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Continuing our efforts to end the Trump shutdown, House Democrats – joined by a growing number of Republicans – today passed Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills to reopen parts of government that provide 40 million Americans facing hunger with nutrition assistance, restore pay to security agents at airports and federal aviation safety inspectors, put an end to delays for federally backed mortgage applications, and avert a shutdown crisis for low-income rental housing assistance.
[Democrats] have been saying all along is look, Mr. President, there's a policy difference here, and we're prepared to discuss that policy because we want to have secure borders, and therefore we're prepared to talk about that, including additional sums to assure the border security.
Last fall, Republicans tried to fool the American public by claiming they now support protections to ensure that those with pre-existing conditions can get the affordable health coverage they need – despite their repeated votes to take such protections away.
Today, House Democrats and eight responsible House Republicans passed legislation to reopen part of the government, just as we did last week, in an effort to put our nation’s federal employees back to work and give them the paychecks they are due.
The President’s behavior at today’s meeting with Congressional leaders was a display of disrespect for his responsibilities, the pain he is inflicting on the federal workforce, and the millions of Americans who deserve to have the government operating effectively.
The government, as all of you know, is shut down. 800,000 people are directly affected. Over 400,000 of them are working but not getting paid.
“It is shameful that the President would employ fear tactics and conjure a made-up crisis to further his political agenda. All Americans ought to be deeply concerned about this President’s approach and his grasp of facts. This shutdown must end, and only President Trump has the power to end it.”
Eight years ago today, my friend and colleague former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot and nearly killed in a horrific act of gun violence.
These four appropriations bills, which I will bring to the Floor next week and the House will pass, will leave Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans with no excuse to avoid taking action to end the Trump shutdown of the agencies they cover.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet The Press” this morning to discuss the Trump shutdown and the urgent need to reopen government. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video: