News & Updates from the Blue Dogs

WASHINGTON—Today, the Blue Dog Coalition, which focuses on issues related to fiscal responsibility and national security, announced its endorsement of H.R. 5209, Raising the Bar Act of 2019, which would help hold social media companies accountable and stop the spread of terrorist content online in a way that would “raise the bar” for social media companies to shut down terrorist activity on their platforms. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Max Rose (NY-11), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on National Security and Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Counterterrorism.

WASHINGTON—Today, in response to the New York Times report revealing that U.S. intelligence officials briefed lawmakers that Russia is meddling in the 2020 election in an attempt to get President Trump re-elected, the Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration and former Department of Defense national security specialist, Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) issued the following statement:

When he organized the first retreat of the Blue Dog Coalition in 1995, then-Rep. John Tanner reserved 50 rooms at a resort on Maryland's Eastern Shore. As the event drew closer, the Tennessee Democrat learned that he had booked only 23 rooms, setting the coalition of fiscally moderate House Democrats off to a potentially very rocky start.

WASHINGTON—Twenty-five years ago today, 23 members of the House Democratic Caucus held a press conference to announce the formation of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of pragmatic Democrats who are dedicated to fiscal responsibility and ensuring a strong national defense. Since that time, the makeup and size of the Coalition has changed over the years, but the Coalition continues to be an influential voice in the U.S. House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON—Today marks the beginning of the Blue Dog Coalition's 25thyear fighting for fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and bipartisan, commonsense solutions in Congress. As part of the celebration, the Coalition releaseda set of resourcesdocumenting its history.

WASHINGTON—Today, the Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chair for Communications, Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), issued the following statement in response to President Trump's budget proposal:"This year, we are facing a $1 trillion annual deficit and an unprecedented $23 trillion national debt, and a lack of fiscal discipline is forcing us to pay more on interest incurred on the national debt than we spend on our kids. In other words, a lack of fiscal restraint is already forcing us to spend more on our past than we invest in our future.

WASHINGTON—Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisanTaxpayers Right-To-Know Act, a key component of theBlue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform.

WASHINGTON—Today, Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46) issued the following statement ahead of President Trump's State of the Union address:

WASHINGTON—Today, the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition announced its endorsement ofH.R. 5226, Funding Deadline Enforcement Act, which would force Congress to pass all appropriations bills on time instead of relying on temporary Continuing Resolutions (CRs). Specifically, the bill would prevent House and Senate members from using official Congressional funds to travel if they miss the annual October 1 deadline to send all appropriations bills to the President's desk for a signature.

WASHINGTON—Today, the co-chairs of the Blue Dog Task Force on Infrastructure and Job Creation—Reps. Joe Cunningham (SC-01) and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)—issued the following statement on the House Democratic Caucus'$760 billion infrastructure framework.

WASHINGTON—Today, the Blue Dog Coalition, which focuses on issues related to fiscal responsibility and national security, announced its endorsement ofH.R. 4990, the Election Technology Research Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill that will give the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) new resources to conduct research to promote the security and modernization of U.S. voting systems. The legislation was introduced in the House by Blue Dog member, Rep.

WASHINGTON—Today, the Co-Chairs of the Blue Dog Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility and Government Reform—Reps. Ben McAdams (UT-04) and Ed Case (HI-01)—issued the following statement in response to House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth'scommentsregarding the 2020 budget:

WASHINGTON—Today, the Co-Chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition's Task Force on National Security, Reps. Max Rose (NY-11) and Kendra Horn (OK-05), issued the following statement calling for the Trump Administration to produce a comprehensive national security strategy to address the threats posed by Iran and its proxies following the U.S. operation to kill Qasem Soleimani:

WASHINGTON—Today, the Blue Dog Coalition announced its appointment of Rep. Max Rose (NY-11), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to be Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on National Security. He will join Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, to co-lead the National Security Task Force.Members of the Blue Dog Task Force on National Security include the following: Rep. Charlie Crist (FL-13), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10).

WASHINGTON—Today, the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition and numerous House Republicans, including members of the Republican Tuesday Group, senta letterto House and Senate leadership calling on them to come to a bipartisan agreement that will fully fund the federal government through the end of fiscal year 2020.

WASHINGTON—Today, the House passed the bipartisanFentanyl Sanctions Act, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation soon to send to the President's desk for a signature.

WASHINGTON—Today, the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition has announced its endorsement ofH.R. 5211,Sustainable Budget Act of 2019,which would create a fiscal commission with the goal of achieving a balanced budget within a decade. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility, and Republican Congressman Steve Womack (AR-03).

WASHINGTON—Today, the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition has announced its endorsement ofH.R. 4907,Time to Rescue United States' Trusts (TRUST) Act,which would create congressional committees specifically tasked to develop legislation to restore and strengthen endangered federal trust funds.

WASHINGTON—Today, members of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, calling for House leadership and committee chairs to abide by the bipartisan Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rule, which requires Congress to pay for new priorities.

WASHINGTON—Today, the co-chair of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition, Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), released the following statement in response to the House passage of a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through December 20, 2019: