Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement on the House Republicans’ resolution denouncing socialism:
“House Republicans just returned from a seven-week taxpayer-funded recess, and instead of doing anything to lower costs, they are wasting time and money on this pointless resolution.
“My colleagues on the other side are more focused on performative political stunts like this while families in Denver are seeing health care and groceries get more expensive. This is a precursor to their plan to gut Social Security and Medicare, and I will always fight tooth and nail to protect these essential programs.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) led a bipartisan letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging him to enact full funding for the Office of Space Commerce (OSC). Recent reporting indicates that OMB notified OSC that it was only entitled to an annual budget of $37 million, which representants a 40 percent cut from its $65 million Congressionally authorized budget. The Members argue that the cut could impact space traffic coordination and jeopardize critical defense missions and commercial space operations. In addition to Reps. Lieu and Bacon, this letter was signed by Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).
Dear Director Vought:
We write to express our deep concern regarding reported cuts to the Office of Space Commerce’s (OSC) budget. It is essential that the United States maintains its world-leading commercial space industry – and a thriving, well-resourced OSC is critical to that aim.
Recent reporting indicates that the Office of Management and Budget notified OSC it was only entitled to an annual budget of $37 million, a 40 percent cut from its $65 million Congressionally authorized budget based on the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level and extended by the March 14 Continuing Resolution. The Administration’s cut is clearly below what both House and Senate appropriators have called for in Fiscal Year 2026. The risk of reduced funding for OSC recently compelled leading commercial and defense space associations to request $65 million in FY26 funding and warn that inadequate funding for space traffic coordination – a key responsibility of OSC – risks “putting critical missions in harm’s way, raising the cost of doing business, and potentially driving U.S. industry to relocate overseas.”
Among several important responsibilities, OSC is developing the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), which will provide basic space situational awareness to civil and private space entities, supporting space traffic coordination and minimizing the risk of collisions. OSC’s efforts to ensure a safe, well-coordinated space environment will protect space-based services such as GPS, broadband, and resource management, among other important functions. Reduced funding risks degrading OSC’s TraCSS efforts, which would lead to greater uncertainty and a more dangerous orbital environment.
For years, OSC has been an essential partner to the U.S. space industry, a key pillar of the American innovation economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2023, the space economy accounted for $142.5 billion of total U.S. GDP in 2023, created $240.9 billion in gross output, and supported 373,000 private sector jobs. While the global space economy has continued to grow, the U.S. has been the clear driver of that growth: in 2024, global satellite manufacturing revenues grew to $20 billion, and American firms earned nearly 70 percent of that market share. But at the same time, our competition is increasing as China and other global competitors ramp up investment in their own commercial space industries.
We must ensure our government agencies are equipped to continue partnering with our space industry. To that end, we request the Administration maintain OSC’s previously enacted funding level of $65 million.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important issue. We look forward to receiving your response.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and David Valadao (R-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, along with Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) reintroduced the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act, legislation that would expand federal, state, and local efforts to improve care for individuals with asthma.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 25 million people, including over 4 million children, live with asthma in the United States. Asthma disproportionately impacts women and minority communities who bear the brunt of the disease. Individuals living in poverty, as measured by the federal poverty line, are also more likely to suffer from asthma. Additionally, asthma imposes significant economic burdens, costing the United States over $81 billion in medical and indirect costs in the form of missed days of school and work.
The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act expands the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program to all 50 states. The National Asthma Control Program helps health departments across the country ensure the availability of and access to guidelines-based medical management and pharmacotherapy for all people with asthma to address the public health burden of the disease. The legislation also directs the CDC to collaborate with state and local health departments to provide information and education to the public regarding asthma. Additionally, the legislation requires the development of state plans around public health responses to asthma, particularly for disproportionately affected populations, and mandates the collection and coordination of data on the impact of asthma.
“Michigan has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the country, and action is needed to reduce the burden of this disease in my home state and across the country,” said Rep. Dingell. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act will strengthen the public health response to this disease and help all Americans with this disease live healthier lives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure this legislation becomes law.”
“The Central Valley suffers from some of the worst air quality in the nation, and as a result, over half a million people have been diagnosed with asthma,” said Rep.Valadao. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act is a bipartisan step toward expanding access to care and improving the quality of life for people living with this difficult and life-altering disease. As co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, I’m proud to reintroduce this bill and remain committed to ensuring Central Valley families have access to the care they need to live happy, healthy lives.”
