Press Release

Eleven weeks since the House passed the Heroes Act, deeply divided Congressional Republicans continue to dissemble and delay in providing coronavirus relief to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I shared with the house that my office had launched a website where Americans could learn about the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, weigh in with their opinion on the bill, and list themselves as ‘citizen cosponsors’ if they support it.

Today, the House will complete work on another six appropriations bills, funding 96% of government for Fiscal Year 2021 and doing its job to avert a shutdown. 

We are facing a deeply divided and dysfunctional Republican party, which, frankly, is not new. 

I am pleased that the House was able to come together in a bipartisan vote to reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in a way that invests in upgrading and protecting America’s vital waterways and water infrastructure.  I’ve been proud to lead the Make It In America agenda for jobs and opportunities, and strengthening infrastructure, as this bill does, is a key component of that plan.  American businesses and workers depend on safe and efficient ports, harbors, and navigable rivers to transport goods to market and access raw materials.  Communities also depend on water infrastructure to protect against flooding and ensure that the water they use for drinking and agriculture is clean and safe. 
 

It is inconceivable that President Trump and Republicans would want to kick more than 23 million Americans off their health coverage and take away protections for those with pre-existing conditions in the middle of a deadly pandemic, yet that is exactly what they have been doing with their lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act.  Thankfully, House Democrats have been defending the Affordable Care Act for as long as Republicans have attempted to dismantle it.  During the first week of our Majority last year, we voted to commit House resources to the defense of the law in court, and since then, we have passed legislation to strengthen the ACA, expand access to affordable health care, and bring down costs. Tonight, we took action once more and adopted an amendment introduced by Rep. Lauren Underwood to block the Trump Administration from using taxpayer funds to prosecute the case against affordable health care access.
 

As we celebrate fifty-five years since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid, we do so at a moment when making affordable health care accessible to more Americans is paramount in our thoughts.