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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) to discuss the radical shift in the Democrat party and Chuck Schumer’s efforts to appease extreme leftists by holding the government hostage. Leader Scalise emphasized the pain Democrats’ shutdown is imposing, pointing to local food banks in Southeast Louisiana that are struggling under growing demand as federal employees miss paychecks.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
On the radical direction of the Democrat party:“Chairman Rogers just laid out some of the dire consequences that are happening today because Chuck Schumer decided to shut down the government. A lot of people ask, ‘What’s the off-ramp?’ Especially, they ask, what changed in Chuck Schumer from just a few months ago, back in March, when Chuck Schumer voted for these very same funding levels? Chuck Schumer himself voted for these funding levels in March, and today he’s shutting the entire government down, jeopardizing America’s national security over those same levels. And so, what changed?“I think you don’t need to look any further than what you saw on the stage in New York last night, a debate between the leading candidates for mayor of New York to see how far Chuck Schumer’s party has moved to the socialist left. When you see Mamdani, who’s the leading candidate, and by all accounts, is going to win going away for mayor of New York, has taken over the Democrat Party in the state of New York. And his main opponent on that stage – there is no bench in the Democrat Party – it was disgraced former Governor Cuomo, who was run out of office for, among other things, instituting policies during COVID that led to the death of thousands of senior citizens. That’s the best that the Democrat Party has to offer in the city of New York.”On Chuck Schumer placating his far-left base for political gain:“So, Chuck Schumer is watching all of this and recognizing that from March till today, his own party has moved so far in the socialist left that he’s now afraid for his own political future. And to try to hold on and grasp one last ounce of power for himself, he’s willing to jeopardize millions of American families. And that is who is paying the consequence for Chuck Schumer’s actions, for the tantrum that he’s having.“He is more concerned, as the Speaker pointed out, at impressing the Hate America rally crowd that’s coming up here tomorrow than he is about solving all of our problems. If he voted today to open up the government, it wouldn’t solve our differences. We all know we have big differences. We have three appropriations bills that are in a conference committee that, frankly, Republicans and Democrats on those committees had already worked out the differences. It was Chuck Schumer who walked away back then a few weeks ago and decided then he was going to shut the government down. Not because we had really big differences on those policies, but because he needed to appease the radical base that had taken over his own party.”On federal employees missing paychecks:“Maybe as Chuck Schumer starts realizing the consequences of his actions, and maybe it’s the people that are holding Chuck Schumer hostage that we need to make an appeal to, to release Chuck Schumer so he can release the American people. But over and over again, we’re going to keep talking about the damage that Chuck Schumer’s actions in shutting down the government are causing on real people. Our men and women in uniform, yes, President Trump was able to stave off for a few more weeks by finding money to pay for them. But as Chairman Rogers pointed out, that account’s about to go dry. But there are other federal employees that were not able to get paid just in this most recent pay schedule.”On the Democrat shutdown’s impact on Southeast Louisiana:“My local media outlet, WWL-TV, just did a story today that went live about the consequences to those federal employees. We’re talking about thousands of people just in Southeast Louisiana. Maybe Chuck Schumer doesn’t care about those people, but his party is causing pain through a lot of corners of this country. I want to read a quote from the director of the food bank in the New Orleans area. He said, ‘Demand is up, supply is down, and now we’re getting hammered by the fallout from the government shutdown as more and more people who may have been expecting to get that paycheck to buy groceries, so now they’ll come to us or one of our 500 partners to get food assistance.’ That was the Chief Strategy Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans, just representing one area of the country where thousands of federal workers can’t even afford to buy groceries and are going to a local food bank so that Chuck Schumer can appease the most radical socialists in his party. This is affecting real people.“There’s a bill that, again, doesn’t solve all of our differences, but just allows those people to be freed so that they can get back to work, they can get their paychecks, they can provide food for their family while we negotiate those differences for another few weeks. It’s time for Chuck Schumer to end this madness. There’s a bill to open the government. Let’s go solve our differences, negotiate our differences. But in the meantime, stop holding the American people hostage, Chuck Schumer.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) to discuss the negative consequences of the Democrat Shutdown, including how it jeopardizes our homeland security. Leader Scalise emphasized that Chuck Schumer needs to stop placating his radical base in fear of AOC and prioritize Americans’ safety instead.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
