Rep. Sykes Named Chair of New Democrat Coalition Housing Task Force
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced that she has been named Chair of the Housing Task Force of the New Democrat Coalition Working Group on Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation. As Chair of this task force, Rep. Sykes will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our communities have access to affordable, safe housing.
“Communities are made strong by the people who live in them. That’s why I am proud to be the Chair of the Housing Task Force of the New Democrat Coalition Working Group on Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation,” said Rep. Sykes. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the housing access and affordability crisis, to ensure that working families can afford to live their American Dream in the communities they’ve called home for generations.”
The New Democrat Coalition laid out a vision built on three pillars: economic growth and opportunity; healthy and safe communities; and strong national security and defense. The 110+ members of the Coalition will collaborate within nine distinct Working Groups, each one tasked with addressing a core sector of American life—from lowering prices to increasing housing, from education and health care to border security and immigration reform. Within the scope of each Working Group, targeted Task Forces will address key topics to gain deeper understanding of the issues and develop actionable, commonsense policy recommendations and legislative frameworks.
The New Democrat Coalition’s Platform: Centered & Strong
I. Economic Growth and Opportunity: Work, Wages and Wealth
- Helping Americans achieve financial freedom — not just making ends meet but getting ahead.
- Lowering costs and raising the standard of living for hardworking American families.
- Creating an abundance of new, well-paying jobs at all skill levels, including more union jobs.
- Keeping the promise of a secure and dignified retirement for all Americans.
- Protecting and expanding the United States leadership in innovation and technology.
- Supporting American small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Revitalizing rural America to lead the world for the 21st Century.
- Maintaining American energy independence and development and expansion of new energy sources.
- Responsibly addressing deficits and debts to leave our children a prosperous future.
II. Healthy and Safe Communities
- Relieving the housing crisis by expanding the supply of quality, affordable homes.
- Helping people feel safe and secure in their homes and on their way to work, school and play by keeping their communities free from crime, violence, and decay.
- Ensuring access to quality, affordable healthcare from providers people trust, where and when they need care.
- Providing every American child with the skills and lessons they need to succeed in the 21st century economy.
- Ensuring every American has clean and safe air, water, and food.
III. Strong National Security and Defense
- Modernizing our defense, diplomatic, and development (3D) capabilities to protect and advance American interests at home and abroad.
- Fixing our outdated and broken immigration laws and border security to protect all American citizens, while still welcoming through legal channels individuals and families from around the world who are interested in pursuing the American Dream to help grow our economy and build our future.
Responding to a changing climate with investments in new, clean energy and emission reducing/carbon capture technologies, as well as advancements in infrastructure and community resilience, and modernization of our permitting processes.
New Dem Working Groups & Task Forces:
Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation — Chair Norma Torres
The Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation Working Group will advance policies related to each of these sectors, including addressing the housing access and affordability crisis and improving and modernizing infrastructure, transit, and transportation.
Initial Task Forces:
- Transportation – Chair Shomari Figures
- Housing – Chair Emilia Sykes
Economic Growth & Cost of Living — Chair Chrissy Houlahan
The Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group is focused on tackling key fiscal issues including tax reform, the federal budget, trade, and tariffs while also developing plans to lower inflation and costs, create jobs, strengthen manufacturing, and ensure every American has the opportunity to succeed.
Initial Task Forces:
- Taxes – Chair Steven Horsford
- Care Economy – Chair Sarah McBride
- Trade and Tariffs – Chair Don Beyer
- Manufacturing – Chair Frank Mrvan
Immigration & Border Security — Chair Greg Stanton
The Immigration & Border Security Working Group is dedicated to humanely restoring order to the southern border, addressing our broken immigration system, expanding legal pathways, reducing the flow of illicit fentanyl, and facilitating legal immigration to bolster the American workforce and economy.
Initial Task Forces:
- Secure Borders – Chair Laura Gillen
- Legal Pathways – Chair Lou Correa
- Agricultural Workforce – Chair Salud Carbajal
Workforce & Education — Chair Gabe Vasquez
The Workforce & Education Working Group is committed to supporting our nation’s students and workforce by investing in early education & child care, K-12 education, and apprenticeships while working to lower the cost of higher education.
Initial Task Forces:
- Apprenticeship & Training – Chair Val Hoyle
- Education – Chair Johnny Olszewski
Health Care — Chair Terri Sewell
The Health Care Working Group will work to expand access to affordable, high-quality health care, help ensure access to reproductive health care, tackle substance use disorder and mental health crises, promote innovation in health care delivery, and improve physical and mental health outcomes for all Americans.
Initial Task Forces:
- Mental Health – Chair Shontel Brown
- Substance Use Disorder – Chair Madeleine Dean
- Access & Affordability – Chair Julie Johnson
- Reproductive Health – Chair Kelly Morrison
Rural Revitalization — Chair Kim Schrier
The Rural Revitalization Working Group will advance policy solutions to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities, from shaping the Farm Bill and the rural economy, to tackling climate-smart agriculture, rural broadband, telehealth, workforce shortages, postal issues, farming and commodities, and more.
Initial Task Forces:
- Farm Bill – Chair Jim Costa
- Rural Broadband – Chair April McClain Delaney
- Rural Economy – Chair Josh Riley
Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy — Chair Scott Peters
The Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group is focused on building a 21st-century clean energy economy, particularly by enacting permitting reform, tackling climate change, creating more resilient infrastructure, and protecting the critical investments of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Initial Task Forces:
- Clean Energy Deployment – Chair Deborah Ross
Climate Resiliency – Chair Julia Brownley
Innovation & Technology — Chair Sam Liccardo
The Innovation & Technology Working Group explores policies to foster American leadership in emerging technologies, such as AI and digital assets, in order to support a dynamic and inclusive digital economy that respects intellectual property and ensures the responsible development and deployment of innovation.
Initial Task Forces:
- Artificial Intelligence – Chair Valerie Foushee
- Digital Assets – Chair Brittany Pettersen
National Security — Chair Gil Cisneros
The National Security Working Group will focus on modernizing U.S. defense, diplomatic, and development capabilities to ensure we protect American citizens at home and abroad, while also supporting Veterans, addressing cyber threats, engaging in counterterrorism and nonproliferation efforts, and maintaining America’s status as a leader of the free world.
Initial Task Forces:
- Veterans – Chair Herb Conaway
- Defense – Chair Ed Case
- Diplomacy – Chair Eugene Vindman