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  • 7/3/2025
During his marathon floor speech against the Big Beautiful Bill, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) used statements from Republicans
Transcript
00:00I'm confused, Mr. Speaker, by the statement that was made by the former Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell,
00:12who, when talking about the Medicaid cuts that millions of Americans have been reaching out to us,
00:24pouring into us their heartfelt concerns at the devastating impact that these Medicaid cuts will have on their health, their safety, and their well-being.
00:42I'm confused, Mr. Speaker, by the statement that Mitch McConnell made.
00:46He said, people will get over it.
00:48No Mitch, the American people will not get over it, but they will get even next November.
01:02That's what's going to happen because of these cuts being unleashed on the American people.
01:10I'm confused, perplexed, astonished, flummoxed.
01:18By some of these statements, this one is a beauty in the great state of Iowa.
01:32Senator Joni Ernst, she showed up at a town hall meeting in Iowa.
01:42First of all, I'll give her credit for showing up at a town hall meeting because House Republicans were instructed not to show up at town hall meetings.
01:51So she shows up, Mr. Speaker, at a town hall meeting, is questioned about the fact that health care in America,
02:05that the Medicaid is a question of life or death.
02:15And when asked by one of her constituents
02:18about the concern that was had,
02:26the fact that people will die as a result of the devastating cuts to Medicaid and health care
02:38that are in Donald Trump's one big, ugly bill.
02:44Senator Ernst says,
02:46Yes, we're all going to die anyway.
02:56Yes, Joni.
02:59The American people understand
03:01that at some point, all of us
03:06will transition.
03:09But the American people
03:14do not deserve
03:18to die
03:19as a result of the Republican
03:23cruelty that is in
03:25this legislation.
03:29Do not deserve to die
03:31as a result
03:32of the cruelty
03:34that is embedded, Mr. Speaker,
03:38in this legislation.
03:42Ending Medicaid
03:43as we know it,
03:44the largest cut
03:45to Medicaid
03:46in American history.
03:55And as a result
03:55of this all-out assault
03:57on health care
04:02in America.
04:04And Mr. Speaker,
04:06there are 220 Republicans
04:08who I serve with
04:09in this Congress
04:10and
04:10I wish I had time
04:15to go through the impact
04:18in all 220 districts.
04:26Actually,
04:27since I have unlimited time,
04:28maybe I do.
04:34But, Mr. Speaker,
04:37I figured that,
04:38you know,
04:38I'll start in my home state
04:40of New York.
04:45Mr. Speaker,
04:47in New York's
04:48first congressional district,
04:50represented by our colleague,
04:51Congressman Nick LaLoda,
04:55approximately 50,000
04:57New Yorkers
05:00will lose their health care.
05:08In New York's
05:1224th congressional district,
05:15Mr. Speaker,
05:16represented by our colleague,
05:19Congresswoman Claudia Tenney,
05:21over 30,000 New Yorkers
05:23will lose their health care.
05:24in parts of western New York
05:32and upstate
05:32district.
05:38New York 23,
05:40currently represented by
05:41Congressman Nick Langworthy,
05:44approximately 35,000
05:47New Yorkers
05:49will lose
05:52their health care
05:55as a result of Trump's
05:57one big ugly bill.
06:04In New York
06:0517,
06:09currently represented by
06:11Congressman Mike Lawler,
06:12more than 30,000
06:16New Yorkers
06:16will lose
06:17their health care.
06:22In New York 21,
06:23the North Country,
06:30represented by
06:31Congresswoman
06:31Elise Stefanik.
06:37Welcome back to Congress.
06:39I'm sorry it did not
06:40work out for you.
06:42That's a lesson
06:44that should be learned
06:48by all those
06:50who pledge fealty
06:51to the wannabe king.
06:53That's right.
06:53That's right.
06:54That's right.
06:55That's right.
06:56But I digress.
06:58That's a boy.
06:59That's okay.
07:00You're a good guy.
07:03New York's
07:0321st congressional district,
07:05currently represented
07:06by Congresswoman
07:07Elise Stefanik,
07:08approximately 44,000
07:12New Yorkers
07:13will lose
07:14their health care.
07:22In Long Island,
07:26Suffolk County,
07:27part of Long Island,
07:28currently represented
07:29in Nassau County
07:30by two amazing colleagues,
07:31Tom Swasey
07:32and Laura Gillen.
07:33But in Suffolk County,
07:38New York's
07:412nd congressional district,
07:42currently represented
07:43by Congressman Andrew Garbarino,
07:4848,000 New Yorkers
07:52will lose their health care.
07:53in Suffolk County,
08:00in New York's
08:012nd congressional district,
08:02as a result of Trump's
08:04one big ugly bill.
08:11And in the 11th congressional district,
08:14a district that includes
08:15all of Staten Island,
08:20a district,
08:23Mr. Speaker,
08:23currently represented
08:24by Congresswoman
08:25Nicole Maliotakis,
08:28more than 50,000
08:33New Yorkers
08:35will lose
08:35their health care
08:36as a result
08:40of Donald Trump's
08:41one big ugly bill
08:43on Staten Island
08:45and in New York's
08:4711th congressional district.
08:48I don't think
08:49the Wu-Tang Klan
08:51would approve of that.
08:57It's incredible to me.
09:01In district after district
09:03after district,
09:06Mr. Speaker,
09:07represented by
09:08my Republican colleagues,
09:13so many Americans
09:17will stand to lose
09:18their health care
09:19as a result of
09:23Donald Trump's
09:24one big ugly bill.
09:27Now, this is not just
09:28a Democratic perspective.
09:31We stand by that perspective.
09:35We'll continue
09:35to articulate that view
09:37and forcefully
09:40defend the health care
09:43of the American people,
09:44but it's not just
09:44a Democratic perspective.
09:48And so I thought
09:49that it was important
09:50that we enter
09:53into the record
09:53some of the words,
09:57Mr. Speaker,
09:58of members of
10:01the House Republican
10:02Conference
10:03who wrote directly
10:07to you,
10:08Mr. Speaker,
10:08in their own words,
10:13talking about
10:16the challenges
10:19of this
10:20one big ugly bill.
10:22February 19th
10:26of this year
10:26in a letter
10:30written to
10:32the Honorable Mike Johnson,
10:34Speaker of the United States
10:35House of Representatives,
10:37the subject line was
10:39protecting American
10:42communities
10:44in the budget
10:45reconciliation process.
10:46for all of the
10:50American people
10:51who may be watching
10:51the floor
10:52of the House
10:52of Representatives
10:53right now,
10:53that's the process
10:54that we're in.
10:57It's one big ugly bill.
11:00Mr. Speaker,
11:01Republicans chose
11:02to go down this road
11:03because Republicans
11:06are uninterested
11:07in actually trying
11:07to find bipartisan solutions
11:09to solving problems
11:12on behalf
11:13of the American people.
11:14And so we're in this
11:16budget reconciliation process
11:18that can avoid
11:20the filibuster
11:21in the United States Senate
11:22and Republicans,
11:25Mr. Speaker,
11:26have been uninterested
11:26in trying to actually
11:29find bipartisan
11:30common ground.
11:31We're the party
11:31of common sense.
11:34Let's be clear about that.
11:35I'm going to be spending
11:36some time on the road
11:37talking about
11:38what common sense
11:39really is all about.
11:41Common sense certainly
11:42is not taking
11:43health care away
11:44from the American people.
11:49And so in this letter
11:50on February 19th,
11:51and I got a lot of
11:53statements that have been
11:55entered into the record,
11:58but I figured we'd start
12:00with this one.
12:01February 19th,
12:04dear Speaker Johnson,
12:05as members of the
12:06Congressional Hispanic Conference,
12:09that's different
12:10than the Congressional
12:11Hispanic Caucus.
12:14The Congressional
12:15Hispanic Caucus
12:16right now
12:18is fighting hard
12:20on behalf
12:21of the health care
12:22of the American people
12:23on the Democratic side.
12:25That's the,
12:27call that the real CHC.
12:31The Congressional
12:32Hispanic Caucus
12:33is fighting hard
12:36on behalf of the American people.
12:39But this is a letter
12:41as members
12:43of the Congressional
12:43Hispanic Conference.
12:46Mr. Speaker,
12:47as you know,
12:48these are Republicans
12:48here in the House
12:51of Representatives
12:52and those who represent
12:55sizable Hispanic
12:56populations.
12:57We are writing
13:00to express
13:01our concerns
13:02regarding possible
13:03funding decisions
13:04stemming from
13:07the House Budget Resolutions
13:09Committee instructions
13:10advanced
13:11on February 13th,
13:132025.
13:14Those budget
13:15instructions
13:16by
13:17the way
13:19were what set
13:20this whole toxic process
13:22in motion.
13:23that has resulted
13:26in this moment
13:27that we find
13:28ourselves in
13:29right now
13:29on the floor
13:29of the House
13:30of Representatives
13:30connected to this
13:32one big ugly bill.
13:36And
13:36in this letter
13:39it says that
13:44while we fully
13:45support efforts
13:46to rein in
13:47wasteful spending
13:48and deliver
13:50on President
13:51Trump's
13:52agenda,
13:53let me park
13:54right there
13:54parenthetically
13:55for a moment.
13:57Nothing in this
13:58bill is about
13:59waste,
14:00fraud,
14:00and abuse.
14:01Nothing
14:02is doing
14:04anything
14:04meaningful
14:06about waste,
14:08fraud,
14:08and abuse.
14:10The letter
14:10continues,
14:11it is imperative
14:12that we do
14:13not slash
14:14programs
14:14that support
14:15American
14:16communities.
14:16across our
14:19nation.
