Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)
Rep. Pete Aguilar released the following statement:
“House Democrats have been clear from day one: we need a bipartisan deal that funds the government and addresses the health care crisis Republicans created with their Big Ugly Law.
“The bill the Senate is taking up does not fix the health care crisis or make life more affordable for Americans across the country. That’s why I’m voting no.
“At a time when Americans are facing affordability and health care crises, we need a real solution that will address the rising cost of health care.
“Donald Trump and Republicans are to blame for this disaster and because of their cruel, corrupt and costly policies, millions of Americans will suffer. They prioritized permanent tax cuts for billionaires but are refusing to fund just one year of Affordable Care Act tax credits to make insurance more affordable, all the while finding $40 billion to bail out Argentina.
“Democrats will continue to fight for quality, affordable health care for the American people.”
Rep. Barragán’s Statementon Senate Republicans’ Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Barragán (CA-44) released the following statement on Senate Republicans’ spending legislation:
“The fight to lower healthcare costs for Americans continues, with the same level of commitment and fight that Americans deserve. At a time when Americans have received notices of their skyrocketing healthcare premiums, they continue to ask that I fight to lower their cost. I join House Democrats in that fight.
Trump and Republicans in Congress have created a health care crisis, and the Senate Republicans’ bill fails to extend the health care tax credits to lower costs for Americans. These credits are critical for millions of American families to get health insurance so they can see a doctor, fill prescriptions, and get critical health care. Republicans continue to put the health and lives of tens of millions of Americans at risk as they ignore their health care crisis, at the expense of the American people.
The Senate bill fails to meet the moment to bring costs down to ensure affordable health care for all Americans.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:
House Democrats have consistently maintained that bipartisan legislation that funds the government must also decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis.
For seven weeks, Democrats in the House and Senate have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people.
It now appears that Senate Republicans will send the House of Representatives a spending bill that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. As a result of the Republican refusal to address the healthcare crisis that they have created, tens of millions of everyday Americans are going to see their costs skyrocket. Many will not be able to afford a doctor when they or their children need one.
America is far too expensive. We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives, where Mike Johnson will be compelled to end the seven week Republican taxpayer-funded vacation.
Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created in our country and the American people know it.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN’s First of All, where he made clear that Democrats remain ready, willing and able to find a bipartisan spending agreement that protects the healthcare of the American people and ends the Trump-Republican shutdown.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Joining us now live, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries, thank you for being with me.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, great to be with you.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: So let me start here with the news overnight. And I’ll get to the machinations there in Congress, but your reaction to this hold on the administration being required to immediately pay out full SNAP benefits.
LEADER JEFFRIES:Donald Trump and his administration have made the decision to weaponize hunger, to withhold SNAP benefits from millions of people, notwithstanding the fact that two lower courts, both the District Court and the Court of Appeals, made clear that those SNAP benefits needed to be paid immediately. The administration chose to go begging before the United States Supreme Court to put a halt on that because they want to withhold SNAP benefits from children, from veterans, from seniors, from American families, and it’s shameful.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Hungry children, Leader Jeffries, don’t know if they’re not being fed because of a lack of SNAP benefits or a lack of their parents’ federal salary. And so when Democrats voted yesterday to not pay federal workers, is that something you would have supported?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, from the standpoint of the votes in the Senate, I think what’s become clear is that, as Democrats, we are ready, we’re willing, we’re able to sit down with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, find a bipartisan path forward to reopening the government, to enacting a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people and also, at the same time, decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis, particularly as it relates to the need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are going to trigger, in the absence of doing that, dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles on working-class Americans. The legislation yesterday, Victor, would have actually given the Trump administration the discretion to do what it wants to do relative to which federal employees it pays, which federal employees it doesn’t pay, how to maneuver through the offices that they’ve been shutting down for months, even prior to the start of the Trump-Republican government shutdown, so it wasn’t a credible effort by Republicans to try to resolve this challenge.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Alright, let’s talk about efforts to resolve this. Do you fully support the proposal that the Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer proposed yesterday, a one-year extension of the ACA tax credit, the subsidies that expire at the end of the year, and then open the government and discuss everything else after that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I think that the proposal was offered in good faith by Leader Schumer and supported by Senate Democrats. And our view has been that we would consider anything as House Democrats that is arrived at in a bipartisan way, that emerges from the Senate, that reopens the government, that provides us with a path toward decisively addressing the Republican healthcare crisis, beginning with the extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. We haven’t had an opportunity as a Caucus to sit down and evaluate the specifics of the proposal. We’ll do that as House Democrats in short order—
VICTOR BLACKWELL: But how about the headline? How about the headline?
