Scanlon Statement on the Republican Government Shutdown

Scanlon Statement on the Republican Government Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today released the following statement after President Trump and House Republicans shut down the government instead of working with Democrats to protect Americans' health care.

"Let me be very clear: The federal government officially ran out of funding at midnight - after Republicans in Congress canceled votes and went on vacation, rather than do their jobs.

"My House Democratic colleagues and I are in Washington, ready to do the people's business, but Republicans are nowhere to be found. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. Instead of working together to keep the government open and address the health care crisis facing Americans, Donald Trump and Republicans decided they would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to stop a health care crisis of Republicans own making.

"Democrats have been clear for months: We want to keep the government open while addressing the Republican health care crisis and lowering health care costs for America's working families.

"If Congress does not extend health care tax credits immediately, hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their health care, and millions more will see their costs skyrocket. In PA-05, that means 24,000 people will see their costs rise dramatically. For a family of four earning $64,000 a year, premiums would increase by $2,571, or 327%.

"Republicans were only too eager to use partisan legislation to extend tax cuts for their billionaire buddies this summer, while enacting devastating cuts to Medicaid. But thus far, they have refused to extend the tax credits that working class Americans rely upon to afford health insurance. Democrats understand the importance of ensuring that Americans have access to affordable health care for their families and are committed to addressing the health care crisis that the Trump White House and Republicans have created for millions of Americans.

"This is a crisis that cannot wait for a solution. Americans have already started receiving notices about skyrocketing health costs and are even now deciding whether they can afford to keep their health coverage. Why don't Republicans understand the urgency to lower health care costs for middle class families, small business owners, veterans, and children with disabilities?

"My office will remain open and working hard to help constituents navigate this shutdown. Unfortunately, the shutdown means that many federal agencies will be even more severely understaffed and unable to promptly address people's needs, but we will do everything we can to support our constituents.

"It will take a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government and lower health care costs. That's how the American people expect our government to work - not by holding federal workers and the American people hostage. Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans need to come to the table and get to work so that we can reopen the government and save Americans' health care."

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