House Votes To Bring Relief to Texas, Florida, the West, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This week, I voted for a funding bill that will provide relief to our fellow Americans recovering from hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as wildfires in the west. The legislation was an important step to bring relief to these communities, but additional support will be needed in the weeks and months to come as these communities recover and rebuild. I am particularly concerned about our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico and the USVI who are in crisis, and I was appalled by President Trump’s tweet threatening to abandon Puerto Rico when they need assistance from federal government most. We must stay in Puerto Rico and the USVI for as long as it takes for them to get back on their feet and rebuild to 21^st century standards so that their infrastructure is more resilient against future storms.
 
In addition, President Trump continued his efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act this week by halting cost-sharing reduction payments that help low-income Americans afford health care. This announcement followed an executive order he signed yesterday that would undermine consumer protections, allow discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, increase premiums, and destabilize health insurance markets. Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House, and they will be held accountable by the American people for any changes to health care costs and instability.
 
Finally, President Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to be focused on their tax framework, which would give tax cuts to the wealthy while leaving the middle class behind and exploding the deficit  by $2.4 trillion dollars over the next ten years. Under the GOP tax framework, 80% of the tax cuts would go to the top 1% of earners, while one-in-three middle-class families will see a tax increase. Democrats stand ready to work with Republicans on a bipartisan plan to reform the tax code and lower taxes for middle class families, but this plan is not it. 
 

Sincerely yours,

Steny H. Hoyer

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DEMOCRATIC NEWS UPDATE

On Relief for our fellow Americans in Florida, Texas, the West, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

• Video: Hoyer Floor Remarks on Assistance for Americans in Florida, Texas, the West, Puerto Rico and USVI
• Hoyer Statement on President Trump's Threat to Abandon the People of Puerto Rico
• Hoyer Statement on Wildfires in Northern California

On the Trump Administrations’ Sabotage of the Affordable Care Act

• Fact Sheet: Republicans Continue to Sabotage the Affordable Care Act
• Hoyer Statement on Trump Administration Ending Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments
• Hoyer Statement on President Trump's Executive Order Sabotaging the Affordable Care Act

On the GOP Tax Reform Framework

• Fact Sheet: Republicans’ Partisan Tax Reform Framework: Tax Cuts for the Wealthy at the Expense of the Middle Class
• Fact Sheet: The True Story of the GOP’s Tax Reform Framework: Tax Cuts for the Wealthy While Leaving the Middle Class Behind