Dear Colleague on September Legislative Work Period
Dear Colleague:
I write as we return to Washington to fight on behalf of the American people during this incredibly pivotal September legislative session.
Thank you for aggressively leaning into our fight to lower the high cost of living, fix the country’s broken healthcare system and clean up corruption. Throughout the August District Work Period, our Caucus held more than 1,000 events in communities across the country, interacting directly with everyday Americans. House Democrats remain strongly committed to making life more affordable, with a focus on lowering the high cost of housing, child care and everyday items like groceries. America is too expensive.
The Republican One Big Ugly Law rips healthcare away from millions of families and steals food from the mouths of hungry children in order to pay for massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors. As a result of our aggressive engagement and continued partnership with community stakeholders, this toxic legislation is historically unpopular. We must keep the pressure on them.
Republicans have failed to deliver for the American people and they are running scared. That explains why Donald Trump and House Republicans have spent the last month trying to gerrymander congressional maps as part of their scheme to rig the midterm elections. House Democrats will continue to push back forcefully.
Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress promised to lower the high cost of living on day one. Instead, the Trump administration and far-right extremists have made life more expensive. Housing costs, electricity bills and healthcare premiums are skyrocketing. Our message to America is simple: You deserve better.
On September 30th, funding for the current fiscal year lapses and we confront the possibility of another painful Republican government shutdown. House Democrats have repeatedly made clear that we are prepared to pass a bipartisan spending bill in advance of this deadline. However, any agreement must meet the needs of the American people in terms of their health, safety, national security and economic well-being. We will not rubber stamp partisan Republican legislation that hurts everyday Americans and continues their unprecedented attack on healthcare.
Thank you for your leadership and unity of purpose. I look forward to our work together over the next few weeks and beyond.
Sincerely,
Hakeem Jeffries
Democratic Leader