LEADER JEFFRIES: —but it was a strong, reasonable step in the right direction.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: So you would—you call it a reasonable step in the right direction for a one-year extension to get the government back open. Let me play for everyone what you said in October, this October 7th, about a one-year extension when it was proposed then.
VIDEO OF LEADER JEFFRIES: A one-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits is not acceptable. It’s a non-starter. It’s a non-starter. Like, what world are these MAGA extremists living in right now to think that Democrats are going to go along with a one-year extension from a group of people, meaning the Republicans, who just permanently extended massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors. It’s a laughable proposition. It makes no sense.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Makes no sense, laughable, non-starter then. Now it’s reasonable and it’s the Democratic starting point. What changed?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let me compare the two things. What I was responding to was a proposal by a handful of House Republicans who put forward the notion that they are up to extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits by a year, who have zero credibility on the issue. They hadn’t even been able to convince their own House Republican leaders, beginning with Speaker Johnson, to even put the legislation on the floor to House. It wasn’t a serious proposal being put forward by these random House Republicans.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: The legislation that’s sponsored by—but it’s also some House Democrats who support that legislation as well. It’s a bipartisan piece of legislation.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah. Well, and—it’s a bipartisan piece of legislation—and those House Democrats are proceeding in good faith. That said, if you look at the Schumer proposal, the Schumer proposal is a one-year extension of the tax credits, as is, and a step toward a multi-year extension because there’s a recognition by the Senate Democrats that, of course, simply taking the step toward a year without any further process moving forward beyond that leaves us back in the same situation. So, the Senate proposal is definitively different than what was being floated out there by House Republicans.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Leader Jeffries, there are some people who don’t know what a clean CR is and don’t care. They just need to be able to pay their rent and feed their children. I want you to listen to some of the people who are going without now on day 39. And then I want your reaction and response.
VIDEO OF ASHLEE TARR: I was born with a mild form of cerebral palsy, so I’ve been disabled since birth. So I rely on Food Stamps and Social Security to survive. I’ve been struggling. It’s been really hard. I’ve literally been eating spaghetti for four days because it’s all I have in my apartment.
VIDEO OF ONITA MORRIS: Rather than myself having like a full plate of food along with my kids, I’m making sure that they have a full plate of food and their bellies are full and I may have either less or I may not eat what they are eating just for the sake that they are getting enough. I just don’t understand how we’ve come to a point where we’re using food in politics and being essentially political pawns.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: What do you say to the people and maybe listen, some of them might even support your end goal, but they have to feed their children this morning and tomorrow morning and the morning after that. What do you tell them?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Thatthe administration has the funds to pay every single SNAP beneficiary right now, and that the administration’s decision, a decision made by Donald Trump, supported by his so-called Attorney General, and House and Senate Republicans, is to weaponize hunger. And the refusal to pay SNAP benefits has nothing to do with the fact that Republicans also shut the government down. Keep in mind, Victor, that in July, in connection with their One Big Ugly Bill, Republicans, in addition to the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, cut $186 billion out of SNAP. They literally ripped food out of the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans, and they did it so they could reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks that they then made permanent. And now, as we are in the midst of this ongoing Republican-Trump shutdown, they are intentionally withholding SNAP benefits from people all across the country. 42 million Americans, 16 million children, 8 million older Americans and over a million veterans. It’s outrageous. There’s no justification for it. And those SNAP benefits, as ordered by two different federal courts, should be paid immediately.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: I’ll point out that there are people in the same food line for help that are not getting their SNAP benefits, who are federal workers as well who are not getting their salaries. And we talked about the vote yesterday in the Senate against paying those employees. Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you so much for your time.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, emphasizing that Democrats remain ready to sit down with Republicans to end their government shutdown and protect the healthcare and nutritional assistance of the American people, but Republicans must come to the negotiating table.
