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The New Democrat Coalition (NDC) hopes you and your families are staying safe and healthy. Our thoughts continue to go out to all Americans and their families who have been impacted by this pandemic.
 
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed NDC Future of Work Task Force Co-Chair Bill Foster to serve on the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Rep. Foster has been co-leading New Dem efforts in advocating for a national recovery strategy for widespread coronavirus containment and mitigation and will be a helpful voice on behalf of his constituents and the NDC.
 
The previous week, the House passed the NDC-supported emergency relief package which included increased funding for small businesses, hospitals, and testing. The interim relief package strengthened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), secured additional funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans, expanded the HHS coronavirus relief fund for health care providers, lowered the interest rate on advance payments, and required the Administration to develop a national testing policy.
 
As Congress begins its work on the next phase of support, the NDC is pushing forward three core priorities for the next coronavirus package: (1) Automatic Stabilizers, (2) a National Recovery Strategy, and (3) Health Care Coverage Affordability. In addition to these priorities, the Coalition has been active on several other priorities for response to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Most recently, New Dem Leadership sent a letter to House Leadership and Committee Chairs to implement remote voting by proxy and virtual committee hearings. In addition, NDC Members sent a letter to House Leadership urging for a National Recovery Strategy that prioritizes containment and mitigation of COVID-19 alongside efforts to reopen the economy. New Dems, led by NDC Housing Task Force Co-Chair Denny Heck, also sent a letter to federal agencies to stabilize and provide liquidity in the mortgage servicing market. Finally, New Dem Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Ron Kind, Lizzie Fletcher, and Gregory Meeks, along with NDC Vice Chair Suzan DelBene, sent a letter to National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow regarding the extensions of duty payments.
 
Every step of the way, the Members of the New Democrat Coalition have been working to advance bold and innovative policy responses to the challenges facing Americans throughout the nation.
 
More on what New Dems have been up to below. 

Foster Named to Serve on the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis
NDC Future of Work Task Force Co-Chair Bill Foster (IL-11) was nominated by Speaker Pelosi to serve on the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Rep. Foster has been co-leading New Dem efforts in advocating for a national recovery strategy for widespread containment and mitigation efforts. 
 
NDC Leadership Members Urge House Leadership and Committee Chairs to Implement Remote Voting and Virtual Proceedings
NDC Leadership Members, led by NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), sent a letter to House Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, House Rules Committee Chairman McGovern, and House Administration Committee Chairperson Lofgren urging for the implementation of remote voting by proxy and the authorization of virtual committee hearings. Read the full letter. Read more in POLITICO, Reuters, AP News, Bloomberg, The Hill, and The Washington Times.
 
NDC Members Urge House Leadership to Implement a National Recovery Strategy
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Leadership Member Ami Bera (CA-07), Freshman Leadership Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-10), and Rep. Donna Shalala (FL-27) sent a letter to House Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy urging the inclusion of an evidence- and science-based National Recovery Strategy that prioritizes continued mitigation and containment of COVID-19 alongside efforts to reopen the economy in future coronavirus response and recovery legislation.
 
House Passes NDC-Supported Emergency Relief Package
The House passed the interim relief package which includes increased funding for small businesses, health care providers, and testing. Members recognized that the bill provided immediate interim support and reflected significant improvements over the initial Senate GOP bill, including some of the Coalition’s priorities. 
 
NDC Members Send Letter to Federal Agencies to Stabilize the Mortgage Market During COVID-19
NDC Members, led by NDC Housing Task Force Co-Chair Denny Heck (WA-10), sent a letter to the federal financial and housing agencies asking them to take steps to stabilize and simplify the mortgage servicing market during the COVID-19 crisis. The letter was signed by all members of the NDC’s Housing Task Force, as well as every NDC Member on the House Financial Services Committee.
 
NDC Members Send Letter to National Economic Council (NEC) Director
NDC Vice Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Ron Kind (WI-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and Gregory Meeks (NY-05) sent a letter to NEC Director Larry Kudlow regarding the extensions of duty payments.
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Kilmer Testifies Before House Small Business Committee at Member Day Hearing
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) testified before the House Small Business Committee, highlighting his Paycheck Program Protection (PPP) Extension Act that will help ensure every qualified small business is able to access the assistance and resources they need. In total, over 20 New Dem Members testified before the committee and addressed the needs of small businesses in their districts and potential policy solutions.
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) testifies before the House Small Business Committee.

