Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson's Statement on the Republican Spending Bill That Fails to Address America’s Health Care Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01) issued the following statement today after voting no on the Republican spending bill that fails to address the nation's growing health care crisis:

"The 43-day government shutdown has had a devastating impact on families across Illinois' First Congressional District and communities across the country. The Republican spending bill brought to the floor today is yet another failure of Republican leadership-a failure to meet the basic needs of the American people.

I voted nobecause this bill does nothing to address the health-care crisis facing millions of Americans. In the richest nation in the world, it is unacceptable that millions of Americans will be kicked off their health insurance or forced to cancel their health care because Congress failed to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits.

During the Republican-led shutdown, we witnessed some of the most egregious acts of neglect from this administration. Not only was the Trump administration willing to let more than 42 million Americans go without food assistance, but it actively fought against court rulings designed to protect access to SNAP benefits for families already struggling to put food on the table. That is unconscionable.

I came to Washington to represent the great people of Illinois' First District-to fight for what they need and deserve. People need to be able to afford to live. They need health care. They need to be able to feed their families. None of these fundamental needs were addressed in this bill.

What's more, while Republican leadership is willing to let Americans go hungry and uninsured, they have no problem bailing out billionaires and funding vanity projects-rather than investing in our communities here at home.

This fight is not over. I will continue to stand up for my constituents and for working families across this country to ensure their basic needs are met. The American people deserve leadership that puts them first-not partisan politics and misplaced priorities."

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