KRISTEN WELKER: Joining me now is the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, welcome back to Meet the Press.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. Great to be with you.
KRISTEN WELKER: It’s great to have you here. Let’s start on the government shutdown, now the longest in US history. Leader Jeffries, do you believe that your colleagues in the Senate are close to reaching a deal and ending this shutdown?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we need to end the Trump-Republican shutdown, the longest shutdown, of course, in American history. And as Democrats, we’ve repeatedly maintain that we will sit down anytime, anyplace, with anyone in order to reopen the government, to find a bipartisan path forward to enacting a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, which means trying to drive down the high cost of living because America under Donald Trump and Republican policies has become far too expensive, while at the same time dealing with the Republican healthcare crisis that threatens to drive up premiums, copays and deductibles to levels that will be unaffordable for working-class Americans because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
KRISTEN WELKER: Well, Leader Jeffries, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer did make a new offer, effectively saying let’s extend Obamacare subsidies for one year in exchange for reopening the government for one year. You have said that you would support that proposal, but just last month you said this. Take a look.
RECORDING OF LEADER JEFFRIES: A one-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits is not acceptable. It’s a nonstarter. It’s a nonstarter.
KRISTEN WELKER: So Leader Jeffries, what changed?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the proposal that I was making reference to in October was something that was floated out there by a handful of rank-and-file House Republicans, and that was immediately rejected by House Republican leadership because they have no interest in driving down the high cost of living for everyday Americans. The Schumer proposal, of course, was offered in good faith. It’s both a one-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Now we’re already in the middle of the open enrollment period. Tens of millions of people are on the brink of facing dramatically-increased healthcare costs—costs that, in some cases, could be $1,000 or $2,000 per month. That is unaffordable for middle-class Americans, working-class Americans and everyday Americans. And the Schumer proposal also provides a path toward bipartisan negotiations for a multi-year extension, which would provide the type of certainty that the American people need.
KRISTEN WELKER: Well, as you know, Republican Leader John Thune has called it a nonstarter. Let me ask you, would you support a bill that would include a promise to vote on extending Obamacare subsidies? Is that something you could live with?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Let’s understand that these Republicans have tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act more than 70 different times over the last 15 years. They’re not acting in good faithas it relates to dealing with the healthcare crisis that they’re visiting on the American people. This is the same group of folks who just enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history as part of their One Big Ugly Bill. Hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country, including in rural America, because of Republican policies. We’re faced with the possibility of a $536 billion cut to Medicare at the end of this year if Congress doesn’t act connected to what they did in the One Big Ugly Bill. And now they’re refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for even a year when they’ve just enacted massive permanent tax breaks for their billionaire donors. Does that seem reasonable? Is that the type of policy that the American people are screaming out for, as evidenced by what just happened with Republicans being wiped out in the general election last Tuesday?
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, just very quickly. Yes or no, do you rule out supporting a bill that would include a promise to vote on Obamacare subsidies? Yes or no?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I don’t think that the House Democratic Caucus is prepared to support a promise, a wing and a prayer, from folks who have been devastating the healthcare of the American people for years.
