New Democrat Coalition 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) issued the following statement after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) unveiled a final rule to govern the allocation of costs between states when developing interstate transmission lines.

“To implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s landmark investments and reach our climate goals, America must rapidly develop regional and interregional transmission capacity and shore up the energy grid to support the growth in clean energy technologies.

“We applaud FERC for today’s rule, which reflects key New Dem permitting reform priorities and will take critical steps to responsibly streamline transmission development. The rule’s improvements to the cost allocation process will boost coordination between states and regions, ensuring communities across the country benefit from the clean energy transition.

“While we are encouraged by today’s development, we will continue to work to improve interregional transmission planning, reform market rules that disincentivize consumer price reduction, remove barriers to energy deployment here in Congress, and urge the Biden administration to bring forward additional rules that deliver on permitting reforms Congress passed into law last year.”

New Dems have consistently advocated for and advanced policies aimed at unleashing American energy independence and lowering emissions. In May, the Task Force applauded the Council on Environmental Quality’s Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule and Department of Energy’s two rules to reduce regulatory hurdles for clean energy projects – both of which incorporated key priorities New Dems have fought for over the past year.

Last May, the Task Force released six key permitting reform priorities for efficient energy deployment to lower costs, enhance energy independence, and combat the climate crisis. When President Biden negotiated an end to the debt ceiling crisis with House leadership, New Dem permitting priorities were reflected in several provisions of the final bill.

Further, in April 2023, New Dems sent a letter to the Council on Environmental Quality calling for an increase in coordination on federal authorizations in siting electric transmission lines. The New Dem priorities laid out in this letter were soon incorporated into the White House’s Permitting Action Plan, and were later reflected in the Department of Energy’s proposed rule to establish a lead agency to streamline the permitting process.

Additionally, in December 2023, the Task Force endorsed a slate of 14 New Dem-led bills to address barriers to clean energy deployment for inclusion in any upcoming energy package.

The New Democrat Coalition National Security Task Force, led by Chair Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), sent a letter to House Armed Service Committee leadership outlining the Coalition’s key priorities for inclusion in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

These priorities include: supporting servicemembers and their families, enhancing the U.S. defense industrial base; investing in military modernization and innovation, and upholding our commitments to our allies, freedom, democracy, and human rights.

National Security Task Force Chair Strickland and Vice Chair Jason Crow (CO-06) released the following statement on the priorities:

“Every year, Congress has the responsibility and opportunity to pass defense policy legislation that not only ensures our military can respond to the threats currently facing the U.S. and our allies, but also develops the capacity and capabilities to respond to future crises. 

“We urge the Committee to incorporate our Coalition’s key priorities for the NDAA, which would make short- and long-term investments to support personnel and their families, enhance military readiness, secure our supply chains, and maintain our technological advantage. 

“New Dems stand ready to work with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground on a bill that will retain America’s role as a global leader in the 21st century.”

You can read the full letter to House Armed Services Committee leadership here.

Kansans need Social Security and Medicare. Sharice Davids won’t let the GOP gut them
By Ted Kelly
 

Social Security and Medicare are bedrocks of our nation that my wife and I, like many Americans, utilize to live safe, healthy and productive lives. However, both programs are under attack by extreme politicians who want to end them as we know it and put people who count on these resources in danger. Thankfully, Kansas families have a friend and ally in Rep. Sharice Davids, who is fighting every day to defend these vital programs for current and future generations.

Yesterday, New Dems welcomed Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to discuss the state of health care and mental health in the U.S. Together, New Dems and the Biden Admin are committed to taking decisive action to improve health services and outcomes and address the mental health crisis.