Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)
“The bigger picture here is the war Trump has declared on any efforts we make to ensure everyone in this nation can be successful and included in the American dream,” said Wasserman Schultz. “As part of that, just last month, the Trump Administration’s Department of Education forced Broward schools to end their highly successful Latinos in Action program by threatening to withhold millions of dollars in magnet school funding from the district, which have no connection to Latinos in Action, and likely isn’t even legal.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) held a roundtable to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration’s push to cancel the highly successful Latinos in Action course in Broward County, with many students involved in the successful program sharing how it feels like “familia.” The Trump Administration’s threat to withhold federal funds is based on inaccurate claims that the course excludes some students, and people connected to the popular class over the last decade described the reality of its access and achievements.
“The bigger picture here is the war Trump has declared on any efforts we make to ensure everyone in this nation can be successful and included in the American dream,” said Wasserman Schultz. “As part of that, just last month, the Trump Administration’s Department of Education forced Broward schools to end their highly successful Latinos in Action program by threatening to withhold millions of dollars in magnet school funding from the district, which have no connection to Latinos in Action, and likely isn’t even legal.”
Despite Trump Administration claims, the program is open to all students in 7th through 12th grade. Students shared their personal stories about how Latinos in Action helped them grow personally and professionally, learn about different cultures, develop leadership skills, but most importantly gave them a place where they felt like they belonged.
Broward, Polk and Seminole counties all received threatening U.S. Department of Education letters related to cancelling the program, and several Florida districts suspended the program for fear of losing funding, including Lee, Osceola, Volusia, Orange and Hillsborough counties. Yesterday, Wasserman Schultz led Democrats in Florida in a call for the DOEd to halt the plan to terminate the program.
Wasserman Schultz was joined by Broward County School Board Chair Debbi Hixon, Latinos in Action Regional Program Manager Andrea Bruno, and students who participated in the program.
Wasserman Schultzrecently led Florida’s Congressional Democrats in a letter calling on the Trump Administration’s Department of Education to rescind its threat to withhold federal funds from local classrooms and give school districts a chance to prove that inaccurate claims against a long-time, successful Latinos In Action program should not be used to target funding and resources that local districts need.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Today, Rep. Don Beyer joined Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), and 212 House Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, to urge the agency to use contingency reserve dollars to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. With no resolution to a bipartisan path forward to reopen the government, SNAP funding is set to lapse on November 1st, putting 42 million children and families at risk of experiencing hunger.
There is enough in the SNAP contingency reserve to cover nearly two-thirds of the amount needed for a full month of benefits. As such, the Members also advocate for the agency to use statutory transfer authority or any other legal means to supplement shortfalls the contingency reserve cannot cover.
“Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not,” wrote the Members. “Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month. A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country.”
“We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits. There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people.”
The letter is signed by Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Ed Case (HI-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Joaquin Castro (T-20), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), James E Clyburn (SC-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), J. Louis Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Danny Davis (IL-07), Donald Davis (NC-01), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Christopher Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Adam Gray (CA-13), Al Green (TX-09), Josh Harder (CA-09), Pablo Hernández (PR- At Large), James Himes (CT-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), William; Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi(IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Susie Lee (NV-03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu(CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), John Mannion (NY-22), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Richard Neal (MA-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01),Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Josh Riley (NY-19), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Kim Schrier (WA-08), David Scott (GA-13), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), George Whitesides (CA-27), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Beyer, Walkinshaw, Over 60 Lawmakers Press Administration to Reinstate Furloughed Federal Workers at Agencies Unaffected by Republican Shutdown, Resume Their Pay | U.S. Representative Don Beyer
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today led 53 U.S. Representatives urging major utility companies to suspend late penalties and utility shutoffs for federal employees and contractors amid the federal government shutdown.
They wrote:
“In light of the ongoing federal government shutdown, we write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs and late payment penalties for federal workers or federal contractors affected by the shutdown. Both essential and involuntarily furloughed employees are currently without pay. These workers should not face the additional hardship of losing access to running water, electricity, or internet simply because their paychecks have stopped through no fault of their own.
… “The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees that federal employees will receive full back pay once a lapse in appropriations ends, ensuring they can meet their outstanding debts accrued during the shutdown. Therefore, we urge you to temporarily withhold all utility service disconnections and suspend late payment penalties for federal employees and provide flexible payment plans once their pay resumes.”
Recipients of the Representatives’ letter included electricity provider associations Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the American Public Power Association (APPA), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), water utility associations the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), and broadband associations CTIA and USTelecom, all of whom were encouraged to share it with their members.
The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-OR), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), (D-), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Lou Correa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Sylvia Garca (D-TX), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Susie Lee (D-NV), John Mannion (D-NY), Lucy McBath (D-GA), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Nellie Pou (D-NJ), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Bonne Watson Coleman (D-NJ), George Whitesides (D-CA), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
Text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.
***
Dear Utility Providers:
In light of the ongoing federal government shutdown, we write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs and late payment penalties for federal workers or federal contractors affected by the shutdown. Both essential and involuntarily furloughed employees are currently without pay. These workers should not face the additional hardship of losing access to running water, electricity, or internet simply because their paychecks have stopped through no fault of their own.
Federal employees dedicate their lives to serving our country, often in thankless yet vital roles that keep our country safe and our economy running. These are apolitical positions and the individuals who fill them should not bear the consequences of political gridlock and the current standstill that has led to this shutdown.
While Congress works to reopen the government, millions of public servants will soon begin missing paychecks. Many are parents and caregivers whose families depend on their income. They should not have to worry about whether they can keep the lights on at home. The federal workforce has endured enough uncertainty this year, and financially strained households tend to forgo paying for other essential needs, such as food and health care, in order to avoid utility shutoffs. A utility shutoff would make these families more likely to be exposed to unsafe household conditions that lack safe temperatures, water, or communication. This should be prevented by all means possible.
Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with existing statutory protections across the country. Over two-thirds of states have laws on the books to protect vulnerable populations from utility shutoffs. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees that federal employees will receive full back pay once a lapse in appropriations ends, ensuring they can meet their outstanding debts accrued during the shutdown. Therefore, we urge you to temporarily withhold all utility service disconnections and suspend late payment penalties for federal employees and provide flexible payment plans once their pay resumes.
Shutdowns cause atypical and undue economic hardship. We appreciate your consideration and sincerely hope you understand the urgency and necessity of protecting federal workers under these exceptional circumstances.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)
Bacon Announces Staff Changes; Recognizes Role of Women in Senior Leadership
Omaha, Neb. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced recent staff changes, while also noting the role women play as part of his leadership team. Valerie Foy has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff, while also serving as Chief Counsel and Director of Foreign Policy. She joined Bacon’s D.C. staff in March 2018. Theresa Thibodeau has been promoted to District Director, previously serving as the Director of Outreach in the Omaha office. She joined the staff in March 2025. Communications Director Danielle Jensen has added Sr. Policy Advisor to her role on Bacon’s staff. She has served the 2nd District of Nebraska since January 2017, when Rep. Bacon was sworn in as a Member of Congress. Thibodeau joins Foy and Jensen on the Senior Leadership Team, where they have both served since 2019.
“All three of these extraordinary leaders have excelled in their roles and have brought unique perspectives, advice, and understanding to our team,” said Bacon, “With three of the five members of our senior leadership team being women, I’d say ‘women rule the roost’ in our office.”
“Their drive for excellence, laser focus on constituent services and a career of service has a direct and positive impact on my ability to serve this district. Our office is routinely selected as one of the most effective in all of Congress and these three great leaders make it happen. They’re breaking the glass ceiling!”
Bios:
Valerie Foy serves as Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Counsel, and Director of Foreign Policy in the office of Congressman Don Bacon, representing Nebraska’s Second Congressional District. As Chief Counsel, Valerie is the primary advisor for all legal matters within the office and provides foreign policy development for Rep. Bacon in coordination with the defense policy team in furtherance of the Congressman’s committee priorities. Valerie also handles a broad portfolio of policy issues, including financial services, tax, commerce, business, and veteran affairs. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maine; her Master of Science from Troy State University; her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law and her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Alabama School of Law. Prior to joining Rep. Bacon’s office, Valerie practiced law, worked in the financial services industry, and served as a United States Air Force Officer.
Theresa Thibodeau is the current District Director for Congressman Don Bacon, where she leads district operations, oversees constituent services, and manages strategic engagement across Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Theresa is an entrepreneur, community leader, and former Nebraska State Senator from Omaha. A graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she was an Academic All-American in track and cross country, she built a career in human resources before owning and operating the Primrose School of La Vista, a highly regarded early childhood education center. In the Nebraska Legislature, she focused on education, economic development, and health care, and she continues to serve her community through leadership roles on numerous boards. A graduate of Leadership Omaha and Leadership Sarpy, she has been recognized with honors such as the Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Sarpy County’s Up and Coming Business Award. She also spends time reading about current trends in business and economic development, as well as researching public policy.
Danielle Jensen currently manages the overall integrated communication strategies for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District representative, Rep. Don Bacon, and provides advice and research on policy issues. She is a seasoned communications and government affairs professional with a combined 20 years of experience in integrated communications, legislative processes, coalition building, marketing, event planning, political fundraising, and news broadcasting. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she was active in UNO’s Student Government, serving as a Student Senator, Speaker of the Senate, Chief Administrative Officer, and Student Court Justice. In December 2016, she was recognized by Governor Pete Ricketts as an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. Before joining Congressman Bacon’s office, Danielle worked for the Nebraska Energy Office, Meridian Central Public Affairs, I-80 Speedway, Stenberg for Senate, Lee Terry for Congress, WOW-AM and FM, and KMTV.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability, where he emphasized that while Republicans are nowhere to be found as inflation and costs continue to skyrocket, Democrats are ready, willing and able to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that lowers healthcare costs and ends the Trump-Republican shutdown.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Today’s inflation numbers of 3% year over year confirm what hardworking American taxpayers already know, that Donald Trump and Republican policies are making life too expensive in the United States of America. Donald Trump and Republicans promised that costs would go down on day one, but costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America. Costs are going up. Inflation is up—the highest number since January of this year. Housing costs are too high. Grocery costs are too high. Electricity bills are through the roof. And now, because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are receiving notices right now that their healthcare premiums are about to skyrocket. In some instances, everyday Americans are going to pay $1,000 or $2,000 more per month. That is unsustainable in an environment where people are already struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. Can’t thrive, and can barely survive.