KRISTEN WELKER: All right. Let’s talk about the impacts, you mentioned them, of this government shutdown. They’re being felt across the country. Hundreds of flights, as you know, have been canceled this weekend across major airports. The lines are growing longer outside of food banks. And there’s a lot of uncertainty about food assistance programs, which currently hang in the balance right now, in limbo. Leader Jeffries, is it responsible for Democrats to continue to push for a better deal and to not reopen the government, given that people are suffering right now?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. Donald Trump, from the very beginning of his term, has taken a my-way-or-the-highway approach. That’s not reasonable. It’s not reasonable for Donald Trump to withhold, intentionally, SNAP benefits from 42 million Americans, including more than a million veterans who are at risk of going hungry a few days from us honoring the veterans of this country who have sacrificed with their bravery and their courage. It’s not reasonable for Republicans to devastate the healthcare of the American people, to find $40 billion as they did a few weeks ago to bail out their right-wing dictator friend in Argentina, but can’t find a dime to make healthcare affordable for the American people? Listen, as Democrats, we want to find a bipartisan path forward. We want to reopen the government. We’re also fighting to drive down the high cost of living. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down, costs are going up. Housing costs through the roof. Grocery costs through the roof. Electricity bills are skyrocketing. And now we’re on the brink of healthcare insurance premiums dramatically increasing, devastating working-class Americans. None of that is acceptable. We need to find a viable path forward.
KRISTEN WELKER: But Leader Jeffries, for the people who are suffering right now and who are, quite frankly, concerned about how they are going to put food on the table over this holiday season, how long can they expect this shutdown to continue? Can you guarantee that you will reopen the government before Thanksgiving?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We need to resolve this immediately. And here are two things that can be done to get that accomplished—
KRISTEN WELKER: You think it’ll happen before Thanksgiving?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, one, Donald Trump—
KRISTEN WELKER: Do you think it’ll happen before Thanksgiving?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I hope so. Donald Trump needs to get off the golf course and get back to the negotiating table. He’s spent more time golfing over the last several weeks then he has talking to Democrats, who represent half the country, as part of an effort to find a bipartisan path forward. And by the way, we also know that House Republicans have literally cancelled votes for the last six weeks. They’ve been on vacation, and they have no plans to return next week. We’ll be in Washington as House Democrats ready, willing and able to reopen the government to make life better for the American people and to address the healthcare crisis that has been devastating the country.
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, President Trump floated what he believes is a potential solution to this online. Let me read it to you. He says, quote, ‘I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the hundreds of billions of dollars currently being sent to money-sucking insurance companies in order to save the bad healthcare provided by Obamacare be sent directly to the people so that they can purchase their own, much better healthcare.’ Would you ever support giving subsidies directly to the American people instead of Obamacare?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we have a broken healthcare system. But the Affordable Care Act has been part of actually providing health insurance to tens of millions of Americans. Of course, there’s always opportunity to improve current policy that exists. But Republicans aren’t operating in good faith as it relates to doing anything to actually make healthcare more affordable. And we’ve seen that repeatedly over the last several weeks. Now, if Donald Trump is changing his tune and is actually willing to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan path forward, of course we are interested in doing that. We’ve been making that point for the last several weeks.
KRISTEN WELKER: What do you make of that proposal online, though? Does it sound like he’s interested in doing that?
LEADER JEFFRIES:I mean, it’s hard to take these online things seriously. There’s no actual legislation, there’s no text, there’s no policy documents to be able to review. If that exists,if that somehow materializes and manifests itself in the next day or so, we look forward to reviewing it in good faith.
KRISTEN WELKER: All right, Leader Jeffries, let’s turn now to Tuesday’s election results. Democrats had a clean sweep winning the New York City mayoral election, both gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, as you know, a ballot measure in California. You are on track to potentially become the next Speaker if Democrats were to win back the House in 2026. How confident are you that that’s going to happen?
