Schakowsky Statement on Voting Against Republicans’ Hostage Taking
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip, Senior Budget Committee Member, and Executive Board Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023:
“Tonight, I voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. But, let me be clear, if my vote was needed to prevent a catastrophic debt default, I certainly would have voted for the agreement. I just simply could not condone Kevin McCarthy and the Republicans holding the American people hostage. They manufactured an economic crisis and threatened to send the world economy into a tailspin in order to enact cruel budget cuts that would harm veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and millions of others.
“President Biden and his negotiating team did the best they could in the midst of a hostage situation. Thanks to the president’s leadership, the Republicans were unable to make cuts to crucial programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. President Biden was able to protect his landmark pieces of legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, including the bill's historic climate provisions, the Infrastructure Law, and the Chips and Science Act. The deal will also expand exemptions for veterans, people who are homeless, and former foster youth who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
"But there are many provisions Republicans included in the bill that I am vehemently opposed to. New SNAP work requirements will be phased in for older adults without children. Republicans bulldozed local interests to give the Mountain Valley Pipeline expedited permitting. Funding for the Internal Revenue Service will be slashed, limiting our ability to go after wealthy tax cheats and frauds. And our already excessive defense spending will significantly outpace domestic spending that directly helps American families.
“If Republicans were serious about reducing the debt and deficit, during negotiations, they would have agreed to President Biden’s proposed taxes on millionaires, billionaires, and large corporations.
“Dating back to last fall, I have called for the House to raise the debt ceiling, and for years, I have called for the debt ceiling to be eliminated. Further, earlier this month, I joined all my Democratic colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force a vote on a clean debt ceiling. All it would have taken was five reasonable Republicans to join with the Democrats to prioritize vulnerable communities and the global economy. It did not have to come to this.
“Congress should never be forced to decide between paying our bills or devastating Americans in need of assistance. My constituents and the American people deserve better. When Democrats are in control of Congress following the 2024 elections, we must take the steps necessary to ensure this does not happen again.”
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