Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability, joined by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, where he emphasized that House Republicans are hurting working-class Americans as they move to shut down the government. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: House Republicans, House Democrats, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats reached a bipartisan agreement to fund the government, keep it open and meet the needs of the American people. We reached a bipartisan agreement to provide disaster assistance to everyday Americans whose lives have been upended and turned upside down as a result of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods and other types of extreme weather events. We reached a bipartisan agreement to meet the needs of the American people and provide assistance to farmers, families, children, seniors, veterans, men and women in uniform and working-class Americans. 

House Republicans have now unilaterally decided to break a bipartisan agreement that they made. House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country. House Republicans will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people that results from a government shutdown or worse. An agreement is an agreement. It was bipartisan and there is nothing more to say. Thank you.

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