LEADER JEFFRIES:Democrats are definitely going to take back control of the House of Representatives, and we’re going to stay focused on the issues that matter—lowering the high cost of living, fixing our broken healthcare system and cleaning up corruption to actually deliver a country that works for working-class Americans, for everyday Americans and for middle-class Americans. As Democrats, you know, we believe in a country that has a strong floor and no ceiling. If you work hard and play by the rules, there should be no ceiling to the success that you can accomplish for yourself, for your family, for your children. At the same time, we also believe in a country that has a strong floor—that’s Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid and nutritional assistance, by the way, the things that Republicans are trying to devastate right now.
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, what about the Senate?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Listen, I think that the results on Tuesday, which were so decisive in the states that you mentioned, but also in Georgia, in Mississippi, in Pennsylvania, across the country, up and down the ballot, including in races that didn’t get the same level of attention, shows that there’s a real path, of course, to taking back control of the House of Representatives where we’re only 3 seats short right now—when we flipped the House in 2018, we were 24 seats short—but also a strong and viable path in the Senate. Because the American people have had enough and they want a government that actually puts them first, as opposed to what Republicans have been doing prioritizing the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected.
KRISTEN WELKER: Two quick questions, lightning round. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani won big in New York City. He’s just coming into City Hall having made ambitious promises. Let’s take a listen to what he said on election night.
RECORDING OF ZOHRAN MAMDANI AND CROWD: Together, New York, we’re going to freeze the rent. Together, New York, we’re going to make buses fast and free. Together, New York, we’re going to deliver universal child care.
KRISTEN WELKER: So frozen rent, free buses, universal child care. Do you believe that he can deliver on those promises very quickly Leader Jeffries?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well he’s going to have to work with the Rent Guidelines Board and, probably more importantly, with the Governor of the State of New York and the State Legislature in order to enact those proposals, but I do expect that the legislature, of course, and the Governor are going to meet him in good faith, try to negotiate a path forward. But it’s all centered around the notion of making New York City more affordable, which is, of course, what we have to do throughout America in a country that’s far too expensive. It is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. It’s unacceptable that far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck.
KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, quickly, before I let you go. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announcing she will not seek reelection. If you do in fact become the next Speaker, will you model yourself after her?
LEADER JEFFRIES:Well, Nancy Pelosi is a legendary, heroic, historic, transformational figure. I’m proud to just stand on her shoulders, to serve with her and to have the benefit of her guidance, her wisdom, her mentorship and her insights.
KRISTEN WELKER: All right, Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for joining us on a very busy weekend. We really appreciate it.
Rep. Barragán’s Statement on Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s Retirement From Congress in 2027
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Barragán (CA-44) released the following statement on Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s retirement from Congress in 2027:
“Nancy Pelosi broke the glass ceiling as the first woman to become Speaker of the House — then went on to become the best Speaker we’ve ever seen. In her time in Congress, Rep. Pelosi has been a voice for Californians and Americans everywhere.
As Speaker, she shepherded the passage of the Affordable Care Act that made health care affordable for millions of Americans, and we continue that fight today. She protected our democracy when she went toe to toe with Trump. And she inspired the Democratic women of the caucus and showed us that glass ceilings are meant to be broken.
As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, I have returned again and again to the words of Thomas Paine, who advanced the cause of American freedom with a memorable call to action: The times have found us.
The times had indeed found Paine, and the rest of our Founders, who summoned the courage to declare independence from a king; to win a war against the strongest empire in the world; and to write our Constitution (thank goodness they made it amendable). In the century that followed, the times found Abraham Lincoln, who saved our union by winning the Civil War. And now the times have found us once again.
In our own lives, and in the life of our nation, great good can come from great trials. But we also know this: Nothing we love ever comes easily. Ours is a nation forged by war and protest, in the loneliness of struggle and the slow work of centuries. We have always sought to perfect our union, even—especially—in the face of forces that seem too strong to ever overcome. This is another moment of extraordinary difficulty. It amazes me that so many people can endure so much suffering of others while doing nothing to address their needs.