14:24It then
14:25goes on to
14:25say
14:26that the
14:29House
14:29budget
14:29resolution
14:30proposed
14:34$880
14:38billion
14:39and cuts
14:42to programs
14:43under the
14:43jurisdiction
14:44of the
14:47House
14:47Committee
14:47on
14:48Energy
14:48and
14:50Commerce.
14:53With
14:54Medicaid
14:54expected to
14:55bear the
14:55brunt of
14:56these
14:56reductions.
14:58Their
14:59words,
14:59not our
15:00words.
15:03Nearly
15:0330% of
15:04Medicaid
15:04enrollees
15:05are Hispanic
15:06Americans,
15:06and for
15:07many families
15:08across the
15:09country,
15:09Medicaid
15:10is their
15:13only access
15:13to health
15:14care.
15:16Slashing
15:17Medicaid
15:17would have
15:18serious
15:18consequences,
15:20particularly
15:21in rural
15:22and predominantly
15:23Hispanic
15:24communities,
15:25where
15:27hospitals
15:28and nursing
15:29homes
15:29are already
15:31struggling
15:32to keep
15:32their doors
15:33open.
15:34Mr. Speaker,
15:38these are
15:38members of
15:39the House
15:39Republican
15:40Conference
15:41warning
15:42about the
15:45devastating
15:45impacts
15:46of this
15:47one
15:48big
15:49ugly
15:49bill.
15:53It goes
15:54on to
15:54say
15:54that the
15:58House
15:58Committee
15:58on Education
15:59and the
16:00Workforce
16:00has been
16:00tasked
16:01with
16:01cutting
16:01$330
16:02billion
16:03where
16:07federal
16:07aid
16:07for
16:07higher
16:08education
16:09such as
16:09Pell
16:09grants
16:10may be
16:13a target
16:14for
16:14reductions.
16:16Once again,
16:17let me
16:17park
16:18right there
16:19parenthetically
16:20to make
16:20the observation
16:21this bill
16:22also
16:22assaults
16:23higher
16:24education
16:24in the
16:26United
16:26States
16:27of America.
16:27That's
16:28a disgrace.
16:30And
16:30Mr. Speaker,
16:31members of
16:33the House
16:33Republican
16:34Conference
16:35predicted
16:35that that
16:36would
16:36occur.
16:38Their
16:38words,
16:39not our
16:40words.
16:43House
16:44Committee
16:44on Education
16:45and the
16:45Workforce
16:45has been
16:45tasked
16:46with
16:46cutting
16:46$330
16:47billion
16:47where
16:48federal
16:48aid
16:48for
16:48higher
16:49education
16:49such as
16:49Pell
16:50grants
16:50may be
16:51a target
16:52for
16:52reductions.
16:55Hispanic
16:56students
16:56make up
16:56a significant
16:57share of
16:58Pell
16:58grant
16:59recipients
16:59many of
17:01whom
17:01are
17:01first
17:02generation
17:02college
17:03students
17:03striving
17:05for
17:06a better
17:06future
17:07for
17:07themselves
17:07their
17:08families
17:08and
17:08our
17:09nation
17:09if
17:14we
17:14are
17:14serious
17:15about
17:15empowering
17:16the
17:17next
17:17generation
17:18and
17:18strengthening
17:19our
17:20workforce
17:20we
17:23must
17:23facilitate
17:23and not
17:24undermine
17:25opportunities
17:28that
17:29help
17:29students
17:30succeed
17:31finally
17:34the
17:35House
17:35Committee
17:35on
17:35Agriculture
17:36has
17:39been
17:39directed
17:39to
17:40cut
17:40$230
17:41billion
17:41dollars
17:42and
17:46then
17:46Mr.
17:47Speaker
17:47our
17:47Republican
17:47colleagues
17:48go on
17:48to write
17:49while we
17:49fully
17:49support
17:50efforts
17:50to
17:50eliminate
17:51fraud
17:52waste
17:52and
17:52abuse
17:53by the
17:53way
17:53that's
17:54all
17:54fake
17:54we
17:56support
17:56a
17:57federal
17:57government
17:58that's
17:58effective
17:59that's
17:59efficient
18:00that's
18:00equitable
18:00that
18:02eliminates
18:03waste
18:03fraud
18:03and
18:03abuse
18:04that's
18:04not
18:04what
18:04this
18:04bill
18:05is
18:05all
18:05about
18:05but
18:08it
18:08goes
18:08on
18:08to
18:08say
18:08while
18:13we
18:13fully
18:13support
18:13efforts
18:14to
18:14eliminate
18:14fraud
18:15waste
18:15and
18:15abuse
18:16we
18:19must
18:19ensure
18:19that
18:19assistance
18:20programs
18:20such
18:21as
18:21SNAP
18:21remain
18:24protected
18:25I
18:28mean
18:28I'm
18:28just
18:29confused
18:29remain
18:32protected
18:32as
18:35nearly
18:3522%
18:36of
18:37Hispanic
18:37families
18:38rely
18:39on this
18:40critical
18:40program
18:41as a
18:44temporary
18:44safety net
18:45during
18:46difficult
18:46times
18:47and
18:51then
18:51this
18:51letter
18:52concludes
18:53written
18:56to
18:56you
18:56Mr.
