LEADER JEFFRIES ON MEET THE PRESS: “WE HAVE TO DECISIVELY ADDRESS THIS REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on NBC's Meet the Press, reiterating that Democrats are ready to negotiate bipartisan spending legislation to end Donald Trump's government shutdown and protect the American people from the Republican healthcare crisis.

KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, welcome back to Meet the Press.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. Great to be with you.

KRISTEN WELKER: Well, it's great to have you here on a very busy morning. I do, of course, want to get to the shutdown. But first I have to ask you about these developments in the Middle East. Of course, Hamas saying that it will, in fact, turn over the hostages. Leader Jeffries, let me ask you, do you support President Trump's 20-point peace proposal?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, I support a path toward a just and lasting peace. And that needs to involve making sure that every single hostage and the remains of those hostages still in Gaza are released immediately. Of course, we need to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza so we can alleviate the immense suffering of Palestinian civilians who have been in harm's way through no fault of their own, in a theater of war. And, of course, we need to make sure that Hamas lays down its arms and that we have a governance structure that is put into place that allows for normalized relations between the Palestinian people and Israel.

KRISTEN WELKER: All right. Well, let's turn to the big news here in Washington, of course, which is the shutdown. Before lawmakers broke for the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House would not return to Capitol Hill this week or until Leader Schumer reopens the government. When is the last time you spoke with Republican leadership?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the last time there was a conversation with Republican leadership was in the White House meeting last Monday. And, unfortunately, since that point in time, Republicans, including Donald Trump, have gone radio silent. And what we've seen is negotiation through deepfake videos, the House canceling votes and, of course, President Trump spending yesterday on the golf course. That's not responsible behavior. As Democrats, our view is that we will find bipartisan common ground with our Republican colleagues to reopen the government, to actually pass a spending bill that meets the needs of the American people, but we have to decisively address this Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating hardworking American taxpayers.

KRISTEN WELKER: You know, Democrats are demanding an extension of Obamacare tax credits, which expire at the end of the year, as well as other healthcare benefits for the funding bill. Here is what the Vice President said about that this week. Take a look.

RECORDING OF VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: It's a lie told by the Democrats that they're not trying to give healthcare benefits to illegal aliens. It's a lie that is obviously untrue if you just look at the text that they gave us.

KRISTEN WELKER: He says that Democrats are lying. What is your response to that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, unfortunately, Republicans are lying because they're losing in the court of public opinion as it relates to what's going on right now. We are standing up for the healthcare of hardworking American taxpayers, of working-class Americans, of middle-class Americans and everyday Americans, who have seen over the last several months Republicans pass their One Big Ugly Bill. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all throughout the country, including in rural America. If Republicans continue to refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of American taxpayers are going to experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. And that information from their insurance companies is going out right now. Now, federal law clearly prohibits the expenditure of taxpayer dollars to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants. Period, full stop. And no Democrat on Capitol Hill is trying to change that law.

KRISTEN WELKER: Leader Jeffries, let me ask you, because as you just mentioned, you are also calling for a complete rollback of the Medicaid cuts, which Republicans just passed. They say it's a nonstarter. Why include that? Why not just focus on your argument that you want to see those Obamacare tax credits extended, which expire at the end of the year?

LEADER JEFFRIES: This Republican healthcare crisis is all-encompassing, and it has been devastating to the well-being of the American people. We're talking about people in rural America, working-class America, urban America, small-town America, the heartland of America and Black and brown communities all throughout America. Now, we have made clear that in terms of what's immediately in front of us, there, of course, is an urgent need to address the Affordable Care Act and the Republicans' refusal to extend these tax credits. What we're talking about here is a dramatic impact on real, everyday Americans. A married couple of two, for instance, that makes $88,000 a year, a modest amount, currently pays about $8,000 a year in their healthcare insurance. That's already too much. But if these Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, that same couple will be forced to pay $24,000 a year. It's unaffordable. It will bankrupt them. It will leave them without coverage. And those are the people who we're fighting for.

KRISTEN WELKER: But let me ask you because you think this is a Republican shutdown, but it's Democratic Senators who are withholding their votes on what is called a clean resolution. That means no strings attached, which is something, quite frankly, Leader, that you and other Democrats have advocated for in the past. Take a look.

RECORDING OF SPEAKER EMERITA PELOSI: You do not use the threat of shutting down government to try to advance your policy agenda.

RECORDING OF FORMER MAJORITY LEADER REID: First thing that the House has to do is pass a clean six-week CR.

RECORDING OF LEADER JEFFRIES: A continuing resolution that is at the fiscal year 2023 levels is the only way forward.

KRISTEN WELKER: Why not fund the government and debate extending Obamacare tax credits after the fact? They don't expire till the end of the year.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, what we've called for is a bipartisan negotiation where Democrats and Republicans can sit down in good faith, reopen the government, pass a spending bill that actually improves the quality of life for the American people in an environment where the cost of living is already too high. Republicans promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren't going down. They're going up. And if these Affordable Care Act tax credits are allowed to expire, premiums and healthcare costs are going to skyrocket. And America is already too expensive for the American people because of the Trump failed policies, the Trump tariffs and this will make things worse. So we just want a bipartisan negotiation that addresses the healthcare crisis at the same period of time, with the fierce urgency of now.

KRISTEN WELKER: Let me ask you because the administration has personally targeted you with memes throughout this negotiation. We'll show a screenshot of one of the videos. This was put out by the President. The President also called the Democrats the party of, quote, 'hate, evil and Satan.' Is the President someone you still feel like you can negotiate with? Do you have that relationship with him?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, that behavior is outrageous, it's unhinged, it's unreasonable and it speaks for itself. The American people deserve better than lies, than attacks, than deepfake videos, than the President spending all of his time on the golf course. We need serious leadership, and we will continue to make clear, Leader Schumer, myself, that we will sit down anytime, anyplace, with anyone to address this issue with the seriousness that it deserves to stand up for the American people in addressing this cost of living crisis and this healthcare crisis that Republicans have visited upon the country.

KRISTEN WELKER: All right, Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

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