COVID-19 Legislation
Dean, Kilmer Introduce Legislation to Relieve Strain on Small Businesses
Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) introduced the Restore America’s Main Street Act to provide direct relief to the smallest of businesses through cash payments through a first-ever small business rebate check.
 
Kuster Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Smaller Organizations on Frontlines of Opioid Crisis
NDC Vice Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to create emergency grants for states and community-based organizations that serve individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). This bill aims to address the dual public health crisis of COVID-19 and the opioid epidemic.
 
Lee, Trahan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Temporary Relief for Student Loan Repayments
Reps. Susie Lee (NV-03) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) introduced the bipartisan Equity in Student Loan Relief Act to extend the temporary relief from student loan payments to Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers who have been left behind. 

Wexton Introduces Legislation to Aid Domestic Violence During Pandemic
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) introduced the bipartisan Domestic Violence Public Health Emergency Guidance Act, to provide guidance and resources to law enforcement agencies responding to increased levels of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Soto Introduces Legislation to Stop Balloon Payment Loophole
Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced the Save Our Homes Act to create a simple, national plan for homeowners to save their homes from foreclosure in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic. 
 
Phillips Introduces Legislation to Provide Employment Opportunities
Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) introduced the Undertaking National Initiatives to Tackle Epidemic (UNITE) Act of 2020 to expand authorization of opportunities within AmeriCorps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and direct them to prioritize projects that strengthen the response of frontlines workers.
COVID-19 Actions
Beyer Releases Draft Framework for Legislation Tying Expanded Unemployment Benefits to Public Health Emergency and Economic Conditions 
Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), joined by NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06), released a draft framework for the Worker Relief and Security Act, legislation that would tie ongoing expanded unemployment benefits to the public health emergency and economic conditions. The bill would use automatic triggers to ensure that assistance continues to flow to workers for the duration of the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis even in the absence of action by Congress. 

Houlahan, Bera, Foster Send Letter to Support National Testing Strategy
NDC Freshman Leadership Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), NDC Leadership Member Ami Bera (CA-07), and Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) sent a letter to House Leadership advocating for a National Public Health Corps to bolster the nation’s public health workforce and help bring about a swift end to the crisis.
 
Kilmer, Panetta Lead Letter to President to Develop National Testing Strategy
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), along with Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Henry Cuellar (TX-28) sent a letter to President Trump to develop a federal strategy to dramatically increase the production, training, and availability of testing for COVID-19.
 
DelBene, Larsen Lead Letter to China to Stop Unnecessary Delays Exporting COVID-19 Testing Supply to the U.S.
NDC Vice Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), along with Reps. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Ben McAdams (UT-04), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Ron Kind (WI-03), sent a letter to China urging for a halt to the unnecessary delays in exporting COVID-19 testing supplies to the United States.  
 
Sewell Sends Report to Alabama Governor on How to Reopen Alabama Economy
NDC Vice Chair Terri Sewell (AL-07) sent a report to Governor Kay Ivey on the considerations and recommendations to safely, strategically and responsibly reopen the Alabaman economy. 
 
Foster, Casten Lead Bipartisan Letter to Guarantee Equitable Funding in Future COVID-19 Packages
Reps. Bill Foster (IL-11) and Sean Casten (IL-06), along with 17 New Dem Members, sent a bipartisan letter to House leadership urging equitable per-capita distribution of funds to states in any future stimulus package. 
 
Maloney Calls on SBA to Provide Small Business Disaster Loan Application Status Updates
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), along with NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Adam Smith (WA-09), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Bill Foster (IL-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), and Andre Carson (IN-07), sent a letter Jovita Carranza, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to provide application status updates to small businesses who have applied for emergency disaster loans and grants through the agency.
 
Escobar Leads Letter Demanding Release of Detained Children
Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), along with Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Bill Foster (IL-11), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Darren Soto (FL-09), and Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), sent a bicameral letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf demanding the release of detained children amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Stevens Urges Treasury, Federal Reserve to Support Struggling Child Care Providers
Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, asking the U.S. Treasury to work with the Federal Reserve to make federal assistance available to struggling child care providers.
 
Perlmutter Spearheads Efforts to Keep Loan Forgiveness Eligibility for Small Businesses
The U.S. Department of Treasury and the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Interim Final Rule yesterday that updated guidance for disbursement of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to afford maximum leniency to financial institutions in disbursing PPP loan funds to ensure that the loans could be forgiven. This follows Rep. Ed Perlmutter’s (CO-07) letter to Treasury and the SBA asking for leniency in the time frame that banks have to disburse funds for loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to qualify for 100% loan forgiveness.
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