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The New Democrat Coalition Artificial Intelligence Working Group, led by Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), and Vice Chairs Don Beyer (VA-08), Jeff Jackson (NC-14), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Susie Lee (NV-03), and Haley Stevens (MI-11) endorsed 10 bipartisan, New Dem-led Artificial Intelligence bills that would help ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
From supporting workforce training and studying the economic impacts of AI to protecting consumers, elections, and workers from potential harm, these bills will help unlock the promise of AI while also guarding against potential risks.
AI Working Group Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement on the endorsement:
“Artificial Intelligence is the next great frontier of technological innovation, presenting both revolutionary opportunities and new, unique challenges. To safely and effectively harness the promise of AI, Congress must play a role in educating and preparing the workforce, consumers, and the economy at large.
“The bills we are endorsing today aim to do just that. The 10 bipartisan New Dem-led bills address consumer protection and privacy concerns, risks to our democracy, threats to the workforce, and more. Together, they build a strong foundation of forward-thinking policies to help guide development and deployment of AI to benefit society – not harm it.
“These are critical steps in our approach to AI, but they are only the first steps. New Dems will continue working to position the U.S. as a world leader in AI innovation and safety.”
You can read more about the endorsed legislation here.
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New Democrat Coalition Farm Bill Task Force Chair Kim Schrier (WA-08) issued a statement following the House Agriculture Committee’s markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024.
“New Dems are encouraged that the House and Senate are making progress to advance a must-pass Farm Bill this year. However, we are disappointed that the Republican leadership of the House Agriculture Committee decided to move forward with a version of the Farm Bill that does not meet the standards most of our constituents expect. Without support from both parties, the bill in its current form has no path to passage through the House.”
“Guided by our Task Force’s five core principles, New Dems will continue working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle and Capitol to support passage of a comprehensive Farm Bill that finds common ground and delivers for our agricultural producers, rural communities, and the American people.”
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New Democrat Coalition Immigration and Border Security Task Force Chair Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Vice Chair Salud Carbajal (CA-24) released the following statement after Senate Republicans again blocked a vote on the bipartisan deal to secure the border and address the broken asylum process:
“Over 100 days ago, Congressional Republicans walked away from the toughest, most comprehensive border security deal in decades—a deal they negotiated themselves. And today, they once again showed they would rather use the southern border as a political prop than work across the aisle to advance real solutions to restore order at the border.
“The American people expect common sense solutions, not politics as usual. Throughout the 118th Congress, and long before, the New Dems have sought to break through the gridlock and advance bipartisan action to secure our border, address our broken immigration system and crack down on deadly fentanyl.
“When Republicans are ready to put aside the political games and get serious about border security, New Dems stand ready to reach across the aisle to get it done.”
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Budzinski Pens Op-Ed on Farm Bill
Partisan Farm Bill Fails Midwest Families & Growers
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
"The Farm Bill is a safety net for our families and the farmers who feed, fuel and clothe us. Unfortunately, the bill that’s been proposed by Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson fails the Heartland in both of these critical missions.
“Our farmers’ livelihoods are incredibly dependent on our weather and climate. The high level of uncertainty that results is the reason we’ve established safety net programs to help farmers in the event of things like drought, natural disasters and trade instability...
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Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) was featured in WLWT 5 after he secured $1 million in federal funding for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority's Bus Stop Enhancement project. The organization, known as SORTA, will be awarded the funds to improve safety and reliability at hundreds of bus stops. The federal funding secured will help bring 200 new shelters, 400 new benches, and 4,000 new electronic signs to the region. The Bus Stop Enhancement Project is one of several Ohio projects that received money from the federal budget.
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Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) was highlighted by Spectrum News after his ‘Clean Airport Agenda’ was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The slate of bipartisan bills are aimed at helping curb the threat of forever chemicals near airports. The ‘Clean Airport Agenda’ includes Rep. Carbajal’s Pollution-Free Aviation Sites (PFAS) Act, which establishes a grant program to support airports as they replace firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It also contains the Save Our Airports Reporting Act, which requires regular progress reports from federal agencies as airports phase out these ‘forever chemicals.’
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Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) discussed her Severe Turbulence Research and Development Act, which was signed into law as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act, with the Wall Street Journal as well as the need for additional research into turbulence as highlighted by the Singapore airlines incident earlier this week.
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New Dems Host Mental Health Awareness Month Roundtable
Yesterday, New Dems welcomed key stakeholders, including medical professionals and mental and behavioral health experts, to a Mental Health Awareness Month roundtable. At the roundtable, Members and guests discussed challenges and solutions to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis, with a focus on issues regarding substance use, youth and families, Veterans, and the mental health workforce.
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New Dem Trade Task Force Talks Nearshoring
On Wednesday, the New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force, led by Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) held a meeting on nearshoring the semiconductor supply chain. Members and stakeholders discussed Congress's role in bringing manufacturing and the supply chain to closer regional hubs and improving U.S. global competitiveness.
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Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) announced the 15 Community Project Funding requests he submitted to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration in the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bills. The projects invest in affordable housing, workforce development and job training, public safety, economic development, and transportation and infrastructure.
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Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) called for a return to the bipartisan tradition of funding our government and slammed anti-choice extremists for attempting to restrict abortion access for women who served our country in the House Appropriations Committee markup of the FY25 Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs (MilCon/VA) funding bill.
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Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to announce $3,362,027 for Rockford-based Crusader Community Healthto provide high-quality health services to families in Northern Illinois.
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Horsford Introduces Bill to Improve Transparency in Affordable Housing
Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, introduced the Housing Market Transparency Act (H.R. 8500) to expand data availability about the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. It will mandate annual reporting of detailed property data by state housing finance agencies to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Bera Introduces Bipartisan Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services (DUALS) Act
Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06) introduced the Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services (DUALS) Act of 2024 (H.R. 8503) to improve coverage for individuals jointly enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, also known as dual eligibles. This bill takes a critical step forward in ensuring that some of the most vulnerable Americans receive the integrated and quality care that they deserve.
Connolly Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Address Crimes in Brazilian Amazon, Strengthen Regional Stability, and Counter Deforestation
Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove introduced the Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act (H.R. 8471), bipartisan legislation to counter organized criminal and drug trafficking groups who are devastating communities in and around the Brazilian Amazon, upending rule of law, and accelerating environmental degradation and deforestation.
Strickland Restores Full Housing Allowance in Annual Defense Bill
Rep Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced the passage of the FY25 Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 8070) out of committee. Under Strickland’s leadership and advocacy, the bill includes the full restoration of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
Houlahan's Military Quality of Life Legislation Advances to House Floor
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee's military Quality of Life Panel, advanced 31 recommendations to improve the quality of life for our military families. The core pillars included pay, housing, spousal employment, child chare, and health care. Included in the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8070), the bill will now go to the House floor for final passage.
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