It is easy to despair. I know this is the way millions of Americans feel now. Yet the story of this country is the story of patience in tribulation, and hope in the face of fear. What we choose to do in this hour of our history will determine the shape of America and the world for decades.
I am a child of America and a child of great religious faith. Both teach that there is no light without darkness. So what can we do? In the song of Saint Francis, the patron saint of my home city, we ask the Lord to make us an instrument of his peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love. The way of Saint Francis, the way of soldiers and suffragists, the way of our beloved John Lewis—that must be our way, too. We the people must follow the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
That has always been who Americans are. Time and again, we have stepped up for our fellow Americans in times of need; expanded the definition of freedom to include more of us in it; and fended off tyrants seeking to take power away from the people. Once again, we will prove who we are through what we do in this precarious moment. And we can do so through actions both profound and personal. Our democracy depends as much on casting a ballot as lending a hand to a neighbor in need.
Those of us who believe in liberty and dignity, goodness and generosity must never give in to the forces arrayed against the things we hold dearest. The battle can be exhausting, but it is a battle to which we are called by conscience and by love of country. This is the spirit that has motivated my decades of public service, through moments of great progress, great pain, and even great peril. Through it all, what kept me going were those lessons I learned as a child in Baltimore: to sow love and to help others. Those are unshakable responsibilities that all of us, as Americans, share. And as I soon begin my final year in Congress, I believe as fervently as ever that this must be our path forward.
America has always been a long-standing promise and an ongoing project. Decades of peace and prosperity made it tempting to believe that our democracy was self-sustaining—but in fact, it must be constantly tended to, strengthened, and defended. Democracy has been described as a horizon: unreachable, because inevitably our ambition for more freedom always grows.
So just as patriots launched a revolution against a king, turned the tide at Gettysburg, stormed the beaches of Normandy, and marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, we, too, must be patriots for our time. That means not just holding on to the rights and freedoms our fellow Americans have fought for, but refusing to surrender the courageous spirit that inspired them.
Yes, the times have found us once again. But generations past have always prevailed, and so shall we, for our faith in the goodness of America, and our commitment to the freedom we owe to our children, is what will always give us hope.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released the following statement to call out Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans for shutting down the federal government for one month.
“It has now been one month since Donald Trump and Republicans shut down the federal government, and we are nowhere close to a government funding deal. Where is the art of the deal now, Trump? Democrats have been in Washington, ready to negotiate and find an agreement that reopens the government and saves healthcare, but Republicans can’t even be bothered to come to D.C.,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Tomorrow, New Jerseyans will receive notices that their healthcare premiums will be going up an average of 175 percent, and people in need of food assistance may have to go hungry. No working family can afford those prices, and no one should have to go hungry. It’s time for Trump to get back from his trip to Asia and start putting America first – not last – by working to reopen the government and lower Americans’ healthcare costs.
If Congress does not extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, hundreds of thousands of people will lose their healthcare, and millions more will see their costs skyrocket. If Republicans get their way, 24,000 individuals in New Jersey’s First Congressional District will see their healthcare costs rise.
The Trump administration has also failed to activate the $5 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) contingency fund to ensure food assistance is available for those in need. Congressman Norcross signed onto aletter with 213 of his House Democratic colleagues to urge U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use these funds over the next few weeks and ease the burden caused by this Republican Government Shutdown.
For constituents who have questions about how the Republican Government Shutdown might impact them, visit Congressman Norcross’ resource webpage here. Congressman Norcross has been filming videos every day of the Republican Government Shutdown to keep constituents informed.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Washington, DC–Today, Reps. Scott Peters (CA-50), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8)introduced the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, a bill tomake our communities safer byestablishinga stronger standard for Federal immigrationagents’ use of force.All law enforcement officers shouldbe focused on upholding public safety. Yet in recent monthsthetacticsof federal agentsaremore aggressive and dangerous, making everyone in our communities less safe.
