LEADER JEFFRIES: "DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE CONTINUE TO HOLD THE LINE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE"
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, in which he stressed the importance of addressing the Republican healthcare crisis and protecting the healthcare of working-class Americans.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, everyone.
Before I proceed any further, let me acknowledge the two-year anniversary of the horrific terrorist Hamas attack on the people of Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 1200 Israeli citizens and many American citizens were brutally murdered, and hundreds more were violently kidnapped and held captive in Gaza. Later on today, I'll meet with several hostages who thankfully were released, as well as the families of those whose loved ones were tragically killed in Gaza. Two years later, it's incredibly important that every single hostage is returned and returned at the same time. It's important that we restore the ceasefire that Donald Trump inherited and that was broken in a matter of weeks during the Trump presidency. It's important that the devastation in Gaza end and that we surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza to provide relief to Palestinian civilians, who, for two years, have been in harm's way in a theater of war through no fault of their own. And it's important that we find a just and lasting peace that can be implemented for the good of the people of Israel, our close ally, and for the good of the Palestinian people, so that we have Israel and the Palestinian people living side-by-side in peace, security and prosperity.
This is day seven of the Trump shutdown of the federal government, and Democrats in the House and Democrats in the Senate continue to hold the line on behalf of the American people. Why? Because we're fighting to protect their healthcare in the midst of a crisis that has been inflicted upon them by Republicans from the very beginning of Donald Trump's presidency. Republicans have hurt everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors. That's what the One Big Ugly Bill was all about. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Stole food from the mouths of children, seniors and hungry veterans in order to provide massive tax breaks—permanent in nature—for the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected.
Democrats have a very different approach to what we should be doing in order to make life better for the American people. And at this moment in time, that's addressing the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating millions of people all across the country. And because of the Republican continued refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles that will bankrupt them or deprive them of the healthcare that they need for themselves, their children and their families. That's completely and totally unacceptable. And the government remains shut down right now because of the refusal and unwillingness by Donald Trump and Republicans to actually provide healthcare to working-class Americans. That's an unacceptable position. And that's why the Democrats continue to fight this fight on behalf of the American people—whether they live in a blue state, a purple state or a red state, this fight that Democrats are waging is on behalf of all Americans.
Full press conference can be watched here.