Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse, DPCC Chair Debbie Dingell and other members of Democratic leadership held a press conference to highlight House Democrats’ commitment in the 119th Congress to finding bipartisan solutions while standing up to far-right extremism. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: Earlier today, the House Democratic Caucus, under the leadership of Chairman Pete Aguilar, convened so that we could begin the process of organizing in preparation for the 119th Congress. It’s an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to continue to serve in the position as House Democratic Leader and to work with this extraordinary group of public servants who the Caucus has entrusted to make sure that in the next Congress we can continue the fight for everyday Americans and push back against any effort at extremism that we see from the House Republican Conference or from the incoming administration. 

Now, we have made clear repeatedly, as House Democrats, we are prepared to work with the incoming administration to find bipartisan common ground on any issue, whenever and wherever possible, in order to make life better for hardworking American families and taxpayers and to solve problems on behalf of the American people. That’s our job. And we look forward to working hard on the issues that the American people have made clear—coming out of this election—matter to them, like lowering the high cost of living. We are prepared to work hard to find bipartisan common ground with our Republican colleagues and the incoming administration on any issue, whenever and wherever possible. But at the same period of time, we will push back against far-right extremism whenever necessary. We will protect the things that the American people have made clear matter to them. Protect Social Security. Protect Medicare. Protect the Affordable Care Act. Protect the progress that has been made in the context of the climate crisis. Protect our veterans. And protect a woman’s freedom to make her own reproductive health care decisions. 

We look forward to the 119th Congress. There’s a lot of work ahead to be done. As House Democrats, we will continue to do everything we can, each and every day, each and every week, each and every month, to make life more affordable for the American people, to address the fact, decisively, that far too many Americans are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to get by and struggling to get ahead. And we’re hopeful that the incoming administration is prepared to join us in that effort to truly make the American dream available and accessible to everyone.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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