“In May,Federalagents stormed into BuonaForchetta,a small, neighborhood restaurantthat was filled withfamilies.Theythrew the owner against the wall, handcuffed all employees, and used flash-bang grenades onconcernedbystandersoutside the restaurant.Whyterrorizelaw-abiding, hardworking people?Thatmakesno one safer; it makesAmericansless safe,”said Rep. Peters.“Immigration enforcement shouldnotbe conductedby masked, unidentified agents usingunchecked force and aggressively deployingtear gas, pepper balls,andflash bangs.Wemustcurb excessive force andmake it easier toidentifyofficers acting improperly,ensuringFederal law enforcement can still apprehend those who pose a genuine threat to public safety andnationalsecurity.”
“ICE, CBP, and DHS agents must be held to the same constitutional standards as every other law enforcement officer,”said Rep.Krishnamoorthi.“Yet each day of the Trump Administration’s ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ brings a new story of excessive force being used in Chicago and its suburbs—from a faith leader shot with apepperballwhile praying outside Broadview to a reporter struck while documenting ICE protests to my own constituents being terrorized for performing civilian oversight over DHS’s actions. This unchecked aggression against civilians must stop. Our Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act restores transparency and safeguards both the public and law enforcement by ensuring clear standards, mandatory body cameras, and a fundamental respect for basic rights.”
“For months now, we all have seen how encounters with immigration enforcement mean chaos, violence, and trauma, regardless of immigration status. The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act brings humanity and transparency into those moments. It limits the use of militarized force and ensures that agents are accountable to the communities in which theyoperate. Every family deserves to feel safe. Every life deserves dignity,”said Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).
“Masked agents endangering our people with unnecessary force is an affront to the principles of American democracy,”said Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs.“The Coalition on Human Needs is proud to endorse the Stop Excessive Force in ImmigrationAct andstandswith Rep. Peters and co-sponsors in requiring accountability and careful restrictions on federal immigration officials’ use of force.”
“The Trump administration’s reckless and indiscriminate immigration enforcement actions have stoked fear in communities across the country,”said Nick Wilson, senior director of Gun Violence Prevention Policy, Center for American Progress.“We welcome the introduction of the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, whichseeksto ensure the safety of our communities and officers by implementing common sense standards to improve transparency and accountability in enforcement actions. Law enforcement should protect the public, not trample on people’srightsand put Americans at risk. This bill offers urgently needed guardrails and accountability mechanisms that ensure that federal law enforcement better protects and promotes the rights and safety of communities.”
“As ICE under President Trump pursues increasingly extreme actions against both immigrants and U.S. citizens, lawmakers must act to protect their constituents and uphold public safety. The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act does exactly that—ensuring federal officers have the tools they need to safeguard the public and themselves, without undermining the security of the communities they are supposed to serve,”said Sarah Pierce, Director of Social Policy,Third Way.“Itstraining, oversight, and proportionality requirements are especially critical as ICE expands its workforce through rushed recruitment and abbreviated onboarding. Immigration enforcement should strengthen public safety and the integrity of our immigration system—but never at the expense of the public’s security.”
The authority to use force is a serious responsibility, and every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by law. The bill restricts Federal immigration enforcementagents’use of crowd munitionslike tear gas, aligns immigration enforcement with the heightened DOJ standards on use of force, and creates greater transparency in enforcement by requiring the use of body cameras andstrictly limitingthe use of masks.
The bill is also supported byoriginal cosponsors RepresentativesNydiaVelázquez, Yvette Clarke, Ro Khanna, Gil Cisneros, Judy Chu, Brad Schneider, Juan Vargas, Emily Randall, Sylvia Garcia, Mike Quigley, Robin Kelly, Veronica Escobar, Jimmy Panetta, Seth Moulton, Linda Sanchez, Doris Matsui, Mike Thompson, Jerrold Nadler, Luz Rivas, Shri Thanedar, and Julia Brownley.