We need House Republicans to come back to Washington, D.C. End your four-week vacation. Enough already. We as Democrats, House Democrats, Senate Democrats, are ready to sit down anytime, anyplace, with anyone here at the Capitol or over at the White House to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, reopen the government so we can pay our hardworking federal employees, while at the same time, we need to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. It’s crushing people all across the country. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are nowhere to be found, have zero interest in actually addressing this issue. That’s a shame.
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 highlighted that as inflation and the cost of living continue to increase, Democrats are committed to fighting to end the Republican healthcare crisis and the government shutdown.
BECKY QUICK: Alright, let’s turn to Capitol Hill for the latest on the government shutdown, now in its 24th day. Joining us right now is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader, thank you for being with us this morning. I think the big question is, how do we get out of this?
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s an important question, and we continue to maintain that we will sit down with our Republican colleagues anytime, anyplace, here at the Capitol or go back to the White House to enact a bipartisan spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, improves their quality of life, lowers costs in an environment where inflation continues to move in the wrong direction. And we also need to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis that is crushing people all across the country, particularly now that tens of millions of people are receiving notices that their healthcare premiums are about to skyrocket.
BECKY QUICK: There was an op-ed in Roll Call recently that was pretty interesting on this. It said what you are asking the Republicans to do right now when they control the White House, the Senate and the House is effectively what the Democrats could not do when they controlled all three of those heads of government themselves. The 10-year set-up for this, for these, the three-year set-up for the expiration of these credits was intentionally put in. It was put in when you controlled the White House, the House and the Senate. You couldn’t get it passed for longer. And so, this is a set-up, kind of of your own creation, that you all couldn’t extend beyond that. Now you want the Republicans to do something you didn’t do when you were in power?
LEADER JEFFRIES: It’s not a set-up beyond what we could do. We extended the Affordable Care Act tax credits in 2022 for three years. The program is working. It’s providing healthcare to tens of millions of people in an affordable way, and it should be continued. It’s interesting to us that Republicans decided that they would prefer to permanently extend massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors in their One Big Ugly Bill,which also at the same time dramatically increased the debt and enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, but refuse to consider extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that actually benefit working-class Americans, everyday Americans and middle-class Americans. Their priorities are misplaced. And as Democrats, we’re going to continue to fight for the American people all across the country in rural America, urban America, small town America, the heartland of America and, of course, Black and brown communities throughout America, all of whom are being devastated by this Republican healthcare crisis.
BECKY QUICK: Leader Jeffries, we were just joined by Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma. He’s a Republican, and his concern with this was that the ACA subsidies aren’t helping bring costs down overall. He said that in his state, Oklahoma, if you look over six years from 2013 to 2019, premiums for ACA plans were up by 200% versus premiums being up by 29% for commercial plans in his state. His concern is that there’s something that needs to be fixed within this. Some of the things he threw out would be things like limiting fraud by just requiring that there be at least a $20 premium or some premium that’s put down instead of zero premium so that people get enrolled in things without even knowing that they’re enrolled in some of these programs. What do you say to that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We’ve made clear in the House that we will consider anything that emerges from the Senate in good faith in a bipartisan way that both reopens the government while at the same time addresses this healthcare crisis and extends the Affordable Care Act tax credits in a meaningful way. The 90% or so of the people who benefit from these Affordable Care Tax credits make $63,000 per year or less and a significant number of small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country rely upon the Affordable Care Act tax credits in order to provide health insurance for themselves and for their families. So this is an issue that needs to be addressed. In fact, we know that red state residents actually are disproportionately higher represented in terms of the Affordable Care Act tax credits than any other part of the country. And so, we’re fighting for the American people here. And hopefully we can find a bipartisan path forward.
JOE KERNEN: It’s such a complex issue, Leader, and what we’re seeing now with the shutdown, some real effects starting to happen, I guess. And that’s where people just separate out all the points that you’re making right now about what’s wrong with the healthcare system and when and how you fix it and when you’re able to have those discussions and those negotiations. And maybe it shouldn’t be done, you know, by shutting the, you now, using leverage which shuts the government down where you don’t really have time to do it effectively. This is what Senator Lankford—just talking about history—this is where he said when Republicans were going to do it about Obamacare.
VIDEO OF SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD: Well, in 2013, as folks recall, Republicans were mad about Obamacare. We were pretty clear about it. And we had a big government shutdown. It was shorter than this one. And Democrats at that time said, we will not negotiate on healthcare while the government is closed. Well, now it’s literally the opposite on it, that we’re saying we’re not going to negotiate on healthcare. Healthcare is incredibly complicated. You can’t do it while people are not getting SNAP benefits, people are not getting paid, air traffic controllers are not getting paid. You can’t sit there and say, we’ll do this little tweak, and that’s going to be enough. It’s not enough. So let’s actually have a real conversation about all these issues, but not while there’s a shutdown.
JOE KERNEN: And I think it’s possible, Leader, that Republicans all feel that way, and we’re just going to be stuck here until some really bad things happen.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, we haven’t shut the government down. Donald Trump is the President. Republicans control the House and the Senate. And what we’ve repeatedly made clear is that we would not support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people in an environment where Republicans already enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing because of Republican policies in their One Big Ugly Bill, all across the country. Medicare is facing a $536 billion cut at the end of the year, unless Congress acts, again connected to the One Big Ugly Bill. And now, Republicans are refusing to even consider extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits when Open Enrollment starts on November 1st. This is a now issue.
JOE KERNEN: But Leader Jeffries, you kind of conflated a spending bill with a clean CR. It’s only 24 pages. It keeps the government open at this point. And the House passed it. It’s ready to go. The Senate has it. I know that the Republicans control everything, but you know how the filibuster works. And God forbid Republicans, you know, fold on the filibuster because it’ll be used, you know, both parties will use it against the other. It’s one of the last safeguards that make the Senate different than the House. And the only reason the Senate can’t do it is purely because of Democrats. And you had one of your colleagues in the Senate say this is the only leverage we have. People are going to get hurt. This is the only leverage we have to get what we want on healthcare. It’s a bad look.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, this is not about leverage. And by the way, if the votes of Democratic Senators are required, then of course there should be a bipartisan discussion about enacting a spending bill that is designed to actually make life better for the American people, lower the high cost of living in an environment where Donald Trump and Republicans promised that costs were going to go down on day one. Costs aren’t going down. Inflation is moving in the wrong direction. The Trump tariffs are causing thousands of dollars of additional expense on everyday Americans. Grocery costs have gone up. Housing costs are going up. Electricity bills are through the roof. And now people are facing, tens of millions of people, are facing dramatically increased healthcare premiums, in some instances $1,000 or $2,000 more per month. These are working-class people. This is unaffordable. And of course it’s a crisis that is before us right now.
JOE KERNEN: But what changed from when the Democrats said we will not negotiate when the government is shutdown on healthcare? Not now, reopen the government, then we’ll negotiate. That happened in 2013. What happened? What changed since then to where we are now, where you can use a government shutdown to extract concessions from Republicans?
LEADER JEFFRIES: We are not using a government shutdown to extract any concessions. We want to reopen the government immediately. Donald Trump has refused to meet with Democrats over the last 24 days. He spent more time on the golf course than he has actually talking to Democrats on Capitol Hill. He’s found time to demand that the Department of Injustice give him $230 million in taxpayer money. He’s found time to bail out a right-wing wannabe dictator in Argentina with $40 billion. He’s found time to demolish the East Wing of the White House in the most horrific way possible because he wants to erect a ballroom so he can be celebrated like a king. He’s found time for all of these different things, but somehow can’t be bothered to reopen the government or can’t be bothered to find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
BECKY QUICK: Ok, let’s talk about some of these issues. You bring up inflation, and you’re right to do so. We just got the CPI. It was not quite as hot as had been anticipated, but inflation is higher than the Fed’s target range or than anybody feels comfortable with. The problem is inflation is often caused by government spending. Additional government spending is not likely to get it to the point where we are going to see less inflation out there. How do you handle that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: This is not additional government spending—
BECKY QUICK: It is additional government spending, you’re looking for another $350 billion of additional government spending over the next 10 years—
JOE KERNEN: That’s just with the Obamacare.
LEADER JEFFRIES: We’re actually extending a tax credit that currently exists, and what’s interesting is that in their One Big Ugly Bill, where Republicans raised the debt ceiling by about over $4 trillion, exploded the deficit and the debt, but then they used a policy framework called current policy baseline, which is to say, that if you just extend current policy, it has no fiscal impact. So the question is, why are Republicans willing to use that approach when it comes to massive tax breaks for their billionaires, but unwilling to do it for working-class folks?
BECKY QUICK: Not a big fan of how any elected officials tend to use figures to tell us what we want to hear with some of these things. Additional government spending, though, is going to mean worse numbers when it comes to inflation. Is there a way to get everybody together and try and find ways to fix the base problems with healthcare and try and make sure that people are being given the help that they need along the way? It seems like it’s a really tough thing to do when the government’s been shut for 24 days, that that is not a great situation that we’re asking other people to bear the pain.
