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** Weekly Wrap 09/20/2019
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This week, the NDC released policy principles and endorsed legislation to combat climate change. In doing so, the NDC seeks to address the climate challenge with the urgency the crisis demands and to embrace the notion that the U.S., through its powerful economy and culture of innovation, can be best positioned to be the global leader developing and producing the next generation technologies to help the international community combat climate change.

The NDC announced its official endorsement of a bipartisan election security package to protect our nation’s elections. Additionally, NDC added one more freshman Member, Rep. Joe Morelle, to the Coalition to have 104 total Members and issued a statement about the newly introduced drug pricing legislation, H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

More on what Members have been up to below.

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COALITION HIGHLIGHTS

New Democrat Coalition Inducts Additional Member ([link removed])
The NDC was proud to add Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25) to join the Coalition in the 116th Congress. Rep. Morelle brings an abundance of real-world experience and is dedicated to advancing the New Dem priorities that focus on growing the economy, embracing innovation, and promoting smart and fiscally responsible governance. The New Democrat Coalition is the largest ideological caucus in the House now at 104 total Members and 43 freshman Members.

NDC Releases Priorities for U.S. Climate Policy ([link removed])
The NDC, led by Chair Derek Kilmer ([link removed]) , Vice Chair Scott Peters, and Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer ([link removed]) , Sean Casten ([link removed]) , Elaine Luria ([link removed]) and Susan Wild ([link removed]) , released policy principles to address the climate crisis and endorsed the first legislative package – a slate of 12 bills – to take action on these priorities. Read the one-pager ([link removed]) , the list of endorsed bills
([link removed]) , statements of support ([link removed]) , and the full policy principles ([link removed]) . Watch the full press conference here ([link removed]) .

NDC Health Care Task Force Statement on Drug Pricing Legislation ([link removed])
NDC Chair Derek Kilmer, Vice Chair Suzan DelBene, Leadership Member Ami Bera, and Health Care Task Force Co-Chairs Angie Craig, Kurt Schrader, Kim Schrier and Greg Stanton, released a statement on H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

NDC Endorses Legislation to Protect America’s Elections ([link removed])
The NDC announced its official endorsement of a bipartisan election security package to protect our nation’s elections. Specifically, the NDC endorsed H.R. 1272 ([link removed]) , The Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act, H.R. 2135 ([link removed]) , The Preventing Adversaries Intentionally from Disbursing Advertising Dollars (PAID) Act, H.R. 2592 ([link removed]) , The Honest Ads Act, and H.R. 3529 ([link removed]) , The Achieving Lasting Electoral Reforms on Transparency and Security (ALERTS) Act.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

COMMITTEE ACTION
Education and Labor Committee Passes McBath’s School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Bill ([link removed])
The House Committee on Education and Labor passed Rep. Lucy McBath’s (GA-06) School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act which will create a federal definitions for “mass shooting” and “school shooting” and instruct the Department of Education, in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, to annually report uniform data on indicators of school crime as they pertains to school shootings.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Passed Craig’s Bipartisan Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2019 ([link removed])
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed Rep. Angie Craig’s (MN-02) bipartisan Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2019, which would create a low-interest loan program for states to fund pre-disaster mitigation projects and greatly reduce the risks and costs of natural disasters.

Education and Labor Committee Passed Lee and Wild’s Dignity in Aging Act ([link removed])
The House Committee on Education and Labor passed Rep. Susie Lee ([link removed]) (NV-03) and Susan Wild’s ([link removed]) (PA-07) bipartisan Dignity in Aging Act ([link removed]) to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA), which increases funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and with dignity.

FLOOR ACTION
House Passes Kuster’s Bipartisan Carbon Monoxide Bill ([link removed])
The House unanimously passed Rep. Annie Kuster's (NH-02) bill, the Zachary and Nicholas Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, which would create a grant program to install carbon monoxide alarms in the homes of elderly and low-income individuals, as well as in schools and other public facilities. The bill also provides incentives for states to pass laws requiring carbon monoxide alarms in public places to prevent carbon monoxide deaths.

BILL INTRODUCTIONS
Schneider, Torres, and Engel Introduce Bill to Update Reporting Requirements for Semi-Automatic Rifles ([link removed])
Reps. Norma Torres ([link removed]) (CA-35), Eliot Engel (NY-16), and Brad Schneider ([link removed]) (IL-10) introduced the Multiple Firearm Sales Reporting Modernization Act to require federal firearms licensees to report the sale of two or more long guns, including semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15 and the AK-47, within a five-day period. This would bring reporting requirements in-line with current law regarding multiple purchases of handguns.