The bill has been endorsed by CHIRLA – The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Coalition on Human Needs, Church World Service, and Third Way.
The bill text is available here, a one pager is available here, a Section by Section is available here, and examples of excessive use of force are available here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Will I continue to receive my Social Security?
A shutdown will not impact Social Security benefit payments but be aware that benefit verifications have ceased, meaning new recipients may see delays in processing their claims.
Will Medicare or Medicaid be interrupted?
Medicare and Medicaid will continue for the foreseeable future, but you may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed.
Will Open Enrollment on Healthcare.gov still take place?
The federal insurance marketplace open enrollment will be unaffected. Open Enrollment will proceed as normal from November 1 through January 15.
Is USPS still delivering mail?
All services under the Postal Service will continue unimpacted throughout the government shutdown.
Will my student loans continue to be disbursed?
Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be obligated and make disbursement during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. However, department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced. Free Applications for Student Aids (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans could continue for a “very limited time” under a shutdown. If the shutdown continues for an extended period of time, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.
Do military personnel continue working?
The Department of Defense will continue defending our nation and all military personnel will continue their usual duty. However, our service members will not receive pay during the shutdown. It is unacceptable that the men and women who put their lives on the line for our nation are going unpaid because of House Republican chaos.
Can veterans still get treatment at the VA or access other services?
All functions within the Veterans Health Administration will continue and veterans will continue to receive compensation and pension claims.
Should I cancel my upcoming travel?
You can and should continue to enjoy your travel plans! TSA officers and Air Traffic Controllers are considered essential and are reporting to work throughout the shutdown. However, both TSA and Air Traffic Control are currently working without pay so please have patience with any delays.
I’m coming to DC, will my tours still take place?
Unfornately, the Capitol Visitors Center will be closed for the duration of a shutdown, and Capitol tours will not be permitted. If your scheduled tour has been impacted, our office will be in touch with your group. If you have any questions, or are interested in rescheduling your tour, please contact our D.C. office at (202) 225 0508 or submit a new tour request.
Visitors to Washington D.C. should also note that the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will be closed for the duration of a shutdown. Open air monuments remain accessible to the public. White House tours remain suspended through October.
What about international travel?
All services at international embassies and consulates will continue during a lapse of appropriations. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Will my passport renewal still be processed?
Passport applications will continue to be processed. The Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is designated as an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees, so all of Passport Services, including agencies and the National Passport Information Center, will remain open during a lapse of appropriations.
Will immigration applications still be processed?
Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and thus are not normally impacted by a lapse in appropriations. Immigration court cases on the detained docket will proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will retain the vast majority of their employees during a shutdown.
Are National Parks closed?
National Parks will remain open, but please exercise caution during any visits as most services will be halted. Visitor centers will be closed, entrance fees won’t be collected, educational programs will be canceled, and campsites won’t be staffed. In many instances, restrooms will be closed and services like trash collection and road maintenance will be suspended. There are also limited emergency/rescue services and safety updates will not be published. Please keep this in mind when planning any visits or hikes in our National Parks.
I have an issue with a government agency, can I still call them for help? Can you help me instead?
Due to the lapse in funding, many agencies have furloughed workers, so their help desks may have little or no staffing. You are encouraged to contact any agency to learn if they are still able to assist you at this time. You can also contact my office to open a case for you. We can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if they are open or when they re-open at the conclusion of a shutdown.
I already have a case open with your office, should I do anything during the shutdown?
My office is continuing to submit inquiries to federal agencies including requesting updates on constituents’ behalf, submitting paperwork, and opening new cases. During the shutdown, though, most congressional liaisons are furloughed which means there will be delays in obtaining casework updates and responses. We will provide you with an update as soon as it is available.
I rely on food programs like SNAP and WIC, will I keep getting my payments?
SNAP payments will continue as normal but other nutrition programs, like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), will only continue at the state and local level. In California, this means 972,418 people are at risk of losing nutrition assistance.