before, New Dems have sought to work with House Republicans to take bold, thoughtful action to address the challenges at our borders and to ensure our nation’s security at home and abroad.

“While not perfect, this legislation is a good, bipartisan step forward to restore order at the border and fix our broken immigration system. The bill would also help Ukraine and Israel defend their citizens while ensuring critical humanitarian aid continues to be delivered to civilians caught in these and other conflicts. New Dems are also grateful for the inclusion of increased nonprofit security funding. 

“The goals achieved by this bill are important to our national security, and the American people deserve to have the legislation receive serious consideration from House Republican leadership. By recklessly rejecting the package out of hand, House GOP leadership is playing a dangerous political game. We urge House Republicans to put aside their petty partisanship, evaluate this legislation on its own merits, and let all House Members have a vote."

New Dem Leadership includes Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), Vice Chair for Policy Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Vice Chair for Outreach and Co-Chair of the Immigration and Border Security Task Force Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Vice Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03), Vice Chair for Communications Brad Schneider (IL-10), Leadership Member Marc Veasey (TX-33), Leadership Member and National Security Task Force Chair Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Whip Susie Lee (NV-03), and Freshman Leadership Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13).

"A year after the East Palestine train derailment, it's not too late for Congress to act"
Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) in The Hill

One year ago, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, displacing a community, jeopardizing health, harming the local environment and exposing gaps in our rail safety laws.

The derailment and subsequent fire of tanker cars carrying vinyl chloride led Norfolk Southern to release and burn these toxic chemicals to prevent a dangerous explosion. As a result, the town was forced to evacuate all residents within a one-mile radius, upending thousands of lives. 

Thanks to the quick actions of the train crew, who quickly detached the derailed cars and moved the rest of the train to safety, no lives were lost. But the event contaminated the soil, water and air in East Palestine, with people reporting toxic smells and physical effects for weeks after the derailment. To this day, many of East Palestine’s 4,700 residents are afraid to drink the water, and many are experiencing health issues or negative financial effects as a result of the derailment.

This tragic derailment didn’t have to happen. But to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, Congress must address rail safety. While the East Palestine incident has gotten the most attention, it was by no means the only freight rail accident that occurred last year...

Earlier this week, New Dems welcomed Secretary Xavier Becerra for a conversation on lowering health care costs for American families. New Dems will continue working closely with President Biden and the Administration to find additional avenues to improve access to high quality, affordable health care.

On Wednesday, New Dems met with Senator Chris Murphy to discuss next steps to restore order at the border and address the broken asylum system after Republicans tanked the bipartisan framework. New Dems will continue fighting to deliver comprehensive immigration and border security reform.

Rep. Torres Fights for Recognition and Empowerment of America’s 9-1-1 Dispatchers in Harvard Journal
Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) – a former 9-1-1 dispatcher for over 17 years – highlighted her policy essay on the unsung heroes of America’s first responder workforce: 9-1-1 dispatchers. In the latest volume of the Harvard Law School Journal of Legislation, Congresswoman Torres emphasizes the critical work dispatchers provide to the American public and the need for improved workplace conditions. In her essay, titled: Occupational Reclassification for Public Safety Telecommunicators: A Necessary Step Toward a Stronger Public Safety Workforce, Congresswoman Torres spotlights her push to improve America’s public safety telecommunicator system by enhancing support, training, and compensation for these life-saving professionals.