LEADER JEFFRIES: We have a broken healthcare system, and it obviously needs to be fixed in a decisive way. But there are steps that should be taken right now with respect to the reality that tens of millions of Americans are receiving notices as we speak indicating that their healthcare premiums are about to skyrocket in ways that will bankrupt them or deprive them of the ability to go see a doctor when they need one, when their children or when their families need one. This is not an artificially made-up thing. November 1st Open Enrollment begins. The notices are going out. Marjorie Taylor Greene agrees that something needs to be done with respect to the Affordable Care Act tax credits, and traditional conservatives in the House agree. They just sent a letter to Mike Johnson indicating that this is an issue that needs to be confronted. It’s not made up. It’s real.
JOE KERNEN: That’s a first—
BECKY QUICK: There are problems—
JOE KERNEN: That’s a first for you, Leader, Marjorie Taylor Greene. I love it. You’ve got to love the irony there. Hey, you know what else has passed after November 1st? The election for Mayor in New York. Come on. Are you ready? Are you ready to endorse Mamdani yet, Leader Jeffries?
LEADER JEFFRIES: As I’ve repeatedly said, Joe, I’ll have more to say about the Mayor’s race when I have more to say about the Mayor’s race.
JOE KERNEN: Today is the day for more. Today is—this is part of the future you were talking about last time you were on. This could be the future that you were talking about when you could do it. No?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let me say that, listen, I’m going to continue to lean into the principle, as Democrats, that we believe in a strong floor and no ceiling—
JOE KERNEN: Affordability—
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, listen, affordability, of course, is the top issue for the country. But as Democrats, listen, we believe in a country that brings about a strong floor and no ceiling. You work hard, you play by the rules, there should be no ceiling to your success. That’s what I believe in. But at the same period of time there should be a strong floor anchored in things like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
JOE KERNEN: Was that an endorsement? That almost sounded like you’re easing in, so that’s what Mamdani—A equals B equals C. That’s what he stands for, therefore you’re endorsing Mamdani? Is that, have I got that?
LEADER JEFFRIES: No, that’s not what I’m saying. That’s not what I am saying. But what I will say is that I do think that he took a important step in indicating he plans to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who’s doing a great job by all accounts.
JOE KERNEN: Okay, so that’s getting you closer and closer. We appreciate as always speaking with you today, Leader.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s The Weeknight, where he emphasized that while Republicans remain on vacation, Democrats will continue to work to end the Republican government shutdown and the healthcare crisis devastating everyday Americans across the country.
ALICIA MENENDEZ: Joining us now, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Greetings Leader Jeffries. Well first, that means we can get this confirmed. Are Democrats coming back next week in person?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yes. And our view is that, you know, we’re ready, we’re willing, we’re able to sit down with anyone, anytime, anyplace, you know, either on the Hill or back at the White House to reopen the government to enact a bipartisan spending agreement, but that spending agreement, as we’ve repeatedly said, has to actually make life better for the American people, not worse. And of course, it has to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis crushing people all across the country. We expect that Mike Johnson and House Republicans will cancel votes for a fifth consecutive week, which is extraordinary. Be on vacation in the middle of a shutdown for five consecutive weeks. They shut the government down, and they don’t want to reopen it because they are unwilling to address the healthcare crisis that they’ve created.
SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: So you all have polling this week. We talked about some of the public polling from the AP and NORC, and there was a Washington Post poll. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also did some polling that they presented to the Members. I saw the polling myself, sir. And I have to note that in—that polling is battleground state polling. And Republicans had, were only blamed at a slight edge for the shutdown. So I have to wonder, how is that informing your strategy, especially with November 1st coming up? And that is the day where Open Enrollment starts for folks, and they will see the real numbers for their, you know, what the healthcare premiums are going to be going into next year. So does that—how is this affecting your strategy given what you now know from the battlegrounds?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well it’s important to remember, in the context of the battleground states, that these are districts that Donald Trump won on average by 3 to 4 points. These are 50-50 districts that leaned slightly in Donald Trump’s favor in the last election. But now a majority of voters and perhaps most importantly, a significant majority of Independents, are holding Republicans correctly responsible for shutting down the government because of their unwillingness to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Now, what we’ve seen from public polling all across the country, of course, is that when asked the question, who’s more responsible for shutting down the government, consistently it’s Trump and House Republicans. The reality is they control the House, the Senate and the presidency. They’ve taken this my-way-or-the-highway approach since the very beginning of Donald Trump coming back into office. And of course it’s understandable that they are bearing the brunt of responsibility and they’ve been unwilling to negotiate. And we continue to say, let’s sit down, let’s find a bipartisan path forward. But we also have to address the healthcare crisis that’s crushing people in rural America, urban America, small town America, the heartland of America and, of course, Black and brown communities.
SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Yeah cause the Chairman always talks about how what he’s hearing from Republicans.
MICHAEL STEELE: Yeah. No to that very point. You talk about—they have the control and they have the House, the Senate, the White House and all that. But the counter measure to what you’re describing is what we saw play out today in the Senate, where you had three Senate Democrats vote in favor of the worker pay bill. Senator Ossoff of Georgia, Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Warnock of Georgia. So how do you stay on message when the counter measure to what you’re doing now, which has been effective, you know, the messaging around healthcare, sort of levelling up, what the impact of all of this is having on real people out there. But now Republicans said okay, I see you. I got one more for you. Hard bill after hard bill after hard vote after hard vote. How do Democrats message that and strategically work with that at the same time holding their their ground on the thing that’s got them the numbers that they see regardless, to Symone’s point, maybe slim. But you know what it’s like to get a majority today, right?
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s right—
MICHAEL STEELE: It’s not easy—
LEADER JEFFRIES: This is a 50-50 country, evenly divided. So the fact that all the public polling continues to be clear where the responsibility fallscorrectly in terms of how the American people see this. And they also know that we’re standing up for issues that matter to them. The high cost of living in this country is out of control. And Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down. They’re going up. Trump tariffs making life more expensive. Grocery costs up. Housing costs up. Electricity bills through the roof. And now you’re talking about tens of millions of people who are about to confront of these dramatically increased premiums, copays and deductibles on November 1st, which is the start of Open Enrollment, because of Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Now the Republicans are going to try to advance gotcha vote after gotcha vote after gotcha vote. But I think it’s been extraordinary to see not just House Democrats, but House and Senate Democrats, together standing up, unified, strong on behalf of the American people because we know we’re on the right side of issues that matter. And I expect to see that continuously from Leader Schumer who’s done a great job and Senate Democrats who’ve done a great job.
SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Can we talk about redistricting with you? There is, I mean, I’m just going to read this most recent report in the Washington Post, ‘to counter Trump, Virginia Democrats plan to redraw congressional map. Lawmakers could take the first steps, calling the Virginia General Assembly into special session as soon as Thursday, less than two weeks before the state holds elections, which includes its gubernatorial race and races for all 100 seats of the state’s House of delegates.’ There was additional reporting noting that they are planning for a session this upcoming Monday, I do believe. It’s our understanding you’ve been very engaged and involved, specifically, not necessarily with what Virginia is doing. But that you all are supportive of the effort. But Illinois, obviously California, potentially in Ohio. Are you going to be able to counter what Republicans are doing? They’re going to get about 19 seats if their efforts are successful. Will you be able to net enough seats to be competitive?
MICHAEL STEELE: Get to 21.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yes, well, with respect to the Supreme Court, that’s one aspect of it. And, you know, certainly we believe that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act should remain in place and it’s constitutional. That’s going to come down, you know, to Chief Justice Roberts and Kavanaugh who, by the way, just two years ago in the Alabama case affirmed Section 2. And so, you know, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I don’t think there’s any justification to eradicate the Voting Rights Act. And I don’t believe it will be eradicated at the end of the day. You know, separate and apart from that, we’ve seen Republicans engage in this aggressive gerrymandering ordered by Donald Trump so they can rig the midterm elections. And we’ve been clear from the beginning, we will not allow Republicans to artificially maintain the majority and cheat their way back to holding the gavels. Texas acted. We’ve sued Texas. We expect a decision in the next few weeks. And there’s a good chance that, actually, what Texas has done will be found to violate both the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. And then that will kick up to the Supreme Court. In California, I was just there this weekend, campaigned on Saturday and Sunday with respect to Prop 50 to stop Trump from stealing the election. Prop 50 is going to be successful, and that will wipe out whatever it is that Texas Republicans and Donald Trump thought they were doing in the Lone Star State. And then, of course, from there we go state by state by state. In Ohio, where we have a chance to take any gerrymandered map that they enact to a referendum and have that invalidated. And just like we’re going to be successful in California, we’ll do that in Ohio. We can do the same thing in Missouri. And we’re collecting signatures right now in Missouri to invalidate that gerrymandered map where they tried to wipe away the district in Kansas City represented wonderfully by Reverend Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. We will be successful in Missouri I believe in invalidating what they’ve done in Missouri. Then, of course, they’ve got North Carolina. This, that or the other state, a handful that they’ll try to go in. And I think Democratic governors have also been clear in Illinois, in Maryland in particular, saying we will respond forcefully and appropriately. And that’s the Democratic position all across the country.
MICHAEL STEELE: So I appreciate that like nobody’s business. But as someone who understands how the art of redistricting works, having sued over the maps of a Democratic governor in the state of Maryland and won. And having looked across the country at state after state and strategized how we work the maps, I think it’s important for those Democratic governors to not wait for Republicans. I really don’t. Symone told you, 19 seats. That’s the plan. And if they can get 20, they will. If they can get 22, they will. So this idea we’re going to wait and see, Leader, I think sort of ties your hands. The political moment for you right now, I think, as a party is to lean into that fight and say, okay, you want to play. All right. How many seats? How many seats? Let’s do this.
