ICYMI – New Dem Chair Schneider Sends a Message to the American People: “We’re Here Fighting for You”
“I am proud to stand here today alongside my fellow Caucus Chairs sending a message. First, to the American people: we're here fighting for you. And second, for my Republican colleagues: Democrats are here ready to work, while you're all taking an extended vacation.”
Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider delivered remarks at a press conference alongside his fellow House Democratic Caucus Chairs – including the Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Democratic Women's Coalition (DWC), Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC).
You can read a transcript of his full remarks below:
New Dem Chair Brad Schneider
Let me start by saying I am proud to be part of a Democratic Caucus, 217 strong, who are here in Washington today to work for the American people. And I am proud to Chair the New Democrat Coalition – 116 of those 217 Democrats are members of the New Democrat Coalition, here to work on behalf of the American people.
Now, everything that has been said needed to be said, and I'm going to say much of again, because it needs to be repeated again and again.
The President and Republicans are trying to divide us. We will not be divided. They're trying to scare us. We will not be bowed.
We have a dual crisis. The cost of living for Americans is too high in a country that's the richest country in the world – we need to fix that. And health care is out of reach for too many Americans – we need to fix that. And that's why we're here.
I am proud to stand here today alongside my fellow Caucus Chairs sending a message. First, to the American people: we're here fighting for you. And second, for my Republican colleagues: Democrats are here ready to work, while you're all taking an extended vacation.
We're here to protect Americans’ health care and improve their lives. We're here to keep the government open. Democrats are on duty. Republicans are missing in action.
We are 12 hours – 12 hours – away from a shutdown. Let me repeat, the Democrats are on duty while the Republicans are missing in action. Our Republican colleagues have a choice: work with us in good faith to put forward a bipartisan budget that meets the needs of the American people, who are currently facing rising prices from Trump's tariff taxes and threats to their health care coverage from Republican cuts. Or, go it alone, and guarantee a shutdown. A Republican shutdown that will cause even more pain for the American people.
We're here to find common ground and work together for Americans, for the American people. We're here fighting for health care and to make living more affordable. But the Republicans are gone, and their “clean CR” is anything but.
There is nothing clean about a bill that cuts a trillion dollars from Medicaid and $500 billion – half a trillion dollars – from Medicare, the biggest cuts to Americans’ health care in American history.
There's nothing clean about a CR that takes meals away from school kids trying to learn the lessons they need to succeed in the 21st Century.
There is nothing clean about a CR that forces Americans to pay more for health care, or worse, makes health care completely out of reach.
And there's nothing clean about a bill that allows President Trump and Russ Vought to continue to deny funds for pediatric cancer and other critical health care needs, or hold law enforcement hostage for months on end.
The stakes could not be higher. Fifteen million Americans will be kicked off their health care. Medicaid will be cut by a staggering $1 trillion in Medicare by another $500 billion. Millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act will be pushed into debt or priced out of health care altogether.
We face a dual crisis. Costs are too high and health care is unaffordable. Democrats are fighting to lower costs and protect Americans' health care. We're here. We're here now. We are here ready. We're here to work. But the Republicans are nowhere to be found.
Our Republican colleagues need to put the American people above their own extreme agenda and come back to DC, and work with the Democrats to get things done – to keep the government open for the American people. Thank you.
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