LEADER JEFFRIES: “DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICAN POLICIES ARE MAKING LIFE TOO EXPENSIVE”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability, where he emphasized that while Republicans are nowhere to be found as inflation and costs continue to skyrocket, Democrats are ready, willing and able to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that lowers healthcare costs and ends the Trump-Republican shutdown.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Today's inflation numbers of 3% year over year confirm what hardworking American taxpayers already know, that Donald Trump and Republican policies are making life too expensive in the United States of America. Donald Trump and Republicans promised that costs would go down on day one, but costs haven't gone down in the United States of America. Costs are going up. Inflation is up-the highest number since January of this year. Housing costs are too high. Grocery costs are too high. Electricity bills are through the roof. And now, because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are receiving notices right now that their healthcare premiums are about to skyrocket. In some instances, everyday Americans are going to pay $1,000 or $2,000 more per month. That is unsustainable in an environment where people are already struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. Can't thrive, and can barely survive.

We need House Republicans to come back to Washington, D.C. End your four-week vacation. Enough already. We as Democrats, House Democrats, Senate Democrats, are ready to sit down anytime, anyplace, with anyone here at the Capitol or over at the White House to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, reopen the government so we can pay our hardworking federal employees, while at the same time, we need to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. It's crushing people all across the country. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are nowhere to be found, have zero interest in actually addressing this issue. That's a shame.

Full press availability can be watched here.

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