LEADER JEFFRIES: We are leaning in. I can assure you. And you’re seeing action unfold in different parts of the country—
MICHAEL STEELE: Okay—
LEADER JEFFRIES: And that will continue to happen. And you’ve seen action this week. And you’ll continue to see action over the next few days into next week and beyond. Now, a lot of our effort certainly has been concentrated in California because that’s a must-win. We had to go out and —thanks to Speaker Pelosi, Gavin Newsom, they’ve done a tremendous job, Zoe Lofgren, Pete Aguilar, the California delegation has been phenomenal— but we had to go out and raise $100 million collectively and then, you know, travel up and down the state to actually make sure that voters are coming out. And what’s been amazing about California, based on what came out of this most recent weekend, turnout is higher in certain parts of the state for this of-year referendum than it was in the 2024 presidential election. So we got to go win California, like Prop 50 is the foundation. But you are definitively going to see aggressive, appropriate, immediate action coming from other states across the country.
ALICIA MENENDEZ: Recently a January 6er threatened your life. You said as of 24 hours ago you had not heard from Speaker Johnson on it. Have you heard from him since?
LEADER JEFFRIES: I have not heard from Speaker Johnson, from the White House, from any Republican—
ALICIA MENENDEZ: Not a single Republican.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Not a single Republican and that speaks for itself.
ALICIA MENENDEZ: The threat is in and of itself alarming as an American who cares about democracy. And what you just said is devastating as someone who cares about those institutions. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you so much.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California
California Lawmakers: This administration “is focused on vindictive, destructive actions that will keep us dependent on innovations and expertise from foreign competitors and further raise costs for American families.”
October 24, 2025
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) joined 27 Democratic California lawmakers in denouncing the Department of Energy’s (DOE) cuts of $7.6 billion in critical grants for energy projects across California and the country. DOE’s list of cuts includes 79 projects and over $3.3 billion in investment across California, with over $2 billion in projects eliminated from Republican-represented districts in California. The funding for these projects was approved and appropriated by Congress, and the cuts violate existing bipartisan law while threatening to further raise energy costs.
The cancelling of these funds threatens thousands of jobs across energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors and could pass higher energy costs along to California residents.
“DOE does not have the authority to ignore the law, and Congress did not provide DOE with the discretion to terminate awards based on nebulous new criteria created by the Secretary years after enactment of the statute that funded and provided direction for these projects,” wrote the lawmakers.
In a letter to DOE’s Acting Inspector General Sarah Nelson, the lawmakers note that no state was hit harder than California. Out of the 321 terminated awards, DOE cancelled 79 awards in California, totaling more than $2 billion of federally funded projects. Among the projects was a backup battery power for a children’s hospital in Madera and an award worth $1.2 billion for the ARCHES hydrogen hub which had garnered bipartisan public support.
“These 321 grant project terminations will have real effects on affordability for our constituents and on the nation’s competitiveness. In the last year, electricity prices have increased twice as fast as the overall cost of living. Secretary Wright and the Trump administration’s decision to take $7.56 billion in energy projects offline is going to further constrain supply and send Americans’ electric bills through the roof,” the lawmakers continued.
In addition to Rep. Huffman, the letter was also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), U.S. Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-19), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).
The full text of the letter can be foundhereand below:
Dear Acting Inspector General Nelson:
We write to request that your office immediately launch a formal investigation of the U.S. Department ofEnergy’s (DOE) recent termination of $7.56 billion in grant awards in states that did not vote for the President. These unjustified terminations call into question whether DOE followed appropriations law and raise serious doubts about the Department’s ability to meet its contractual and grant obligations. Terminating grants based on partisan criteria suggests significant unlawful bias at the highest levels of the Department. Therefore, a full investigation is warranted.
On October 1, 2025, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought posted on X: “Nearly $8 billion in Green New Scam funding to fuel the Left’s climate agenda is being cancelled. More info to come from @ENERGY. The projects are in the following states: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, MD, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA”. Every one of these states gave their electoral votes to Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Out of the 321 awards deemed unworthy by DOE, it strains credulity to believe that all but seven of them happened to be in blue states.
No state was hit harder by these terminations than California. Out of the 321 terminated awards, DOE chose to cancel 79 awards in California, alone. In total, more than $2 billion of federally funded projects for California were included in this barrage of terminations. The recipients included state government, local governments, electric utilities, and innovative American energy companies. One of the projects would have provided backup battery power for a children’s hospital in Madera. One award for $1.2 billion was for the ARCHES hydrogen hub, a significant project that garnered public support from both Democrats and Republicans. Scores of projects were focused on boosting grid reliability and American domestic manufacturing. Overall, DOE’s terminations threaten the existence of thousands of jobs in the energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
It is not clear to us how DOE could have considered these projects unworthy of continuance, save for theobvious partisan reasons outlined above. Secretary Wright even specifically called out our state duringinterviews on CNN and Fox News: “California can do what it wants, but the 49 other states’ taxpayersshouldn’t be subsidizing that.” In the past several years, California has annually contributed around $600 billion in revenue to the federal government, making it a top donor state to the federal Treasury.