“Asthma remains one of the most common—and most costly—chronic diseases in America, yet our public-health response varies dramatically from state to state. The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act closes that gap,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “By expanding a proven national program to all 50 states, we equip local health departments with the tools to reduce attacks, prevent hospitalizations, and deliver better outcomes for the families in our PA-1 community, and nationwide, who shoulder this burden every day.”
“Asthma continues to be a chronic illness affecting millions of Americans each year and disproportionately impacting Black and Brown people and women,” said Rep. Clarke. “This bill will expand access to essential asthma services, support prevention, and equip families with the tools they need to manage this chronic disease. By addressing the health disparities and providing much-needed care in our underserved communities, we are decreasing the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits and improving the overall management of asthma across this nation.”
The bill is supported by the American Lung Association, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and the Allergy & Asthma Network.
“Asthma is a chronic lung disease that impacts millions of children and adults in the U.S. We must ensure that every person, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status, has access to the high-quality asthma care they need to breathe easier and live healthier lives,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Thankfully, at a time when too many families are struggling to manage this condition, the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act offers real solutions. This legislation will strengthen asthma programs, expand care, increase awareness and reduce the burden of this chronic disease.”
“On behalf of the nearly 28 million people in the United States with asthma, we appreciate the leadership of Rep. Dingell and co-sponsors Reps. Clarke, Valadao, and Fitzpatrick on the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act,” said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). “The Act expands the successful National Asthma Control Program (NACP) to reach all of the United States. While the NACP expanded from 1999-2018 to support state-based asthma programs, asthma-related mortality decreased by 44%. NACP-funded programs in 29 states reduce missed days of school and work, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations by enabling people with asthma to better manage their condition. This bill will also address the $115 billion annual economic burden of asthma. Expanding the NACP is essential to making America healthier by reducing the burden of chronic disease and keeping families across the country healthy and productive.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)
WASHINGTON –Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09) to reintroduce the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand federal, state, and local efforts to improve care for people with asthma.
“The Central Valley suffers from some of the worst air quality in the nation, and as a result, over half a million people have been diagnosed with asthma,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act is a bipartisan step toward expanding access to care and improving the quality of life for people living with this difficult and life-altering disease. As co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, I’m proud to reintroduce this bill and remain committed to ensuring Central Valley families have access to the care they need to live happy, healthy lives.”
“Michigan has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the country, and action is needed to reduce the burden of this disease in my home state and across the country,” said Rep. Dingell. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act will strengthen the public health response to this disease and help all Americans with this disease live healthier lives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure this legislation becomes law.”
“Asthma remains one of the most common—and most costly—chronic diseases in America, yet our public-health response varies dramatically from state to state,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act closes that gap. By expanding a proven national program to all 50 states, we equip local health departments with the tools to reduce attacks, prevent hospitalizations, and deliver better outcomes for the families in our PA-1 community, and nationwide, who shoulder this burden every day.”
“Asthma continues to be a chronic illness affecting millions of Americans each year and disproportionately impacting Black and Brown people and women,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “This bill will expand access to essential asthma services, support prevention, and equip families with the tools they need to manage this chronic disease. By addressing the health disparities and providing much-needed care in our underserved communities, we are decreasing the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits and improving the overall management of asthma across this nation.”
Supporting organizations include: the American Lung Association, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and the Allergy & Asthma Network.
“On behalf of the nearly 28 million people in the United States with asthma, we appreciate the leadership of Rep. Dingell and co-sponsors Reps. Clarke, Valadao, and Fitzpatrick on the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act,” said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). “The Act expands the successful National Asthma Control Program (NACP) to reach all of the United States. While the NACP expanded from 1999-2018 to support state-based asthma programs, asthma-related mortality decreased by 44%. NACP-funded programs in 29 states reduce missed days of school and work, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations by enabling people with asthma to better manage their condition. This bill will also address the $115 billion annual economic burden of asthma. Expanding the NACP is essential to making America healthier by reducing the burden of chronic disease and keeping families across the country healthy and productive.”
“Asthma is a chronic lung disease that impacts millions of children and adults in the U.S. We must ensure that every person, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status, has access to the high-quality asthma care they need to breathe easier and live healthier lives,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Thankfully, at a time when too many families are struggling to manage this condition, the Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act offers real solutions. This legislation will strengthen asthma programs, expand care, increase awareness and reduce the burden of this chronic disease.”