On the Democrat shutdown’s impact on homeland security:“Well, you just heard a very stark, grim reality from Chairman Garbarino of what Chuck Schumer’s shutdown is doing to our nation’s ability to protect the homeland. The Department of Homeland Security is one of the most critical in terms of our ability to keep Americans safe here at home. They’re doing incredible work. Fortunately, like Chairman Garbarino said, 95% of the employees are deemed essential, but they’re on the job, not getting paid. But beyond that, he also pointed out, grants are not going out. The sharing of information on things like cybersecurity is not happening. These are really devastating consequences of Chuck Schumer’s shutdown.”On Chuck Schumer prioritizing his political future over the needs of hardworking Americans:  “Nobody on the Democrat side can still articulate the reason why they’re doing it beyond the obvious: The obvious reason is Chuck Schumer being scared for his political future. Scared from who? From AOC. Last night, as the Speaker mentioned, we saw two of the Democrat Party leaders, Bernie Sanders and AOC, at a forum, town hall, whatever you want to call it on CNN. They were laughing, they were guffawing like it’s some game. In fact, when AOC was pressed to say, ‘What is it that you all are shutting the government down over?’ She couldn’t even give an articulate answer. This is what she said, ‘I think we need to see ink on paper. I think we need to see legislation. I think we need to see these things passed on the floor of the House and Senate and signed by the President.’ Can anybody tell me what she’s talking about? “I mean, they filed an alternative bill that everybody knows is not serious, a $1.5 trillion in new spending to do, among other things, to gut the rural hospital fund, the $50 billion that we put in place, the largest investment in rural hospitals in our country’s history. They want to gut that to give free health care to illegals? That’s not going to happen, and that’s not a serious proposal. But in fact, when you get back to the heart of the question, and that is Chuck Schumer fighting for his political life in New York. They did ask AOC that question, ‘Are you going to primary Chuck Schumer?’ She laughed, and Bernie tried to bail her out of the question, but ultimately, she wouldn’t give a direct response to that because that’s really what this shutdown is about, is Chuck Schumer afraid of the AOC wing of the party primarying and beating him in New York. And so he’s just concerned about his political future, and he’s willing to jeopardize the lives of the American people, to jeopardize our homeland security abilities that Chairman Garbarino talked about.”On the need for Senate Democrats to reopen the government: “These are serious consequences to real people – men and women in uniform, our federal workers that are not getting paid. All for what? For the gibberish you heard last night? They cannot articulate even what they want. We presented a clean CR that Chuck Schumer himself voted for in March. Very straightforward bill to fund the government and open it up, just to give us more time to negotiate our differences, very big differences that we have on policy, but we can’t even get to those policy negotiations while Chuck Schumer is shutting down the government. “Senator Thune is doing a great job of trying to find a way to keep bringing the bills back up until one day, just five more senators on the Democrat side come to their senses and say they’re willing to get the government back open so we can resume those negotiations. We stand ready. We’ve done our job in the House and we’re ready to get back to work. There’s a lot of work stacking up. But while Chuck Schumer keeps the government shut down, it’s hurting millions of real families across America.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and House Main Street Caucus leadership to discuss American families suffering as a result of Democrats holding the government hostage over their partisan demands. Leader Scalise praised President Trump for finding a way to pay our troops, as Senate Democrats voted for an eighth time to withhold paychecks for our men and men in uniform.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Excerpts from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On Democrats’ opposition to paying our troops:“I want to say thank you to the over one million men and women in uniform who continue to serve right now, despite the uncertainty – that uncertainty that does not need to exist. And why? Because Chuck Schumer is more afraid of the radical leftists in his own party than he is concerned about making sure that those families don’t have to wonder about whether or not they’re going to be able to put food on the table. Their families, while they’re overseas, many of them, are going to be able to put food on the table during this Schumer shutdown. “Keep in mind, over one-third of all men and women who serve in uniform right now, over one-third of them live paycheck to paycheck. That means when Chuck Schumer is voting to deny them pay, many of them will not be able to make their rent payment or their mortgage payment. Many of them will not be able to make their car note payment. The stress that that adds to their lives unnecessarily should not happen, did not need to happen.”On the need for Senate Democrats to reopen the government:  “This House came together. I’m so proud of the men and women I serve with in Congress here in the House, where we did our job, weeks ago, we sent a bill over to the Senate. That doesn’t resolve all of our differences. People often say, ‘Gee whiz, why can’t Washington just get together? Which side is going to win this thing?’ It’s not about which side wins. It’s about stopping the American people from being the losers in Chuck Schumer’s fight while we go negotiate our differences. We have big differences we need to negotiate. The clean CR that we passed over to the Senate does not resolve those differences. It just gives us some more time to have that negotiation.”On Democrats’ wishlist of radical partisan demands:  “How big are those differences? Just look at the wishlist, the hostage list that Chuck Schumer filed weeks ago. His demands that he said have to be met before he’ll even open up the government again – $1.5 trillion in new, unrelated spending, Chuck Schumer demanded, including, yes, eliminating all the verifications so that illegals will get taxpayer-funded health care. That’s in Chuck Schumer’s bill. Chuck Schumer guts the $50 billion rural hospital fund to give taxpayer-funded health benefits to illegals in his hostage demands. That’s not going to happen. When are we going to have a rational conversation? When are Democrats going to actually become serious in this discussion?”On the contrast between Democrats and President Trump:  “In contrast again, just look at what happened yesterday. Some of us were at the White House at just an amazingly emotional ceremony where President Trump posthumously, unfortunately, issued the Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, and his incredibly brave widow, Erika, was there to receive it on his behalf and gave another emotionally powerful speech. This comes on the heels of President Trump returning from the Middle East, where he was in Israel, he was in Egypt, working with other world leaders to establish historic Middle East peace. “President Trump has been doing all those things, and in the middle of doing all of those things, he had to go find time to figure out, creatively, a way to pay our troops, even though Chuck Schumer wants to defund our troops. Yes, the party, the Democrats, that were for and continue to be for defunding our police, now want to defund our military troops by not paying them, by not opening up the government. The votes are clear. Nobody has to wonder which side is for shutting down the government, which side is for trying to deny troops their pay. “We had yet another vote, the eighth time on the Senate floor yesterday. While we were at the White House, the Senate was having that vote on whether or not to open up the government. You saw Democrats continued, led by Chuck Schumer, to shut down the government and deny troop pay. It’s embarrassing. It’s not just unserious, it’s having devastating consequences on millions of Americans around this country, and it doesn’t need to happen.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) to discuss President Trump securing historic peace in the Middle East, as Chuck Schumer continues to inflict pain on hardworking Americans. As Americans start to miss paychecks, Leader Scalise called on Senate Democrats to end their tantrums and reopen the government.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Excerpts from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On Democrats’ list of far-left radical demands: “As the Speaker talked about, a lot of people say, ‘Why have the Democrats continued this charade of shutting down the government and inflicting pain, real pain on millions of families across America?’ The Speaker laid it out real clear. Chuck Schumer filed an alternative bill weeks ago, of his list of demands, literally a list of demands that he said have to be met before he releases the American people from this torrential pain he’s inflicting. It includes $1.5 trillion of new spending on far-left wishlists. Things like, yes, taxpayer-funded health care for illegals. It’s in Chuck Schumer’s bill. He guts rural hospitals, all as part of his demand to open up the government. It’s not only not serious, it’s also destructive. It’s something that would actually hurt in this country. And why? All so that he can show the radicals and the far left of his party that he’s fighting Donald Trump. Everybody knows that’s what this is about. Chuck Schumer is scared to death for his political future. He is way more concerned about his political job than he is about the jobs of millions of American families, and it’s having a real impact on those families.”On President Trump’s leadership, while Democrats continue to let Americans suffer: “Today, as it’s been pointed out, day 14 of the government shutdown that Chuck Schumer imposed on the country, and it is the day where checks would normally be starting to be processed for all of the government workers, many of whom will not get a paycheck because of Chuck Schumer’s shutdown. You’re already starting to see flight delays. Families trying to go visit a relative, maybe go see one of their family members get married, go on a family vacation. They’re not able to do that because of Chuck Schumer’s shutdown. Our men and women in uniform at risk of losing their pay. I will credit Donald Trump for a lot of things. But if you look, President Trump has not sat by and just waited for Chuck Schumer to get over his tantrum. President Trump has continued to do his job for the American people.”On President Trump securing historic peace in the Middle East: “Thank God, because the world is a safer place with President Trump at the helm. We saw that yesterday. What a historic day. And again, a real contrast to the temper tantrum that Chuck Schumer is having to appease the most radical elements of the far-left base here in America. President Trump traveled to Israel, traveled to Egypt to sign historic peace accords, to oversee the release of hostages. Finally, all of the living hostages returned home to their loved ones after more than two years since the October 7th attack by Hamas. And one of the hostages, I think it’s really important to hear this, because when you talk about real leadership, not just here in America and the leadership that President Trump has provided to our country, but what that leadership means to the world, not only to our allies, but to the bad guys around the world. And yes, there are really bad people around the world. One of the former hostages who was released yesterday, Omer Shem Tov, credited President Trump with getting the hostages home. And he said, ‘Hamas was very scared of Trump. They wanted Kamala to be elected. As soon as Donald Trump was elected, they understood that he wanted to bring us back home. So immediately, the way they treated me changed.’ That was a direct quote from one of the hostages who was released yesterday. You can see that leadership by President Trump on the world stage. And just such a historic day, a day where people were literally dancing in the streets in Middle Eastern countries. “Peace in the Middle East. It used to be a platitude that for decades seemed to be a mirage in the desert. And yesterday it became a reality because Donald Trump said he was going to do something that nobody else thought could be done, but he knew it had to be done. And he made it happen and gave so much closure, important closure to those families, brought their loved ones back home, but told the bad guys that you’re on alert. It’s a new day in the world.”On Chuck Schumer appeasing his far-left base by prioritizing personal hatred of President Trump:“Even during a time where the contrast of Chuck Schumer throwing a temper tantrum here at home just to appease the most radical elements of his base, so that on the 18th, when they have the Hate America rally that everybody knows is coming, and that everybody knows Chuck Schumer needs to deliver a shutdown government to them to appease them. Well, how about you think about us? How about you think about those families who are struggling today because of Chuck Schumer’s shutdown? There are real consequences to what Chuck Schumer is doing. Regardless of who he thinks he’s appeasing, he is hurting so many people, millions and millions of people.“But President Trump is not going to be daunted. President Trump found a way over the weekend to pay our troops. While he was finding peace in the Middle East, President Trump also found a way to say, even while Chuck Schumer doesn’t care about our men and women in uniform, Donald Trump does. He made sure that they will get their pay. But there are still so many others that won’t because of Chuck Schumer’s shutdown. This madness has to end. It is time for this shutdown to end. Chuck, don’t wait for some mad march on the mall. Don’t wait for some pats on the back for radical leftists who just want to hate America every single day because Donald Trump is in the White House.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) to discuss how hardworking Americans are suffering the consequences of Democrats’ political games. While Democrats try to shift blame, Leader Scalise pointed to the voting records of Democrats who have repeatedly refused to do their job and reopen the government.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
On Democrats repeatedly voting to keep the government shutdown:“It’s disgraceful that not only are we in this shutdown because Chuck Schumer is only concerned about appeasing the most radical elements of his base, but time and time again, seven times now, you’ve had other Senate Democrats join in with him to keep the government closed. They’re feeling some pressure. But what they’re trying to do now, both Democrats in the House and Senate, is trying to shift the blame away. While they’re voting to shut the government down, they’re trying to blame other people. “Let’s be clear, and the Speaker showed it: We’ve had actual votes on the House floor to keep the government open. We’ve had those same votes on the Senate floor. You can see who has been voting to pay our troops, who has been voting to pay our TSA agents, our Border Patrol agents, and who are those people that are voting to shut it down, to deny pay to our troops. It’s crystal clear. You can go see the voice votes, the record votes. Members of Congress, House and Senate, have actually cast votes over and over again on whether they want to keep it open or shut it down. You don’t have to wonder about a blame game. Gee whiz, both sides are blaming the other side. Just go look at the votes. There have been actual votes in the House and the Senate eight different times now between the two chambers to open the government.”On hardworking Americans suffering under the Democrats’ shutdown:“Republicans have said, ‘Yes, let’s keep the government open while we negotiate our differences.’ Democrats continue to say no so they can appease their radical base. And so as Chuck Schumer denies pay to millions of federal workers, we know roughly at least one in three of every service member in America lives paycheck to paycheck. Now, should they get solace in knowing that they’re risking their lives, some of them overseas, while their families are here, on Monday, when we get to the date where paychecks would be cut, the government will still be shut down, and they won’t even be getting a paycheck on the 15th? Rent will still be due. Mortgages will still be due. Car notes will still be due for those service members risking their lives. Should they take solace in knowing that at least it’s a good day for Chuck Schumer? At least Chuck Schumer feels like the shutdown is working good for Schumer. “That’s not going to give solace to any of those families. Instead, it actually increases the anger of the families all across America who are seeing the real cost of this shutdown. They know who’s voting to shut the government down, but now they’re feeling direct pain. The only thing they hear from Democrat leaders that keep voting ‘no’ is, ‘Oh, it’s a good day for us because the far left is patting us on the back.’ Do they really need a participation trophy to feel good about themselves while they inflict pain on millions of people? It’s disgraceful.”On Senate Democrats placating their far-left base:“As the Speaker pointed out this morning, one of the other things that’s being reported now is that one of the dates it looks like they’re holding the government hostage over is the 18th of the month, where they’re having this Hate America rally in Washington. Democrats want to keep the government shut down to show all of those people that are going to come here and express their hatred towards this country that they’re fighting President Trump, that they’re keeping the government closed as if it’s something to be proud of. They ought to be ashamed. If they had any shame, they would come back, they would open up the government, and then we can negotiate our differences, which are very, very large on a lot of these issues. “But in the meantime, we all know who’s doing this. The votes are crystal clear. The public can go see who’s voting to keep the government open, who’s voting to shut it down. Chuck Schumer and his Democrat colleagues who are doing this need to look themselves in the mirror and start working for the American people instead of being so concerned about appeasing their far-left radical base.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