Connolly Introduces the Bipartisan Safe Homefront Act ([link removed])
Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) introduced the bipartisan Safe Homefront Act, to ensure that no U.S. servicemember with a felony-level domestic violence conviction is able to legally purchase firearms.

Foster Introduces Bicameral Bill to Improve the Office of Technology Assessment ([link removed])
Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) Improvement and Enhancement Act this week. The bill would improve the OTA by making it more accessible and responsive to Members’ needs, restoring funding to the OTA and enabling Congress to better address the challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies.

Heck Introduces Housing Legislation ([link removed])
Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) introduced the bipartisan Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) Act, legislation that encourages responsible and proactive land use policies by local governments who apply for federal Community Development Block Grant funding. The YIMBY Act is the latest bill designed to address the national housing shortage and affordable housing crisis outlined in "Missing Millions of Homes ([link removed]) ," a report released last year by the New Democrat Coalition's Housing Task Force.

McBath Introduces Legislation to Simplify Federal Student Aid Application Process ([link removed])
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the HOPE for FAFSA Act of 2019, which amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce the complexity and length of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

McAdams Introduces Bipartisan Bill Seeking Fair Taxpayer Return for Oil and Gas Drilling on Public Lands ([link removed])
Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04) introduced the bipartisan Taxpayer Fairness for Resource Development Act which seeks to update royalty and rental rates charged by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for oil and gas resource production in compliance with federal law and in line with states’ fiscal policies.

Horsford Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs for Families with Working College Students ([link removed])
Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the bicameral Dependent Income Exclusion Act to make health insurance more affordable for families with children who have part-time jobs or are enrolled in job training programs. This legislation would allow families to exclude specific dependent income when calculating their eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.

MEMBER HAPPENINGS
Schrier, Bera, and Ruiz Lead Letter to DHS and CDC About Flu Vaccines at Border Facilities ([link removed])
Reps. Kim Schrier (WA-08), Ami Bera (CA-07), and Raul Ruiz (CA-36), the three Democratic doctors in the House, sent a letter to DHS and CDC with concerns that there are no plans to vaccinate migrants and staff at the border for the flu vaccine. With crowded conditions and migrants being held longer, the doctors have concerns about a potential flu outbreak if people aren't properly immunized. Read the Los Angeles Times piece in Spanish. ([link removed])

McEachin and Spanberger Lead Letter Expressing Concern Over Discriminatory Discipline Practices in Richmond Region Schools ([link removed])
Reps. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos expressing concerns over a recent report from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) highlighting racial disparities in school discipline across the Richmond region. The lawmakers urge the Department of Education to review this report, along with other studies, as it works to uphold the law and enforce critical civil rights protections for our nation’s students.

Cisneros and Brown: Trump Raids Military Families, National Security to Pay for Border Wall: Vets in Congress via USA Today ([link removed])
Reps. Gil Cisneros (CA-39) and Anthony Brown (MD-04) penned an op-ed in USA Today addressing the impact of the Administration’s decision to redirect $3.6 billion in appropriated military funds to build a border wall on America’s military families and veterans: “The president’s decision to take money away from our military to pay for his border wall – a wall he promised repeatedly that Mexico would pay for – is an insult to our service members and their families who have for years been forced to do more with less.

Horsford: Why H.R. 40 Is a First Step Toward Removing Major Economic Obstacles in Black Communities via Blavity ([link removed])
Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) penned an op-ed in Blavity highlighting the importance of H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, to establish a Commission to analyze the role of slavery and its legacy of racism in shaping challenges African Americans face today: “I believe that H.R. 40 is a step towards finding tangible solutions to removing obstacles in Black communities, thereby lifting up all others, and a necessary piece of legislation that has my full support.”

Wild Announces Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiatives ([link removed])
As part of National Suicide Prevention Month, Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07) hosted a press conference and roundtable discussion with experts in mental health and suicide prevention, survivors, and several of her colleagues to announce two new pieces of mental health legislation. The Greater Mental Health Access Act and Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act ([link removed]) are designed to create policies and programs to improve mental health care and suicide prevention programs for all Americans and provide support to those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Mucarsel-Powell, Shalala, Wasserman-Schultz Lead Letter to President Trump to Keep Venezuela in Mind in National Security Advisor ([link removed])
Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Donna Shalala ([link removed]) (FL-27), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) led a letter urging President Donald Trump to appoint a National Security Advisor that will take the crisis in Venezuela seriously and urge swift granting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans currently residing in the United States. The members also highlighted the other legislative remedies the U.S. House has taken to confront the hemispheric crisis.

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