Washington, D.C. — Today, New Democrat Coalition Action Fund Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02) issued a statement in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ Agenda to Lower Costs for American Families. The Vice President’s new agenda focuses on New Dem priorities, putting forward solutions to help lower the costs of essentials for families like housing, health care, child care, and groceries.
The agenda reflects the goals and policies New Dems have laid out in a series of policy action plans released over the past three years, including the Inflation Action Plan, Economic Opportunity Agenda, and Housing Action Plan. From expanding the Child Tax Credit and boosting the housing supply to capping insulin and prescription drug prices for Americans and bringing down food costs, Vice President Harris and New Dems believe in policies that can garner the bipartisan support necessary to become law.
New Dem Action Fund Chair Kuster issued the following statement on Vice President Harris’ Agenda:
“In the years since the pandemic rattled our economy, New Dems have worked tirelessly with the Biden-Harris Administration to engineer a historic economic comeback in America. While we’ve made incredible progress, and just this week saw inflation cooling again, the job is not done. The cost of living is still too high for hardworking families across the country.
“That’s why New Dems issued a series of policy plans calling for immediate action to tackle inflation and lower costs across the economy. Today, Vice President Harris showed that she shares this commitment and has laid out an agenda in line with New Dems’ pragmatic, middle-out, economic vision for the future.
“As New Dems continue our work to take back the House majority in November, we look forward to partnering with our next President, Kamala Harris to implement an economic agenda that empowers every American to succeed.”
The New Dem Inflation Action Plan, Economic Opportunity Agenda, and Housing Action Plan call for several policy changes in line with Vice President Harris’ agenda, including:
Lowering the Cost of Housing
Incentivizing additional construction to build more housing and end the housing supply shortage;
Expanding the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to incentivize the production of affordable housing;
Advancing permitting and zoning reforms to cut red tape and bureaucracy, lowering the barriers to housing production – including passing the YIMBY Act;
Improving data collection and increasing data transparency to prevent price fixing and unreasonably high rents.
Cutting Costs for Families
Restoring and making permanent the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit to help lower costs for American families by passing the American Family Act;
Capping the cost of insulin at $35 and out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs at $2,000 for every American, not just seniors;
Cutting taxes to help Americans afford health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace;
Empowering Medicare to continue prescription drug price negotiations.