LEADER JEFFRIES: “THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND THE RESULTS LAST NIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference alongside Members of House Democratic leadership, where they reiterated that as Republicans continue to break every promise made, Democrats remain united and ready to find a bipartisan agreement to end the Trump-Republican shutdown and protect the healthcare and nutritional assistance of the American people.

LEADER JEFFRIES: It's an honor to be joined today by Whip Katherine Clark, Chair Pete Aguilar, we've got Steering and Policy Co-Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Co-Chair Lauren Underwood and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. Last night was a big night for the American people and, of course, a big night for the Democratic Party and our candidates who were successful all across the country in making it clear to the American people that we're going to fight to lower the high cost of living, to stand up for them, improve their quality of life, address the Republican healthcare crisis and push back against the extremism that is being unleashed with record speed on the American people. It's clear that last night was also a decisive repudiation of Donald Trump and failed Republican policies. America is too expensive. The cost of living is way too high. Donald Trump and Republicans promised that they would lower costs on day one. Costs aren't going down. They are going up. Inflation is going up. Housing costs out of control. Grocery costs out of control. Child care costs out of control. Electricity prices through the roof. And now that we are in day 36 of the Trump-Republican shutdown, it's clear that because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are about to dramatically experience increases in their premiums, co-pays and deductibles, which will make it unaffordable for them, their children and their families to go see a doctor when they need one.

House Democrats are going to continue to stand on the side of the American people in fighting to lower the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system that Republicans are decimating and clean up corruption so we can deliver a country that actually works for working-class Americans, for middle-class Americans and for everyday Americans. Our position as House Democrats, working closely with our friends and colleagues on the other side of the Capitol Senate Democrats, remains the same. Earlier today, Leader Schumer and I demanded a meeting with Donald Trump. He needs to get off the sidelines and get in the game because until he does, this government will remain shut down. Mike Johnson and John Thune have zero authority to act on their own. And over the last 36 days, Donald Trump has been too busy throwing parties designed to elevate the lifestyles of the rich and shameless. He's been too busy on the golf course. He's been too busy destroying half the White House. And he's been too busy finding $40 billion for the people of Argentina. And yet can't find a dime to prevent children in this country from going hungry. The American people have had enough, and the results last night across the country have made that clear.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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