18:56Speaker
18:57by the
19:00Congressional
19:00Hispanic
19:01Conference
19:01Hispanic
19:04Americans
19:04are the
19:05future
19:05of the
19:05Republican
19:06Party
19:06I'll
19:11reserve
19:12judgment
19:12on that
19:12statement
19:13House
19:16Democrats
19:16we're going
19:17to fight
19:17for every
19:17single
19:18community
19:18in the
19:20United
19:20States
19:20of
19:20America
19:21including
19:21the
19:21Hispanic
19:22community
19:22every
19:24single
19:24community
19:25we want
19:26every
19:27single
19:27community
19:27to
19:28experience
19:28the
19:29good
19:29life
19:30to
19:30afford
19:30to be
19:31able
19:31to
19:31live
19:32the
19:32good
19:32life
19:32that's
19:33what
19:33we
19:33want
19:33for
19:35every
19:36single
19:36community
19:36good
19:36paying
19:37job
19:37good
19:39housing
19:39good
19:39health
19:40care
19:40good
19:41education
19:42for
19:42your
19:42children
19:43and a
19:44good
19:44retirement
19:44that's
19:45what
19:45we
19:46want
19:46for
19:48every
19:49community
19:50but the
19:52Congressional
19:53Hispanic
19:53Conference
19:54they write
19:54in closing
19:55to you
19:55Mr.
19:56Speaker
19:56that these
20:00Hispanic
20:01Americans
20:01are closely
20:02watching to
20:02see if we
20:03will govern
20:04in a way
20:04that honors
20:05their values
20:06and delivers
20:07results
20:07just to
20:17make sure
20:18that
20:18appropriate
20:22authorship
20:23is
20:23conferred
20:24I'm going
20:29to enter
20:29the names
20:30of the
20:31signatories
20:32to this
20:33extraordinary
20:35letter
20:36Mr.
20:39Speaker
20:39Tony
20:40Gonzalez
20:40Nicole
20:43Maliatakis
20:44Monica
20:47De La Cruz
20:48David
20:52Valadeo
20:52who represents
20:55more Medicaid
20:55recipients than
20:56any other member
20:57of Congress
20:58Juan
21:02Siskamani
21:03Rob
21:08Bresnahan
21:09what a beauty
21:11James
21:15Moylan
21:15Kimberlin
21:18King
21:19Hines
21:20they all
21:22signed
21:22this letter
21:25and the
21:29question
21:29that many
21:29Americans
21:30have to ask
21:31right now
21:31is that
21:34after
21:34signing a
21:37letter
21:37indicating
21:39your
21:41commitment
21:41Mr.
21:42Speaker
21:42to
21:44protecting
21:45Medicaid
21:46and SNAP
21:47and access
21:49to affordable
21:50higher education
21:52through Pell
21:53grants
21:54how is it
21:56possible that
21:57Mr.
21:58Speaker
21:58some of our
21:59Republican
21:59colleagues
22:00will turn
22:00around
22:01and devastate
22:02Medicaid
22:02devastate
22:04supplemental
22:05nutritional
22:05assistance
22:06and devastate
22:09the ability
22:10of Hispanic
22:11communities
22:12to achieve
22:12the type
22:13of upward
22:13mobility
22:14in part
22:15through higher
22:16education
22:17that is
22:17talked about
22:18in this
22:21letter
22:21that letter
22:24was written
22:25in February
22:25and then
22:29we go to
22:29March
22:30can I
22:32talk about
22:33it
22:33I
22:37mentioned
22:41Mr.
22:41Speaker
22:42I'm here
22:42to take
22:43my sweet
22:44time
22:45on behalf
22:46of the
22:47American
22:47people
22:47and so
22:54on March
22:559th
22:56there's a
22:57letter
22:57that's
22:58written
22:58to
22:59Ways and
23:02Means
23:02Chairman
23:02Jason
23:03Smith
23:03Mr.
23:04Speaker
23:04by my
23:08count
23:0821 Republicans
23:12signed this
23:13letter
23:13and it's
23:17about the
23:17importance
23:18of the
23:20clean energy
23:20economy
23:21in the
23:21United
23:22States
23:22of America
23:22I would
23:25assume
23:26based on
23:26this
23:26letter
23:26that
23:27all of
23:28the
23:28signatories
23:29to this
23:30particular
23:30piece of
23:31correspondence
23:31are now
23:34horrified by
23:35the attack
23:36on clean
23:38energy
23:39on clean
23:40energy jobs
23:41and the
23:41clean energy
23:42economy
23:42in this
23:46one big
23:47ugly bill
23:47but we'll
23:50see shortly
23:50because everyone
23:51is going to
23:51have to go
23:52on record
23:52but in
23:55this
23:55particular
23:56letter
23:56written
23:59on March
23:599th
24:01Mr.