The Elijah E. Cummings Family Asthma Act would:
Expand the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program to all 50 states. This would help health departments across the country ensure the availability of and access to guidelines-based medical management and pharmacotherapy for all people with asthma to address the public health burden of this disease.
Direct the CDC to collaborate with state and local health departments to provide information and education to the public regarding asthma.
Require the development of state plans around public health responses to asthma, particularly for disproportionately affected populations.
Mandate the collection and coordination of data on the impact of asthma.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after signing a discharge petition that will force a vote in the House of Representatives to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits if the petition reaches 218 signatories:
“Health care should be affordable and accessible for all. 26,000 people I represent depend on these critical ACA tax credits to afford medical care. If Republicans in Congress allow them to expire at the end of the year, 80,000 people in Washington state will be forced to go without health care.
“More uninsured people means higher health care costs for everyone and sicker family members, friends and neighbors. Because my Republican colleagues are refusing to hold a vote, too many hardworking people are facing the reality of choosing between going to the doctor, paying rent and feeding their kids.
“I will keep working alongside House Democrats to extend the ACA tax credits and make health care accessible and affordable.”
Rep. Larsen also joined Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) and 57 of their Democratic colleagues in urging Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately hold a vote to extend ACA tax credits and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing for hardworking families.
The full letter to Speaker Johnson is available here and below.
The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker U.S. House of Representatives H-232, The Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Speaker Johnson,
We write to you once again about the urgent matter of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums and the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) set to expire at the end of this year. For the past 50-plus days, you had kept the House of Representatives out of session while millions of Americans worry over how they’ll be able to pay their health care bills in 2026. Up to 24 million ACA enrollees are facing gross premium increases averaging 26 percent and actual monthly cost increases around 114 percent; some constituents have shared with us anticipated premium increases as high as 3,000 percent.
Many of the Americans that will be hit by these exorbitant costs live in congressional districts represented by Republicans. And a majority of members of the House – Democrats and Republicans – have made clear that these expiring EPTCs need to be addressed immediately. Ignoring this issue will be catastrophic to millions and runs counter to President Trump’s promise to lower costs for Americans.
In voting to reopen the federal government, Majority Leader John Thune has guaranteed a vote on extending these ACA EPTCs in the Senate. We respectfully demand you hold this same vote here in the House as soon as possible.
Families across this country – on both sides of the political spectrum – are counting on us to do something to mitigate rising health care costs. Inaction here will decimate millions of Americans’ budgets and force impossible decisions between receiving necessary care and other basic needs.
Please respond to us immediately with a date on which you will hold a vote on extending the ACA EPTCs. We look forward to working together to ensure Americans are protected from these disastrous cost increases.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tax filers could expect an extra $1,000 bump to their tax refund next year, in what could be a record-breaking tax refund season, according to recent analyst projections.
In total, the Working Families Tax Cuts will give American taxpayers $191 billion in net new tax relief in 2026. This level of tax relief will go a long way in helping working families make ends meet.
“The Working Families Tax Cuts puts more money in the pockets of Pennsylvania workers and families. Now, these additional savings will soon become a reality,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax. “Not only did the Working Families Tax Cuts prevent a tax increase, but it is also further investing in Pennsylvanians both for today and for years to come.”
“Millions of Americans will see the working families tax cuts put more money in their pockets when they file taxes this coming spring. In our tax relief bill, Republicans wasted no time and ensured that we cut taxes on income earned this year. Americans voted to have more money in their wallet, and that’s exactly what President Trump and Republicans delivered,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “Tax refunds are a big deal for a lot of American families. It covers home repairs, health care, or summer vacations; all of which became completely unaffordable under Joe Biden. Thanks to the working families tax cuts, more Americans will have greater financial security and ability to provide for their future.”
For the 2026 tax filing season, taxpayers are expected to take home an additional $91 billion in refunds and keep an additional $30 billion in their paychecks from reduced withholdings – according to a new study from Piper Sandler based on Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) data.
The Working Families Tax Cuts put more money back into the American people’s pockets families in multiple ways:
Makes the doubled standard deduction and lower tax rates from the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent.
Further increases the Standard Deduction by up to $1,500 per family in 2025.
No tax on tips
No tax on overtime
No tax on Social Security
Boosts the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 and indexes its value to inflation.
Expands access to child care and makes the paid leave tax credit permanent.
