“My colleagues on the other side say they care about seniors, veterans, children and families, but in the words of James Baldwin, ‘I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do.’
“The Republicans continue to govern in a way that is reckless, callous and with great contempt, and I would say godless, because faith without works is dead.”
Speech on the Floor (YouTube)
WASHINGTON – In an impassioned speech in the House, Congresswoman Ayanna Presley (MA-07) condemned Republicans for holding the economy hostage and threatening to default on our national debt while trying to take away health care and life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable people.
A full transcript of her remarks is available below, and the full video is available here.
Transcript: Presley slams GOP for holding economy hostage, threatening to default on national debt
House of Representatives of the US Congress
May 25, 2023
I stand today on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of people in the Massachusetts Seventh.
A single mother in Randolph who depends on SNAP to feed her babies.
A disabled veteran in Chelsea who relies on SSDI.
Families in Roxbury are struggling to pay rent and their mortgages.
My colleagues across the street say they care about seniors, veterans, children and families, but in the words of James Baldwin, “I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do.”
The Republicans continue to govern in a way that is reckless, callous and with great contempt, and I would say godless, because faith without works is dead.
Republicans want us to make an impossible choice: extreme, drastic cuts to lifesaving programs, or a catastrophic debt default—both of which would affect our most vulnerable.
And this is a made-up crisis. It’s a false choice.
If only Republicans had an ounce of compassion. Democrats want to change and save lives, and Republicans want to play with yours. And the American people are currently in limbo about it.
Stop playing with people’s lives. This is not a game. Pass a clean increase in the debt ceiling.
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Republican default on our debt would:
- Kill about 8,500 jobs in MA-07 alone. Nationwide, the default could kill more than 7 million jobs.
- Threaten social security payments for 64,000 families in MA-07.
- Compromise health benefits for 297,000 people in MA-07 who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs health insurance.
- Increase lifetime mortgage costs for the typical Massachusetts homeowner by $90,000.
- Increase the cost of a new car loan for the typical American by 800 dollars.
- Threaten pension savings 77,800 people near retirement in MA-07eliminating $20,000 from a typical retirement portfolio.
Last week, Representative Presley joined her colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus in calling on President Biden to prepare to invoke his constitutional authority under the 14th Amendment to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States and end the Republican hostage-taking of an economy that can cause a financial meltdown. disaster. Rep. Presley also joined her colleagues in urging Chairman McCarthy to allow quick consideration of the debt ceiling bill without any additional policies.
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