Deluzio, Colleagues Take Over the House Floor to Tell Democratic Party Establishment: Time to “Wake the Hell Up,” Embrace Economic Patriotism and Populism

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This afternoon, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and several Democratic colleagues from across the ideological spectrum took to the floor of the House of Representatives for a critical take on the state of the Democratic Party and where it should go from here.

Deluzio and colleagues argued that the party has lost its way and that bold economic patriotism and populism should be where the party goes-that it's imperative to fight for hardworking people and to revive the American Dream. In a variety of speeches, they argued that Democrats should be fighting hard against corruption, giant corporations, and anyone else that has made life such a ripoff. The members also shared powerful examples of how they are fighting against corporate power, corruption, monopolies in their districts-and how this approach is working.

"Too many in the Democratic Party have lost their way, and it is time to wake the hell up," said Congressman Chris Deluzio. "This Administration is wreaking havoc on this country of ours, and our party has not offered a strong enough alternative. Well today we offer ours: Democrats need a fighting spirit of patriotic economic populism. We need this patriotism to be at the heart of our fight against corruption and anyone else who has wrecked the American Dream for our people. This embrace of economic patriotism might sound and look different depending on where in this country and who the messenger is-but we agree that the era of a spineless Democratic party must end. Now is not the time for wimpy concessions and call it a win-win: not when the American Dream has died for so many. The cost of our party abandoning its working-class roots and allowing someone else to fake economic populism and win power is real and dangerous-we're living this right now. We have to go to the mat for an economy that works for people who work hard and play by the rules."

Congressman Deluzio was joined by: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17), Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18), Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35), and Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04).

A clip of Congressman Deluzio's opening remarks is available here. A full recording of the Special Order Hour is available here.

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