Expands 529 savings accounts to help families choose education that best fits their needs.
Expands health savings accounts so American families control their own health care.
Learn more about the Working Families Tax Cuts here.
Read more: Check out Rep. Kelly’s op-ed about the Working Families Tax Cuts in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published in July.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today strongly condemned the Trump Administration’s proposal to open areas off Florida’s Gulf Coast to offshore oil and gas drilling.
“President Trump is selling out Floridians to boost the profits of Big Oil donors. Floridians banned oil and gas drilling in state waters with almost 70% support for 2018. Drilling in federal waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast is far too risky after the economic and environmental damage from the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout and Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton.
“Our oceans and coasts are too unique and too critical to our way of life to encourage offshore drilling. Florida is a special but fragile place, and our economy depends on clean water, clean beaches and an affordable way for families to recreate and unwind. Drilling puts our national security at risk by disrupting critical military training conducted off Florida’s coasts. That’s why the Biden Administration acted to permanently protect the Eastern Gulf of Mexico under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. But today, the Trump Administration is proposing to lease areas off Florida’s coast that have long been protected by Congress.
“Trump’s Interior Department knows drilling in the Eastern Gulf is illegal, but they plan to hold lease sales anyway. That is why Congress must pass my bipartisan Florida Coastal Protection Act to enshrine permanent coastal protections in law and protect Florida’s waters, our planet, our pocketbooks and our people from costly oil disasters.
“Fifteen years after the BP spill, people are still struggling and communities are still using recovery funds to rebuild. Big Oil doesn’t need more help; they already sit on thousands of unused leases and receive $14 billion in taxpayer subsidies each year.
“After shutting down the government for seven weeks, it’s telling that President Trump’s priority is pushing a pro-polluter agenda. While hardworking families face a crushing cost-of-living crisis, Republicans are doubling down to sell off America’s oceans to their polluter friends. It’s not needed, not wanted and it’s another example of callous disregard for hardworking Americans.”
In January, the Biden-Harris Administration used its authority to permanently protect the Eastern Gulf of Mexico—including military training ranges, coastal ecosystems and the tourism and fishing industries central to Florida’s economy.
Castor’s bipartisan Florida Coastal Protection Act would codify a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling off Florida’s coast, safeguarding the state from the environmental and economic threats of offshore drilling.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)
Bacon, Suozzi, Hurd, Gottheimer Introduce Bill to Avert Healthcare Affordability Crisis: The Bipartisan HOPE Act
Washington – Today, Congressmen Don Bacon (R-NE), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Jeff Hurd (R-CO) co-led the introduction of the Bipartisan Healthcare Optimization, Protection, and Extension (HOPE) Act. This bill would address the healthcare affordability crisis by extending the enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for two years and adding new income caps and guardrails against fraud in the process.
“I’m glad we’re moving the debate forward on extending and reforming the Affordable Care Act subsidies. I’ve made clear to my colleagues on both sides that Congress needs a smart, bipartisan agreement that prevents our constituents’ health insurance premiums from skyrocketing. That’s why I worked with Reps. Tom Suozzi, Jeff Hurd, and Josh Gottheimer to introduce the HOPE Act, which would extend the enhanced premium tax credits for two years and apply new income caps and fraud protections. This may not be the final package Congress adopts, but it’s a responsible compromise that can help break the gridlock and protect families from higher costs,”said Congressman Bacon.
“The number one issue in our country is affordability. The rising price of health care is a pressing concern for Americans who want both parties to work together to deliver relief,” said Congressman Suozzi. “Time is running out for people of good faith to broker a solution. This bill is a commonsense compromise that prevents devastating premium spikes, in some cases, thousands of dollars a month. The Bipartisan HOPE Act also strengthens the premium tax credit with added safeguards against fraud and abuse, reflecting priorities shared on both sides of the aisle. Thank you to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who were willing to sit down, negotiate in good faith, and work toward a real, practical solution for the American people.”
Congressman Gottheimer said, “It’s time to come together, Democrats and Republicans, put aside the partisan BS, and deliver a real solution that will cut health insurance premiums. The Bipartisan HOPE Act will do just that — give hope to Jersey families struggling with the cost crisis on everything from health care to food to electric bills. Whether it’s this solution or another, failure is not an option.”
