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New Democrat Coalition
The New Democrat Coalition is a caucus in the House of Representatives of the United States Congress made up of Democrats, primarily liberals and centrists, who take a pro-business stance and a liberal-to-moderate approach to fiscal matters. Most members hold socially liberal views.[8] The caucus has been described as being center[9] to center-left.[11] When the 119th Congress convened on January 3, 2025, the New Democrat Coalition touted 110 members (including one nonvoting member), accounting for more than half of all Democratic representatives and making it the largest House Democrat ideological caucus, followed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[12][13] OverviewThe New Democrat Coalition is a caucus within the House of Representatives founded in 1997[14] by Representatives Cal Dooley, Jim Moran, and Tim Roemer.[15] The Coalition supported "Third Way" policies during the presidency of Bill Clinton. The Coalition consists of liberal, moderate, and centrist Democrats.[16][17] After the sharp decline of the Blue Dog Coalition in the 2010s, the New Democrat Coalition gained some of the Blue Dog Coalition's former clout by also having members from swing seats.[18][19][20] The group is known as fiscally moderate[21][22] and pro-business. For example, the New Democrat Coalition supports free trade and the high-tech sector.[23][24] The New Democrat Coalition also supports immigration reform.[5] Ideologically, it is positioned between the House Progressive Caucus and the Blue Dog Coalition.[25] The Coalition has been described as both socially liberal and fiscally moderate-to-conservative.[26][27] Policy positionsThe NDC advocates "working to bridge the partisan divide with a solutions-oriented approach to politics", combating climate change, transitioning to sustainable energy, increased access towards healthcare, and strengthening U.S. national security.[28] EconomyAccording to their Economic Opportunity Agenda,[29] they value the diversification and strengthening of global supply chains, the enaction of legislation to address current constraints to global trade, the reduction of costs for U.S. consumers, and to buttress the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. They believe in a transparent exclusion process from Section 301 tariffs, and pursuing free trade agreements with the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Taiwan. The NDC lays out their plan to the reduction of energy prices and the transition to sustainable energy by instituting the investments made in the Inflation Reduction Act[30] and easing market barriers towards cleaner energy. HealthcareOn April 3, 2019, Representative Ami Bera introduced HR 2061,[31] proposing state market mechanisms to increase enrollment, particularly focusing on auto-enrollment for those qualifying for $0 premium health plans. Abortion rightsThe New Democrat Coalition supports the right to travel for abortion, the protection of doctors who conduct abortions, and the enshrining of protections for reproductive care for servicewomen and military families.[32] They also support the codification of abortion rights as protected by Roe v. Wade.[33] National securityAccording to their National Security Principles[34] they value the modernization and sustainment of the U.S. Military, reinforcement of American internationalism, strengthening of regional commitments, reinforcing U.S. cybersecurity, and addressing the deficit. CybersecurityWhen it comes to cybersecurity, the New Democrat Coalition's cybersecurity task force[35] confronts digital security with fostering public-private information sharing, developing stronger defenses against cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism, establishment of a strong pipeline of workers to address said cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism, investment into stronger defenses in the public and private sectors, and securing the Internet of Things. Climate changeAccording to the NDC's Principles for U.S. Climate Policy,[36] they propose American global coordination towards climate solutions, transition to a clean energy economy, enacting climate-forward policies towards disaster relief and the transition of local communities to a sustainable energy grid, and recommitting to the Paris Agreement. Foreign policyIsraelOn October 12, 2023, five days after the October 7 attack on Israel, the NDC endorsed a bipartisan resolution on standing with Israel and unequivocally condemning Hamas.[37] Later, on October 20, they endorsed Biden's request for supplemental funding for both Israel and Ukraine.[citation needed] Russian invasion of UkraineOn April 20, 2024, the NDC affirmed their commitment to Ukraine by endorsing the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024.[38] They would later applaud the success of the bill on April 23.[39] Electoral resultsHouse of Representatives
Caucus chairsCurrent caucus rules only allow for a single chair who serves a single, 2-year term. However, when the caucus began it permitted multiple chairs and 4-year terms.[41]
LeadershipAs of the 118th United States Congress, the Coalition's leaders[42] are as follows:
Membership As of January 13, 2024, the New Democrat Coalition has 110 members. Those members include 109 U.S. Representatives and one non-voting delegate of the House of Representatives.[43] Of these, 85 were reelected in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections, while 25 non-incumbents endorsed by the caucus PAC were elected to congress; this raises the expected number of members to 110.[44] Alabama
Non-voting
Campaign armThe NewDem Action Fund, formerly known as the NewDemPAC,[46] is the campaign arm of the caucus.[47] See also
Notes
References
External links
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