The process by which these terminations were approved also warrants intense scrutiny. During his interview with CNN on October 2, 2025, Secretary Wright explained that these terminations were a result of a months- long review of more than 2,400 projects. It remains unclear why such a review was necessary, and the Department has failed to produce a shred of evidence purporting waste, fraud, or abuse in any of these thousands of projects approved under the last administration. Indeed, the only criteria that condemned these projects to termination seem to be: 1) they were approved under the Biden Administration and 2) they were awarded to recipients located in states that did not vote for the President. Secretary Wright also mentioned that this review was conducted by “a team of seven or eight people”. The positions and qualifications of these individuals deserve scrutiny; it is unknown, for instance, if this team of people was comprised of any career officials, agency lawyers, or technical experts, or whether the team was comprised of DOGE personnel.
The Department’s press release states: “Using this review process, DOE evaluated each of these awards and determined that they did not meet the economic, national security or energy security standards necessary to justify continued investment.” There are serious problems with this statement. First, DOE has provided no evidence or quantifiable data to Congress to justify any assertion that these projects did not meet economic, national security, or energy security standards. In fact, DOE has demonstrated a stunning lack of responsiveness to congressional correspondence on previous grant terminations.
Second, no order, whether presidential or secretarial, can override a statute enacted by Congress. Much of the funding for these projects came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a law that Congress passed with the support of both Democrats and Republicans. Congress directed DOE to establish these programs and use this funding to provide grant awards to further the intent of the statute. DOE does not have the authority to ignore the law, and Congress did not provide DOE with the discretion to terminate awards based on nebulous new criteria created by the Secretary years after enactment of the statute that funded and provided direction for these projects.
It is also unclear whether the Department conducted the appropriate internal reviews and analyses prior to approving these terminations, which raises important legal questions. Additionally, grant recipients were largely excluded from these deliberations and kept in the dark. Days after DOE’s termination announcement, many recipients reported that they had not even received a termination notice from the Department. At the very least, recipients deserve communication from the agency and an opportunity to appeal in accordance with DOE grant regulations. DOE’s actions cast doubt on the Department’s ability to be a reliable and trustworthy partner for the private sector.
It is imperative that these terminations be thoroughly investigated and the results shared with the Congress, especially in light of Secretary Wright’s assertion that he does not intend to stop wantonly terminating grant awards: “We released some announcements a few months ago. We’ll have many more coming this fall.” These 321 grant project terminations will have real effects on affordability for our constituents and on the nation’s competitiveness. In the last year, electricity prices have increased twice as fast as the overall cost of living. Secretary Wright and the Trump administration’s decision to take $7.56 billion in energy projects offline is going to further constrain supply and send Americans’ electric bills through the roof.
Secretary Wright’s termination decisions are both unlawful and will cause harm to Americans. We respectfully request that your office investigate these terminations thoroughly.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)
Instead of working with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and keep health care affordable for millions of people, Republicans in Congress chose to shut down the government
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) recently sat down with Jim Mangia, President and CEO of St. John’s Community Health Network, for a discussion on how Republican cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act will harm the Southern California health care system and drive up costs for everyone. Democrats are continuing to call on Republicans to come back to Congress to negotiate a deal that will reopen the government and fix the health care crisis Republicans have created. You can watch the full discussion between Rep. Aguilar and Jim Mangia here and read an excerpt from the conversation below:
Rep. Pete Aguilar: House Democrats are fighting for the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits as well. The importance of that and ensuring that people have health care. So this isn’t just about the Medicaid population. This is about people with healthcare.gov. This is about where will people go, the 30,000 clients that you have, where will they go if they don’t have health care? They’re going to go to the emergency room, which is the most expensive place to get care. So it’s going to affect everyone. Is that fair to say? Not just your clients, the health care system will be disrupted when this fully goes into effect.
Jim Mangia, President & CEO, St. John’s Community Health: Well, you know, 90 percent of our patients are on Medi-Cal, but 10 percent are Covered California, on healthcare.gov, and they’re all going to lose their subsidies. So it’s going to be devastating for working people, middle-class people. Everyone is going to suffer. And that’s why I think this fight that the Democrats are urging and doing on the federal level is so important for us who are providing health care on the front lines, because we need our Representatives to be fighting for health care for our patients. And you are…I think we can win if we get together and we know who we’re fighting for, without a doubt.
St. John’s Community Health Network is one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Care (FQHC) providers in Southern California. They operate over 28 clinics in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, providing medical, dental, mental health and substance use services to underserved and diverse communities.