“Families across Colorado are already stretched thin by high health-care costs, and without action from Congress, premiums are set to rise sharply at the end of this year. I joined this bipartisan effort because doing nothing would leave too many families in rural communities facing unaffordable increases that they cannot absorb. The HOPE Act provides a temporary, responsible extension of the current premium tax credits so families do not see sudden cost spikes through no fault of their own. This bill also includes the strongest guardrails ever applied to the ACA Exchanges. We crack down on fraudulent brokers and misleading marketing practices, require documented consumer consent for plan changes, expand audit requirements, and remove ‘ghost beneficiaries’ by directing regular checks against the federal Death Master File. These reforms protect taxpayers, strengthen program integrity, and prevent vulnerable consumers from being taken advantage of. The HOPE Act is a practical, bipartisan solution that maintains affordability, enhances transparency, and improves accountability while Congress works toward long-term reforms that will make our health-care system more stable and more affordable. I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pursue responsible, commonsense solutions that put families first,”said Congressman Hurd.
The bill would extend the enhanced PTCs for enrollees earning less than $200,000 per year for a family of four. The bill would phase out the enhanced PTCs for enrollees earning between $200,000 and $300,000 for a family of four.
Moreover, the bill would create new guardrails to prevent “ghost beneficiaries,” crack down on fraud, and enhance delivery clarity. The bill cracks down on broker fraud by implementing several measures, including those presented in the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, to codify CMS’s authority to remove bad actors from ACA marketplaces, penalize bad actors, implement new consumer protections, and more. It also directs ACA marketplaces to regularly confirm enrollee eligibility with the Death Master File and requires marketplaces to better notify recipients the value of PTCs they are receiving from the federal government.
Finally, recognizing that many would-be recipients may have been discouraged from purchasing health insurance by previously high premiums, the bill would extend open enrollment to May 15.
Rep. Bacon and his colleague spoke to reporters today on the HOPE Act. His remarks can be heard here. You can find a one-pager on the Bipartisan HOPE Act here. The bill text is available here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box, where he made clear that Democrats will continue fighting to fix the Republican healthcare crisis and committed to reaching a bipartisan agreement to extend the expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits.
BECKY QUICK: Joining us right now is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to talk a little bit more about this. And, sir, can you lay out, without any partisan bent, kind of where things stand right now, just so Americans understand what’s happening?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the Affordable Care Act tax credits are going to expire on December 31st. And if that happens, tens of millions of hardworking American taxpayers are going to experience dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles. In some cases, premiums for health insurance will increase by $1,000 or $2,000 per month. This is for working-class Americans, middle-class Americans and everyday Americans. Healthcare will be unaffordable, people will be unable to go see a doctor when they need one. And that’s unacceptable in this great country, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. Over in the Senate, it’s my understanding that Leader Thune has recommitted to a vote on an Affordable Care Act extension no later than the second week in December, so there are ongoing discussions that are taking place in the Senate. Meanwhile, unfortunately, in the House, my Republican colleagues have shown zero interest in doing anything related to the ticking time bomb of the Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring. House Democrats have launched a discharge petition to try to compel an up-or-down vote on a straight three-year extension so we can provide working-class Americans with the same level of certainty that my Republican colleagues provided their billionaire donors when passing the One Big Ugly Bill.
BECKY QUICK: Minority Leader Jeffries, let’s talk about that discharge petition. You need 218 votes in the House in order to pass that. You’ve got 214 Members in the Democratic Caucus, so you only need four House Republicans to have to sign on to it to get this passed. But the idea of saying that this is a three-year extension instead of a one or even two-year extension has any potential Republican saying ‘forget it, this is dead on arrival.’ That’s the opinion of Representative Don Bacon. He’s a Republican from Nebraska who has been working with the idea of potentially extending for two years. But three years, they say, is dead on arrival. So if this is something that you want to satiate, if you want to get done, you are going to need at least some Republicans to come over. Why not start with a one-year extension or potentially even a two-year expansion?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Leader Schumer offered a one-year extension in the context of trying to end the Trump-Republican shutdown and that was unceremonious—
BECKY QUICK: That’s different. I’m talking about what you have now. Let’s not go back to what’s done in the past and what has not been extended. If you want to get something that it has actually done you need to do something that will have bipartisanship. Let’s not go back—
LEADER JEFFRIES: You can ask me the question. You can ask me the question and I’ll provide the answer.
BECKY QUICK: Answer the question instead of going back.
