DPCC Co-Chair Jeffries: House GOP Temporary Spending Bill Fails to Address the Priorities of the American People

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss the looming government shutdown and the passage of the continuing resolution in the House of Representatives. Co-Chairs Jeffries (D-NY), Cicilline (D-RI), and Congressman Welch (D-VT) led 168 of their House colleagues in a letter to the President highlighting the critical bipartisan priorities Congress can deliver for the American people while keeping the government open without interruption. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video.

Click here to watch the video

"We're prepared to govern, sit down with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in the House, Senate, eventually of course the President to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that deals with the priorities of the American people. Not just in red states or blue states, not just for people on the left or the right, but for everyday Americans. This temporary spending agreement that was passed in the House last night is just another example of irresponsible governance. Failing to meet the full priorities of the American people simply to meet a political agenda or to do what you think is palpable to the right wing Freedom Caucus of the House Republicans here in the congress, and that is not a sufficient way to govern."

"In our view, for instance, in this temporary spending agreement there was a failure to fund safety net hospitals which are of particular importance to the poor, the sick, and the afflicted who may not necessarily have private insurance and rely on safety net hospitals in order to meet their or their family's needs when they face an urgent health care crisis that was missing. This particular spending bill failed to fully fund community health centers, which are also an important entry point for people, working families, moderate income folks, who are struggling, who maybe face sudden sickness and affliction that was not dealt with.

"The Children's Health Insurance Program, which should have been permanently reauthorized was just authorized for a few years. Again, not a serious effort to deal with a program that is important to the American people. We've seen wild fires and hurricanes afflict people in Texas, Florida, the Caribbean in terms of the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as, of course, out in California and most recently mudslides, there was no effort to provide assistance to those people as well. This is why this was inadequate."

The full text of the letter delivered to President Trump is embedded below.

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Dear Mr. President,

As you know, the Republican Congress must pass a funding resolution by January 19 to keep government open. Indeed, as we approach this latest deadline, Congress faces a long list of urgent, overdue priorities for the American people.

With Republicans in control of the House, the Senate and the White House, you do not need Democrats' votes to keep government open. In any upcoming negotiations, however, Democrats will press for the inclusion of the following bipartisan items, among others:

· Preserving the agreement in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that required increased spending to be spread evenly between defense spending and non-defense discretionary accounts which have both been harmed by the ongoing sequester;

· Delivering urgently needed resources for communities fighting the deadly opioid epidemic;

· Rescuing our heroic veterans who are facing a dire shortfall at the VA;

· Protecting Dreamers, whom you have publicly supported, by passing the Dream Act;

· Supporting access to health care by providing critical funding for CHIP and CHCs;

· Preserving Americans' endangered pensions by enacting a responsible reform plan;

· Providing additional disaster recovery funding for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas, Florida, and states impacted by wildfires.

Mr. President, it is clear that your budget priorities and ours are in significant conflict. However, there are many bipartisan priorities that we can swiftly deliver for the good of the American people, in addition to keeping government open without interruption.

If we can't agree, your party has the majority in the House and the Senate to pass your own funding resolution. But that will be a bill we cannot support.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns.

Sincerely,