Whip Clark Demands Speaker Johnson Act To Avoid Shutdown, Swear in Rep-Elect Grijalva

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) called on Speaker Mike Johnson to reschedule votes ahead of the impending government shutdown to address the GOP's health care crisis and swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva.

"Democrats will be in Washington, D.C. this week to fund the government in a manner that strengthens the health care of millions of Americans and protects the most vulnerable from harmful cuts to critical services," Whip Clark wrote. "We ask that you reverse your decision to cancel votes on Tuesday, September 30. If you remain unwilling to call the House into session, Representative-elect Grijalva should be sworn in during the pro forma session on Tuesday."

The letter can be seen HERE and below.

* * *

Dear Speaker Johnson,

I write regarding the reckless cancellation of votes on September 29 and 30. By cancelling these critical voting days, you jeopardize the ability to fund the government in a timely manner, and delay the swearing in of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva.

Common practice in the House of Representatives requires that Representatives-elect in special elections in which results are not in doubt be sworn in at the earliest opportunity. In a directly analogous example, Representatives Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis were sworn in less than 24 hours after their election, during a pro forma session, when previously scheduled voting days were canceled.

The people of Arizona's 7th district have been without representation since the untimely death of Representative-elect Grijalva's father. Any delay in swearing in Representative-elect Grijalva unnecessarily deprives her constituents of representation and calls into question if the motive behind the delay is to further avoid the release of the Epstein files.

Democrats will be in Washington, D.C. this week to fund the government in a manner that strengthens the health care of millions of Americans and protects the most vulnerable from harmful cuts to critical services.

We ask that you reverse your decision to cancel votes on Tuesday, September 30. If you remain unwilling to call the House into session, Representative-elect Grijalva should be sworn in during the pro forma session on Tuesday.

# # #