LEADER JEFFRIES: No, no. I’m providing an answer in order to provide context. Republicans have repeatedly refused to take yes for an answer. It was a very reasonable multi-year extension that was offered. It was one-year straight extension, plus a multi-year process through a bipartisan commission to more permanently resolve the Affordable Care Act issue. So having that context is absolutely important, regardless of what you may think.
BECKY QUICK: It’s important context to make me realize that I don’t think you want to get a deal done. I think this is something where you’d like to see the rates go higher and allow the Republicans to hang themselves with that. Is that the answer? Is this politics?
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s absolutely a ridiculous assertion, and really shame on—
BECKY QUICK: Three years is not going to get passed.
LEADER JEFFRIES: —shame on you for saying that because we’re fighting, it’s not a partisan issue for us. In fact, the states that are most impacted as it relates to an Affordable Care Act—
BECKY QUICK: That would be red states. Agree. Not contesting that.
LEADER JEFFRIES: —tax credit expiration are all Republican states. We’re talking about West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Mississippi, right, Tennessee. Over and over and over again. We can go through the list—
BECKY QUICK: That’s why you probably have some Republicans who would sign on if you guys could come up with something that actually looks like a bipartisan deal.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, this is not a partisan fight for us, it’s a patriotic fight. We’re fighting for every constituent, even if Republicans aren’t necessarily fighting for their own constituents. We want to find a bipartisan path forward. And that is what we’ve repeatedly indicated we want to do. Like we want to sit down and have a reasonable discussion, find common ground to address this issue. Now, Republicans said in the House they were willing to deal with the Affordable Care Act tax credit issue after the government funding agreement was reached. Well, now the government shutdown is over and there’s still been no conversations with House Republican leaders despite—
BECKY QUICK: Mike Johnson never said that. The Leader never said that. You do have Republicans though who would agree with you on something if it was actually bipartisan in nature. That’s what I’m trying to get at.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Actually, Mike Johnson actually did say that there was always a plan to specifically deal with the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. In fact, he said that repeatedly. So I’m not sure what you’re referencing, but that’s the bottom line.
BECKY QUICK: I think their plan is something that looks more like an [HSA], which I’m guessing you would say is dead on arrival, too, if you want to set up these healthcare plans that are funded instead of going through the ACA. I’m assuming you would say that’s dead on arrival too because there have been Republicans who put that forward. Am I wrong in thinking you would not go along with that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: What I’m saying is that what’s in front of us is the immediate expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Republicans have had all year to deal with this issue, and they’ve refused to do it. So they’re the ones who are not interested in finding a resolution to a healthcare crisis that they’ve created, including passing a bill that enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. And because of their policies, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing throughout America, including in rural parts of the country.
BECKY QUICK: Which is why it would be nice to see a one-year extension so that none of these things happen immediately and give you all time to actually try and work on bipartisan situations, rather than a three-year extension that basically kicks it down until the next administration is here. I think both sides need to come together and find some way of getting around this that’s not necessarily saying, okay, we’re going to spend $350 billion to extend these tax credits without having any way of trying to get at the real problems of what is causing higher premiums, what is causing this inflationary healthcare environment to begin with.
LEADER JEFFRIES:Yeah, what’s interesting is that Republicans just spent trillions of dollars to provide their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks, and in that same bill, cut Medicaid by the largest amount in the history of the country, and also ripped $186 billion in nutritional assistance away from hungry children, seniors and veterans, the largest cut to SNAP in American history. But somehow we can’t find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits even for a year because House Republican leaders have rejected a one-year extension. Rejected. That’s their position. Not our position. That’s their position.
BECKY QUICK: So what I’m hearing, though, is that there is no middle ground. There is no bipartisanship. This is, at this point, us versus them, and we are not going to agree on anything. Am I?
LEADER JEFFRIES: No, that’s absolutely not the case. We’ve repeatedly said we will sit down anytime, anyplace, with any of our Republican colleagues. We’ll even go back to the White House to sit down with President Trump. We’ve repeatedly offered to do it, but they’ve refused. Donald Trump spent more time on the golf course during the longest government shutdown in American history than he did talking to Democrats on Capitol Hill who represent half the country. He has no interest in actually trying to find a bipartisan solution because the Republican approach, which is failing now—the American people know the country is moving in the wrong direction. The cost of living crisis is out of control, but the Republican approach since day one of this presidency has been my-way-or-the-highway.Everybody knows it. It’s one of the reasons why Republicans were rejected decisively, electorally, in the elections earlier this month. Yet, as Democrats, we continue to say we want to find a bipartisan path forward, but we need Republicans to operate in good faith in order for that to happen.
