Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke on Wednesday condemned the passage of the Republican-led Continuing Resolution (CR), a legislative act that provides temporary funding for federal agencies to continue operations when annual appropriation bills have not been passed by the start of the fiscal year.
Yvette D Clarke
The CR serves as a ‘stopgap’ measure to avert a US Government shutdown and allows more time for lawmakers to agree on a final budget.
‘Moments ago, I voted ‘no’ on the dirtiest ‘Clean CR’ to ever reach the House Floor,’ Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
‘This hateful legislation not only condemns millions of Americans to healthcare costs they cannot afford and safety-net cuts they cannot survive, but it also affirms to Donald Trump that there is no evil and no cruelty his administration can concoct that his lackeys in Congress will not co-sign,’ added the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. ‘In no uncertain terms, this bill is a betrayal of the American people.
‘The Trump Shutdown may be over, but I am heartbroken to say its impact will reverberate throughout the country long into the future,’ Clarke continued. ‘It will be felt by the 24 million Americans whose premiums have been allowed to double. It will be felt by the millions more Americans on SNAP who are still starving under the president’s brutal decision to slash its budget. And it will be felt by countless others whose pain will reveal itself in the days, weeks, and months ahead.’
The congresswoman thanked members of the armed services, air traffic controllers, and all other federal employees who worked for ’42 gut-wrenching days without a paycheck.
‘While House Republicans enjoyed an eight-week vacation on their dime, these dedicated leaders dug in and did their duty,’ she said. ‘For their service and perseverance throughout this disgraceful chapter in America, they will always have my gratitude.
‘No matter what hardships lie ahead, my vote against this CR was the only acceptable outcome for the people of Brooklyn,’ Clarke added. ‘They understand that worthless promises won’t restore the ACA premium tax credits they rely on. They know the fight does not end here. The Republican Party may have given up on the future Americans deserve, but we never will.’
In a joint Democratic leadership statement on the Republican-led spending bill, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said that ‘the American people deserve better than the chaos, cruelty and corruption that has been unleashed on the country by President Donald Trump and Republicans since the beginning of his presidency.
‘House Democrats will continue our fight to lower the high cost of living, decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,’ Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Aguilar added. ‘We will fight to protect Medicaid, Medicare, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health clinics.’
Over the past several weeks, they said ‘a handful of Republicans claimed to be interested in addressing the healthcare crisis that they have created in America.
‘Open Enrollment is here, and the Congress must act with urgency,’ the Democratic leadership said. ‘Now is the time for so-called traditional Republicans to join with House Democrats, sign the discharge petition and force a vote on our bill to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years.
‘House Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight,’ they added.