LEADER JEFFRIES: "DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO BEND AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BREAK BECAUSE WE ARE STANDING UP FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE"
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability on the House Steps where he re-emphasized that Democrats are unified and committed to fighting for a spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Earlier today, I had a very positive meeting with Leader Chuck Schumer. House and Senate Democrats remain locked in and unified on behalf of the American people. We want to sit down in a bipartisan way and find a path forward to reopen the government, enact a spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people and decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. The partisan Republican spending bill that guts the healthcare of the American people has now been voted down 10 different times. Why does Leader Thune and Senate Republicans continue to try to do the same thing and expect different results? Democrats are not going to bend and we're not going to break because we are standing up for the American people. And I'm very thankful for the courageous and principled position that Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats continue to take on behalf of the American people.
House Republicans, on the other hand, remain on vacation. They've now canceled votes for three consecutive weeks. And Donald Trump is missing in action. He spent more time on the golf course during the 16 days of this government shutdown, than he has talking to Democrats to try to reopen the government. You know, our hardworking federal employees are being asked to work without pay or have been furloughed. And the Republicans apparently could care less at the damage being done to the American people and the damage being done to civil servants, who, all they want to do is serve the American people. We need to sit down and have bipartisan conversations now. House Republicans should come back to Washington now. Donald Trump needs to re-engage now so we can reopen the government, enact a spending bill that actually meets the needs of the American people and decisively address, once and for all, the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating the American people.
Full press conference can be watched here.