BECKY QUICK: Minority Leader, do you think that—what do you think, do you think you were successful in shutting down the government? Do you think you got what you wanted?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We didn’t shut the government down. Donald Trump and Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. And in fact, the American people, prior to the shutdown, during the shutdown and after the shutdown know who was responsible for the government shutting down. And in fact, in the midst of it all, Republicans refused to even sit down and have a conversation about keeping healthcare affordable for everyday Americans. And so we’re going to move past it. We have an Affordable Care Act tax credit expiration deadline that we need to tackle. We have a whole set of spending agreements that we need to find common ground on in advance of those agreements expiring in terms of the continuing resolution by the end of January. We just need partnership on the other side of the aisle. You know, what we have right now is that the Republicans are in the midst of an ongoing civil war. I mean, Donald Trump is fighting with Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson and John Thune are fighting with each other, Cory Mills and Nancy Mace are fighting with each other. House Republicans are strongly disagreeing with Senate Republicans. The whole thing on the other side of the aisle is a mess. Meanwhile, as Democrats, we just want to fight for working-class Americans.
ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: Minority Leader Jeffries, I’m curious. Later today, the Mayor-elect of New York Mamdani is going to be meeting with the President at the White House. Unclear whether we’ll see it all publicly or not. I’m curious, have you spoken to him about what this meeting is gonna be? How he should approach it? And if you have, or even haven’t, what you’re advising him?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, he and I had an opportunity to talk yesterday. I congratulated him on the announcement that Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch was going to remain at the helm of the NYPD. I think that’s a great thing for the city of New York, for every single community, and it reinforces the Mayor-elect’s commitment to public safety for all New Yorkers. I think at the meeting, as he’s publicly indicated, the two topics that will be discussed will be the affordability crisis that exists, you know, in the United States of America. The cost of living is way too high—that, in fact, is the case in New York City and across the country—and public safety and how to move forward. Andhopefully, President Trump is going to approach the meeting with a respect for the City that allowed his family and himself to achieve significant levels of success.
BECKY QUICK: Minority Leader Jeffries, thank you for your time today. We do hope to see something accomplished with this, so we’ll continue to watch. Thank you.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for a press conference where they called out the Trump administration for their failure to address the climate crisis with the seriousness and urgency that it deserves, while reiterating that Democrats are committed to defending the clean energy economy and fighting for lower costs.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Now, from the very beginning of this Congress, the very beginning of this presidency, there’s been an unwillingness by Donald Trump and House Republicans and Senate Republicans to deal with issues of importance to the American people, particularly as it relates to the cost-of-living crisis that we have in this country, and the various reasons why it continues to get worse in the United States of America. It’s shameful that the Trump administration and the United States government chose not to be involved and engaged at the most recent COP conference, essentially ceding leadership on this issue in the world to our rival China and the Chinese Communist Party while leaving America and Americans behind.
Now there’s a direct connection between the climate crisis, which continues to grow more urgent by the day, and the rise of extreme weather events that are not a partisan issue—because they hit blue states, purple states and red states all across America—a direct connection between the climate crisis and the rise of extreme weather events that threaten the health, the safety and the well-being of the American people, and a direct connection between the rise of extreme weather events and the homeowners insurance crisis that exists now in state after state after state. Homeownership has become unaffordable in far too many places, ripping away the possibility of homeownership for millions of Americans. And we know that homeownership has always been central to the great American dream.
And so, it’s incredibly important that we deal with the climate crisis because there is only one Earth. There is no planet B. We have no other option. We have to deal with protecting God’s green Earth, but we also have to deal with the climate crisis, because the absence of doing it causes life in America to just continue to become more unaffordable, particularly in this instance as it relates to both the home insurance prices and the rise in electricity costs and utility bills all across the country because of the administration’s assault on the progress that was made related to standing up a clean energy economy, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, Senator Whitehouse, Democrats in the House and the Senate and, of course, the Biden administration. Republicans have taken a sledgehammer to the clean energy economy, which hurts our ability to both deal with the climate crisis and hurts our ability to drive down costs for everyday Americans.
Remarks by Leader Jeffries at the press conference can be watched here.