Congressional Black Caucus Statement on Our Pathway Forward

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

"As we enter the holiday season and take stock of the year behind us, the Congressional Black Caucus is mindful of the real pain and challenges Black families and communities have had to endure-particularly as decisions and policies from the Trump administration have placed added strain on household budgets, health care access, and economic stability.

"Since the beginning of the 119th Congress, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has demonstrated the kind of steady, results-oriented leadership that moves the House forward. By holding firm and refusing to negotiate from a position of weakness, Leader Jeffries secured bi-partisan support for a clean, three-year extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits while keeping the Democratic Caucus unified and focused.

"As we have seen over the past several months, health care affordability remains a vital concern for families across the country. At a time when Republicans have worked to provide tax cuts to billionaires by making the largest cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in history, Leader Jeffries ensured that Democrats remained laser-focused on defending families against these Republican efforts to raise costs and leave our communities without the life-saving health care they need.

"The Congressional Black Caucus applauds Leader Jeffries for his focus and his ability to keep our Democratic Caucus on course. Leading a caucus as diverse as House Democrats is not about responding to every criticism or governing by impulse. It is about maintaining cohesion, protecting shared priorities, and positioning the Caucus to better defend the needs of the American people. Leader Jeffries has done exactly that. He has demonstrated the strategic judgment necessary to advance our work and strengthen our position as we head into 2026.

"As Democrats prepare for the year ahead, the Congressional Black Caucus stands with Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as we know all House Democrats do, in our continued fight for the American people. We must keep our eye on the prize."