As shutdown enters third week, President makes financing the federal government a partisan issue

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Asks why U.S. would exchange “stable U.S. dollars with volatile pesos”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today expressed his condolences over the loss of life and injuries in an explosion at a munitions plant near McEwen, Tennessee, earlier today and released the following statement:

“I express my profound condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this horrific incident. I will continue to monitor the situation and will work with Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, and Congressman Kustoff, and with local and state officials, as the investigation continues.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) is observing the beginning of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after more than two years of war, and made the following statement:

“I welcome the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a ceasefire framework. As part of the agreement, all remaining hostages in Gaza will be returned to their families. After two long years, the hostages and families can finally start their healing process. 

“This agreement is a vital first step toward lasting peace, and I urge all parties to abide by the terms. There is still lots of work to be done to reach a lasting resolution, and Palestinian civilians still desperately need an increased surge of humanitarian aid. 

“I will continue to monitor this situation with cautious optimism.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

Today, Congresswoman Schrier issued the following statement on the release of the hostages from Gaza:

“After two long years, the remaining hostages are finally coming home. Today, I, and so many across the globe, are deeply relieved that at long last, they are free from Hamas terrorist captivity in the tunnels of Gaza. It brings such joy to witness the celebration of families and friends of those hostages who are finally getting to hold their loved ones again. We also feel the deep pain of those families whose loved ones are coming home in coffins.

“I am grateful for the persistent efforts of both the Trump and Biden administrations to free the hostages and bring about an end to this war, and am deeply grateful to all parties that played a role in getting this deal completed. 

“We will never forget the victims of the barbaric attack on October 7th, 2023, and all the innocent lives in Gaza and Israel that have been devastated by this war. We must honor all of them by working together for a more secure and peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”