09/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2026 11:13
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability with Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that ahead of the midterm elections, House Democrats are committed to lowering the high cost of living, making healthcare affordable and holding the crooks accountable who have been ripping off the American people.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump and Republicans promised a Golden Age in America. They've failed. They've delivered a Rotten Age. The economy is not going in the right direction. It is failing everyday Americans. Gas prices are up, grocery prices are up, interest rates are up, housing costs are up and health insurance premiums are up. The cost of living is out of control. America is way too expensive. Far too many people-millions of everyday Americans-they're working hard, they're playing by the rules, but they can't thrive and they can barely survive.
The American people have had enough of Donald Trump and the failed Republican economy. And as House Democrats, we'll continue to make clear that we're fighting for an affordable America and we're committed to bringing down the high price of groceries, bringing down the high price of gas, bringing down the high price of housing, making healthcare affordable for every single American and at the same time, making it clear that there's a cost to the American people of the out-of-control corruption that has been visited upon them by Donald Trump and MAGA extremists. Which is why our commitment to the American people, when it comes to corruption, is that if folks have been stealing from the American people, shortchanging the American people or screwing over the American people, we're going to hold the crooks accountable beginning on day one.
What are Republicans doing in the face of the failed economy and the cost-of-living crisis and the fact that we have an existential situation that has to be dealt with with respect to AI safety? What are Republicans doing? They're running away from their responsibilities here on Capitol Hill, and they're running away from their constituents at home because they've been ordered by Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise not to hold any town hall meetings, not to engage with their constituents. They continue to, at best, bury their heads in the sand while Rome is burning. That's a disgrace. And that's why I believe the American people are going to fire them in November.
Full press availability can be watched here.