As Public Health Crises Mount House Republicans Have Abandoned The American People

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael J. McQuerry

September 21, 2016 202-225-7080

Press Statement

As Public Health Crises Mount House Republicans Have Abandoned The American People

“Do Your Job, House Republicans,” Stated Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Judiciary and House Homeland Security Committees, released the following statement regarding House Republicans not doing their job:

“After shutting down Congress for the longest summer recess in modern history, House Republicans continue to ignore their responsibilities to the American people – wasting time on a radical, special interest agenda, as Americans face critical public health emergencies. While the American people wait for critically urgent action from Congress, Speaker Ryan went to New York City this week to give a big speech on his plan to hand massive tax giveaways to millionaires and billionaires on the backs of hard-working American families.

“According to an analysis by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center, 99.6% of Speaker Ryan’s tax cuts would go to the richest 1% of Americans by the year 2025. Meanwhile, instead of legislating, Tea Party Republicans appear to be continuing to threaten an unprecedented political stunt of trying to impeach the Commissioner of the IRS; a frivolous and corrosive effort that would set a dangerous new precedent for Republicans’ anti-government onslaught.

“In the history of our democracy, Congress has impeached only one Cabinet level official (in 1876), and has never impeached an executive branch official below the Cabinet rank, such as the IRS Commissioner. House Republicans are doubling down on their months of callous obstruction and inaction in the face of a staggering to-do list of unfinished business to keep the American people safe. In each of the public health crises before America, House Republicans have chosen to obstruct the meaningful action and resources needed to save lives.

“This month, the Centers for Disease Control will run out of resources to fight Zika. As CDC Director Tom Frieden warned, ‘The cupboard is bare… Basically, we are out of money and we need Congress to act.’ Yet even with almost 21,000 Americans – including nearly 1,900 pregnant women – with confirmed cases of Zika, the Republican Congress has chosen to put their radical agenda ahead of enacting the emergency funding needed to protect American families from this threat.

“The President submitted an emergency request for supplemental resources to fight Zika more than six months ago – but the Republican Congress has refused to act. House Republicans have chosen to prioritize their assault on women’s access to comprehensive health care over fighting the Zika virus.

“Republicans must immediately act to pass emergency resources to fight the Zika virus and contains no poison pills. At every turn, House Republicans have abandoned Americans who are counting on strong action from Congress to protect their families:

• Opioids – Republicans have obstructed vital new resources to address the opioid epidemic that kills 78 Americans every day.

• Flint – One year after the nation first learned of the gravity of this horrible crisis, Republicans are still blocking any action to help the thousands of children facing lifelong damage from drinking poisoned water.

• Gun Violence Prevention – Republicans have refused to act on bipartisan, life-saving, commonsense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists and criminals – legislation supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans.

“Democrats will continue to demand action on these crises to secure the health and safety of America’s families.”