New Dems Unveil Health Care Action Plan

The New Democrat Coalition Health Care Working Group, led by Working Group Chair Terri Sewell (AL-07), Mental Health Task Force Chair Shontel Brown (OH-11), Substance Use Disorder Task Force Chair Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Access & Affordability Task Force Chair Julie Johnson (TX-32), and Reproductive Health Task Force Chair Kelly Morrison (MN-03), unveiled the Coalition’s Health Care Action Plan. The Health Care Action Plan lays out New Dems’ commonsense agenda to address the Republican health care crisis by lowering health care costs, expanding access to high-quality care, and protecting the programs millions of working Americans and seniors rely on.

The Action Plan is a roadmap for Congressional Democrats to ensure every American has access to and can afford the medical care they need, no matter their income or where they live. It also advances a clear vision: health care policy should not only preserve what we have, it should create a stronger, fairer, and more affordable system that protects every American.

Today, 52 New Dems led by Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation Working Group Chair Norma Torres (CA-35) and Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13) penned a letter to President Trump urging the Administration to take immediate steps to help make housing more affordable and accessible for more Americans.

In the letter, the New Dems lay out eight commonsense and immediate steps the Administration could take to address the ongoing housing crisis. The letter comes as the Secretary of the Treasury has indicated the Administration is planning to declare a “national housing emergency” to address rising costs, while refusing to take quick and decisive actions to actually bring down the cost of housing.

The letter reads in part:

“We agree with the Secretary’s comments that this is an ‘all hands on deck’ challenge and believe there are concrete steps the Administration and Congress should take to meet this ongoing crisis. However, details on actual policies that would expand affordable housing options have not been provided. In fact, recently announced policies at the Department of Housing and Urban Development would do the opposite, and reverse progress made in fighting homelessness and go against Congressional instruction.”

The recommendations include restoring funding for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) homelessness programs, lowering tariffs on construction materials to decrease costs, improving data collection and transparency, and prioritizing reforms to planning, permitting, and zoning.

New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10) and New Democrat Coalition National Security Working Group Chair Gil Cisneros (CA-31) issued a statement following the release of an unclassified Inspector General report that found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered the lives of U.S. servicemembers by recklessly compromising sensitive military intelligence.

Reps. Schneider, Cisneros, and additional New Dem leaders have repeatedly called on Hegseth to resign due to his disregard for the rule of law and members of the Armed Forces.

“The Inspector General’s report confirms what we’ve known all along: Secretary Hegseth is incompetent, reckless, and a threat to the lives of the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces.

“A true leader is responsible and accountable – Hegseth is no such leader. He failed to take responsibility for this shameful incident and refused to cooperate with the independent investigation. Now he is denying any accountability for the likely illegal double-tap strike in the Caribbean.

“Time and time again, the Secretary has lied, dodged, deflected, and shockingly scapegoated his subordinates. He is a disgrace to the office he holds and should resign immediately before his actions cost American lives.”

In Episode 24, “Flight Logs,” Reps. Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Marc Veasey (TX-33) welcome Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA-11) to the podcast, who became the Coalition’s newest Member after winning a special election in September. Congressman Walkinshaw, who serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, walks through the latest developments in House Oversight Dems’ investigation into the Epstein files and previews where the investigation will be headed in the near future.

The group also discusses the concerning developments regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the potential war crimes committed in a September strike in the Carribean. They close with the President’s corrupt use of the presidential pardon, including his decision to pardon the former President of Honduras, who is a convicted narcotrafficker.