24:04Speaker
24:0421 members
24:05of the
24:05House
24:05Republican
24:05Conference
24:06write to
24:09Chairman
24:12Jason
24:12Smith
24:13countless
24:16American
24:16companies
24:17are
24:17utilizing
24:18sector
24:18wide
24:19energy
24:21tax credits
24:22many of
24:25which have
24:25enjoyed
24:26broad
24:27support
24:27in
24:30Congress
24:30to make
24:32major
24:33investments
24:33in domestic
24:34energy
24:34production
24:35and
24:35infrastructure
24:35for
24:38traditional
24:39and
24:39renewable
24:39energy
24:40sources
24:40alike
24:41both
24:43our
24:43constituencies
24:45and the
24:45energy
24:47industry
24:48alike
24:48remain
24:49concerned
24:50about
24:51disruptive
24:52changes
24:52to our
24:53nation's
24:54energy
24:56tax
24:56structure
24:56with all
25:00this
25:01in mind
25:02the letter
25:02continues
25:04toward the
25:06end
25:06we request
25:10that any
25:11proposed
25:11changes
25:11to the
25:12tax
25:12code
25:13be
25:16conducted
25:16in a
25:16targeted
25:17and pragmatic
25:18fashion
25:20that
25:22promotes
25:22conference
25:24priorities
25:25without
25:26undoing
25:27current
25:28and future
25:30private sector
25:31investments
25:31which will
25:35continue
25:35to increase
25:37domestic
25:37manufacturing
25:38promote
25:39energy
25:40innovation
25:40and keep
25:41utility
25:41costs
25:42down
25:42I mean
25:45the language
25:46that was
25:46chosen
25:46there
25:47is
25:47pretty
25:47interesting
25:48but the
25:49translation
25:49is
25:50protect
25:50the
25:51clean
25:51energy
25:52economy
25:52that's
25:55what this
25:55letter
25:55was all
25:56about
25:56written
26:00by
26:01by my
26:03count
26:0321
26:04house
26:06republicans
26:07mr.
26:09speaker
26:09andrew
26:10r.
26:11garbarino
26:12jennifer
26:15kiggins
26:16juan
26:17siscomani
26:17gave
26:19evans
26:20david
26:21valadeo
26:21what a
26:23prolific
26:24writer
26:24mark
26:32amadai
26:33michael
26:34lawler
26:34young
26:34kim
26:35don
26:35bacon
26:36vince
26:38fong
26:38jeff
26:40hurd
26:40tom
26:41h
26:41kane
26:42jr
26:42nick
26:44lalota
26:45john
26:47james
26:48ryan
26:48mckenzie
26:49rob
26:49bresnahan
26:50marionette
26:52j
26:53miller
26:53meeks
26:54earl
26:56l
26:58buddy
26:58carter
26:59dan
27:01newhouse
27:01eric
27:03hoshin
27:03and david
27:04p
27:04joyce
27:04all
27:07writing
27:08in
27:10support
27:11of a
27:12clean
27:13energy
27:13economy
27:13we as
27:14house
27:14democrats
27:15we support
27:16we know
27:17that there's
27:17an all of
27:17above
27:18approach
27:18that is
27:19underway
27:19right now
27:20but we
27:20support
27:21wind
27:22and solar
27:22energy
27:25renewable
27:26energy
27:26because
27:27renewable
27:28energy
27:28is
27:29cheaper
27:29energy
27:30and cheaper
27:31energy
27:31means
27:32reducing
27:33the high
27:34cost of
27:34living
27:34for everyday
27:36americans
27:36that's what
27:37we as
27:38house
27:38democrats
27:39support
27:40and yet
27:44i'm perplexed
27:45because this
27:45letter was
27:46written
27:46but the
27:50one big
27:50ugly bill
27:51represents
27:52an extraordinary
27:52and unprecedented
27:54assault
27:55on clean
27:58energy
27:58and cheaper
27:59energy
27:59in the
28:02united
28:02states
28:03of
28:03america
28:03mr speaker
28:06i asked
28:06the question
28:07what are
28:07those 21
28:08republicans
28:08going to
28:09do
28:09when it
28:10comes to
28:10voting
28:11for this
28:11one big
28:12ugly
28:12bill
28:12and then
28:18we've
28:23got
28:23another
28:26letter
28:26in april
28:27so we've
28:28got a
28:28february
28:28letter
28:29march
28:31letter
28:31an april
28:35letter
28:35quite elegant
28:39with these
28:40letters
28:40april 14th
28:442025
28:45this is
28:46correspondence
28:48written
28:48written by
28:4913
28:52house
28:55republicans
28:56mr speaker
28:56written to
28:59you and
29:00steve
29:01scalese
29:02majority leader
29:06written to
29:07tom emmer
29:07majority whip
29:11and written to
29:12brent guthrie
29:13brent guthrie the chairman of the energy and commerce committee
29:18says as members of congress who helped deliver a republican majority
29:25many of us
29:30representing districts with high rates of constituents who depend on medicaid
29:36we would like to reiterate
29:38we would like to reiterate
29:40our strong support for this program
29:45by the way a program that the one big ugly bill now will cut and devastate gut
29:53mr speaker
29:55mr speaker
29:56by almost a trillion dollars
29:59in this letter
30:0413 republicans say we would like to reiterate our strong support for this program
30:10that ensures our constituents have reliable health care
30:16balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits
30:26for their health and economic security
30:31mr speaker
30:33that's their words not our words
30:38and then this bill
30:45makes an extraordinary
30:51declaration
30:54i think it's important for us to understand
30:59who led this bill
31:03david valadeo
31:07these are just facts mr speaker
31:13publicly issued letters
31:17david valadeo
31:20don bacon
31:21jeff van drew
31:23rob bresnahan
31:26juan ciscamani
31:31jen kiggins
31:32young kim
31:33the usual suspects
31:34robert j whitman
31:39nicole maliotakis
31:42nick lalota
31:43andrew r garbarino
31:46jeff hurd
31:48and michael v lawler
31:49by my count
31:5213
31:5413
31:54members
31:57and
32:01in some of the relevant portions of this letter
32:04it says to strengthen medicaid
32:05we urge you to prioritize care for our nation's most vulnerable populations
32:12our constituents our constituents are asking for changes to the health care system that will strengthen the health care workforce
32:27offer low-income working-class families
32:32offer low-income working-class families expanded opportunities to save for medical expenses
32:38support rural and underserved communities
32:45and help new mothers
32:47and help new mothers
32:47and in the second paragraph
32:55of this letter
32:59letter dated april 14th 2025
33:01mr speaker these 13 members of the house republican conference
33:07make this extraordinary representation
33:11it says however
33:13we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill
33:21that includes
33:26any reduction
33:28in medicaid coverage
33:32for vulnerable populations
33:35this bill
33:37represents the largest
33:40cut
33:41to medicaid
33:42in american history
33:46it will devastate
33:48vulnerable populations
33:50all across america
33:53and so the reality is
33:57all 212
34:00house democrats
34:01are going to stand up and protect
34:03the health care
34:04of the american people
34:06we're going to protect
34:07the medicaid
34:08of the american people
34:09against this assault
34:12on vulnerable communities
34:14and i'm looking forward to all 13 of you joining us
34:18to protect the health care
34:21of the american people that you represent
34:24that's the promise
34:26mr speaker
34:27that your republican colleagues made
34:30in this april letter
34:32what's changed
34:33we're looking forward to all 13
34:36republicans in this letter
34:39joining us
34:40to protect the medicaid
34:43of the american people
34:47and
34:54you know this
34:59salt issue
35:02is also an interesting one
35:03statement was issued on may 8th
35:11from my colleagues
35:16in the new york delegation
35:19elise stefanek
35:20andrew garbarino
35:21nick lalota
35:21mike lawler
35:24just facts right now
35:30big talk about standing up
35:34to protect the state and local tax deduction
35:41and what's interesting
35:45let's make sure we set the record straight here
35:48as to what happened
35:54to the state and local tax deduction
36:00which impacts millions
36:04of hard-working american taxpayers
36:07all across the country
36:09including in the districts represented
36:12by the individuals that i just named
36:16the state and local tax deduction
36:21was decimated
36:23mr speaker
36:25by
36:26donald trump
36:27house republicans
36:30and senate republicans
36:32in 2017
36:34in connection with the gop tax scam
36:39that callously
36:42and unnecessarily imposed
36:47a ten thousand dollar cap
36:51wiping away
36:53thousands of dollars a year
36:58for hard-working american taxpayers
37:02Republicans did that
37:06Mr. Speaker
37:08let's set the record straight
37:09and so Mr. Speaker
37:15there are people
37:15in this chamber
37:17claiming to be saviors
37:21saving
37:22what
37:23from the devastation
37:27that Republicans have wrought
37:29by decimating
37:32the state and local tax deduction
37:34and you know
37:38what's interesting about this
37:39is that people who are
37:43against this
37:45claim
37:46that the state and local tax deduction
37:50is subsidizing
37:51states in certain places
37:58to the detriment of others
38:01but every single state
38:06that
38:06suffered
38:08from the Republican effort
38:11Mr. Speaker
38:12under
38:12Donald Trump's presidency
38:14in 2017
38:16to decimate
38:17the state and local tax deduction
38:20every single state
38:22is a donor state
38:24sends more money
38:25to the federal government
38:26than we ever get back in return
38:29a donor state
38:30some people in this town
38:34running around
38:36misrepresenting
38:38the facts
38:39we're okay to be a donor state
38:43but don't lie
38:45to the American people
38:46about the reality
38:48of the state
38:49and local tax deduction
38:50and then you have this
38:53extraordinary statement
38:57on May 8th
38:57big talk
38:58no action
39:00I guess in Texas
39:09they say
39:10all had no cattle
39:11and so
39:21that brings us to
39:26this letter
39:29that was written
39:30prolific writers
39:38Mr. Speaker
39:42in the House Republican Conference
39:43on June
39:486th
39:49this actually
39:49this is
39:50I mean I'm really confused
39:52by this combination
39:56of this particular letter
40:01followed by an interesting statement
40:05that was made after
40:08the Senate passed
40:09Donald Trump's
40:12one big ugly bill
40:13by Lisa Murkowski
40:15and maybe somebody
40:19Mr. Speaker
40:19can help me
40:20reconcile
40:21my
40:21these statements
40:23because all of us
40:26in the House
40:27and in the Senate
40:27were independently elected
40:29to stand up
40:32to stand up on behalf
40:32of our constituents
40:34in the chambers
40:35that we serve in
40:37I'm going to get back
40:42to that point
40:43momentarily
40:45so in the House
40:49he passed
40:51this one big ugly bill
40:52initially
40:53in late May
40:56that devastated
40:58Medicaid
40:59devastated
40:59nutritional assistance
41:00devastated
41:03the clean energy
41:06economy
41:07that actually is benefiting
41:09red state
41:10after red state
41:11after red state
41:12in the United
41:13States of America
41:15and so
41:19members of the House
41:25Republican Conference
41:26wrote to
41:27Majority Leader Thune
41:30and Chairman Crapo
41:34this is after
41:35passing a bill
41:40in the House
41:42of Representatives
41:43that devastated
41:46the clean energy
41:49tax cuts
41:50that they are
41:50talking about
41:51in this letter
41:53on June 6th
41:58it says
41:59as members
41:59of the House
42:00Republican Conference
42:01we write to express
42:02our continued support
42:03for common sense
42:08energy policy
42:10and to urge
42:14the Senate
42:15to substantively
42:19and strategically
42:22improve
42:23clean energy
42:27tax credit
42:28provisions
42:28included in the
42:30House passed
42:30reconciliation bill
42:32I mean
42:37what is happening
42:38right now
42:38maybe I don't
42:42understand
42:42the legislative
42:43process
42:43so in this
42:47letter
42:47it goes on
42:53to say
42:53in relationship
42:57to a bill
42:59that every
42:59single signatory
43:01signed
43:05and voted
43:08for
43:09our position
43:13has always been
43:13that the energy
43:14tax code
43:17should be
43:20modernized
43:21in a way
43:21that promotes
43:22fiscal responsibility
43:23and business
43:27certainty
43:28fully realizing
43:31that balance
43:32requires
43:33improvements
43:34to the House
43:37passed version
43:38of HR1
43:39we believe
43:43that the Senate
43:44now has a
43:45critical opportunity
43:46to restore
43:49common sense
43:50and deliver
43:51a truly
43:51pro-energy
43:52growth
43:53final bill
43:54that protects
43:57taxpayers
43:58while also
44:01unleashing
44:02the potential
44:03of U.S.
44:03energy
44:04producers
44:04manufacturers
44:05and workers
44:06in other words
44:07every single
44:10one of these
44:10signatories
44:11Jen
44:14Kiggins
44:14Brian
44:16Fitzpatrick
44:17Juan
44:17Siscomani
44:18Nick
44:18LaLoda
44:19Mike
44:19Lawler
44:20Andrew
44:21Garbarino
44:21Don Bacon
44:22Mark
44:23Amadai
44:24Gabe
44:26Evans
44:26Young
44:26Kim
44:27David
44:27Valadeo
44:28Rob
44:34Bresnahan
44:37and Thomas
44:38H.
44:38Kane
44:39Jr.
44:39every single
44:40one
44:40of these
44:43signatories
44:44voted for
44:45a House
44:46bill
44:46that
44:47undermined
44:48the clean
44:50energy
44:50economy
44:52noted that
44:54it would
44:54hurt
44:54their own
44:55constituents
44:56voted for
44:57the bill
44:58anyway
44:58and then
44:59begged the
44:59Senate
45:00to make
45:01a difference
45:01that's not
45:02how we
45:02should be
45:03legislating
45:03in the
45:04United States
45:04House of
45:05Representatives
45:06that's not
45:07how you
45:07legislate
45:08particularly
45:10when
45:10every
45:12single
45:13House
45:14Democrat
45:14voted
45:15against
45:16the bill
45:16it left
45:18the House
45:19limped out
45:19of the House
45:20by a
45:21single vote
45:22so every
45:23single
45:24signatory
45:25on this
45:25letter
45:25could have
45:26stopped
45:27the bill
45:27that you
45:29yourself
45:29Mr. Speaker
45:30indicated
45:31the signatories
45:32of this
45:33letter
45:33damaged
45:34the very
45:35thing
45:35they claimed
45:36to be
45:36fighting
45:37for
45:37I'm
45:41confused
45:42perplexed
45:45flummoxed
45:47at what
45:50the heck
45:50is going
45:51on
45:51extraordinary
45:54extraordinary
45:54I mean
46:01I'm just
46:02overwhelmed
46:02by the
46:02amount
46:03of
46:03correspondence
46:03I only
46:04I had
46:06to just
46:06pick out
46:06the ones
46:09that
46:09were most
46:12extraordinary
46:13to make
46:16sure that
46:16they were
46:16entered
46:17into the
46:17record
46:17the most
46:22recent one
46:23on the
46:25subject of
46:25Medicaid
46:26was written
46:34on June
46:3524th
46:35it was
46:36directed
46:38to
46:40the
46:42Honorable
46:42John
46:43Thune
46:43Majority
46:47Leader of
46:47the United
46:48States
46:48Senate
46:48the Honorable
46:49Mike
46:49Johnson
46:49Mr. Speaker
46:55Speaker of the
46:56U.S.
46:56House of
46:56Representatives
46:57I think
47:01it had
47:02by my
47:02count
47:0216
47:03members
47:03no
47:07surprise
47:08y'all
47:08it was
47:09it was
47:09authored
47:10by David
47:12Valadeo
47:13I mean
47:25these letters
47:25can make
47:25up a
47:26book
47:26Mr.
47:27Speaker
47:27David
47:32Valadeo
47:33Juan
47:33Ciscamani
47:34Rob
47:38Bresnahan
47:40Mr.
47:40Speaker
47:40these are
47:41just
47:41facts
47:41Chuck
47:47Edwards
47:47Young
47:50Kim
47:50Andrew
47:54Garbarino
47:55Mike
47:58Lawler
47:58Jen
47:59Kiggins
48:01the gang
48:02is all
48:02here
48:02again
48:03Jeff
48:06Van
48:06Drew
48:06Don
48:06Bacon
48:07Dan
48:07Newhouse
48:08Zach
48:08Nunn
48:09Robert
48:11Jay
48:11Whitman
48:12Nicole
48:14Maliotakis
48:15Marionette
48:18Jay
48:19Miller
48:19Meeks
48:19and Jeff
48:23Hurd
48:2316
48:27members
48:28Mr. Speaker
48:31of the House
48:31Republican
48:32Conference
48:33in a letter
48:35written to
48:36you
48:36Mr.
48:37Speaker
48:37and
48:37the
48:41Honorable
48:41John
48:41Thune
48:42Majority
48:42Leader
48:42of the
48:43United
48:43States
48:43Senate
48:43on
48:43June
48:4424th
48:44and
48:44here's
48:45the
48:45most
48:45extraordinary
48:45statement
48:46that was
48:46written
48:47in this
48:47letter
48:47in the
48:52second to
48:53last
48:53paragraph
48:53I think
48:54we call
48:54that the
48:54penultimate
48:55paragraph
48:56in the
49:00second to
49:00last paragraph
49:00it says
49:01protecting
49:02Medicaid
49:03is
49:05essential
49:06for the
49:09vulnerable
49:10constituents
49:11we were
49:13elected
49:13to represent
49:15therefore
49:19we cannot
49:23support a
49:24final bill
49:25that
49:27threatens
49:28access to
49:28coverage
49:29or
49:31jeopardizes
49:32the
49:32stability
49:32of our
49:33hospitals
49:34and
49:35providers
49:36Mr.
49:38Speaker
49:3816
49:39members
49:39of the
49:40House
49:40Republican
49:40Conference
49:41who just
49:43a few
49:43days ago
49:44made clear
49:45on the
49:46record
49:46that they
49:49will not
49:50support
49:50devastating
49:52cuts to
49:52Medicaid
49:5316
49:55members
49:55all we
49:56need
49:56Mr.
49:57Speaker
49:57are four
49:58Republicans
49:59from this
50:00group to
50:00join us
50:01and we
50:01can stop
50:02these
50:02devastating
50:03cuts to
50:03Medicaid
50:04join us
50:05join us
50:07join us
50:08we welcome
50:09you with
50:10open arms
50:11into the
50:13warm embrace
50:14of members
50:15of Congress
50:16who are here
50:17to protect
50:18the health
50:18care of
50:19the American
50:20people
50:20just four
50:21y'all
50:21we welcome
50:22you with
50:24open arms
50:25and to the
50:26warm embrace
50:27of members
50:28of Congress
50:29determined
50:30to protect
50:31the health
50:31care
50:31of the
50:34American
50:34people
50:35all we
50:38need
50:39are four
50:44and so
50:48many of
50:49y'all are
50:49on record
50:50so as I
50:54conclude this
50:55section of
50:56this particular
50:59presentation
51:00and we
51:03still got
51:03some ground
51:04to cover
51:04and we
51:06have
51:07to
51:08go
51:09and
51:09go
51:10and
51:10go
51:11and
51:11go
51:11and
51:12go
51:12and
51:13go
51:13and
51:14go

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