Congressional Progressive Caucus Adopts Official Position to Oppose Senate Government Spending Bill
WASHINGTON — Following a survey of its members, the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced its official position to oppose the current Senate deal to reopen government, which includes no provisions to guarantee affordable healthcare and protect tens of millions of Americans from massive price spikes to their premiums, and imposes no strong guardrails to prevent the Trump Administration from violating appropriations laws.
“The Senate-passed bill is a betrayal of working people and massively fails to address the urgent needs of the American people,” said CPC Deputy Chair Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05). “The Progressive Caucus stands united in opposing this sham deal. Instead of working toward a fair deal, House Republicans refused to negotiate and abdicated their duty to serve the American people. The Senate-passed bill is morally bankrupt. It is indefensible to allow more than 20 million Americans to see their premiums double and let millions lose their healthcare coverage. Healthcare is a human right, and this bill contradicts that fundamental principle. Make no mistake, people will die from these skyrocketing healthcare costs, paired with Republicans’ brutal Medicaid cuts.
“It is utterly devastating that working people will pay the price for this inadequate legislation,” Omar continued. “The adoption of this official caucus position by a supermajority of our caucus not only demonstrates our members’ overwhelming opposition to this bill on the House floor, but our shared commitment to continue fighting for universal healthcare and constitutional governance in the face of Trump’s corrupt and authoritarian administration.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is made up of nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests. The CPC champions policies including comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus is the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising American wages, eliminating political corruption, supporting the labor movement, and taking action to protect the planet for generations to come.