Congressional Black Caucus Statement on the House Returning to Session After Historic Trump Shutdown

Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

"Instead of working to address our nation's affordability crisis, bring forward solutions to lower the high cost of living, and protect our nation's health care, Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans remained on paid vacation for 43 days. House Republicans abandoned Washington while their policies made life more difficult and unaffordable for millions of families. Republicans stayed home while essential services stalled in communities, SNAP benefits lapsed for tens of millions of Americans - including children and seniors - and thousands of federal workers were furloughed without pay.

"We are immensely proud that nearly every member of the CBC in the House and Senate strongly opposed the Republican spending bill, which not only fails to address the Republican health care crisis but also makes health care less affordable and more unattainable for millions of Americans.

"Now that the House has returned, the CBC and House Democrats will continue working tirelessly to address our nation's affordability crisis and do all we can to protect health care from Republican spending cuts because the American people deserve better than Republicans' chaos, cruelty, and corruption."