December 12, 2023

Chairman Aguilar: Extreme MAGA Republicans are distracting from the fact they have accomplished nothing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu held a press conference alongside DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene on House Democrats' work to deliver for families while Extreme MAGA Republicans waste time on political games.

CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. Pleased to be joined by Vice Chair Ted Lieu and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. Just a point of personal pride here – I wanted to take a moment and congratulate hometown hero in San Bernardino, Jayden [Daniels.] The Cajon High School alum won the Heisman trophy over the weekend. We’re all so proud of what he has accomplished on and off the field. His family is incredibly proud, as is the region that he represents. 

On January 21, 2021, Marjorie Taylor Green filed articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden the day after he was sworn into office. The vote this week is the culmination of Extreme MAGA Republicans’ year-long agenda exacting political retribution on behalf of Donald Trump. 

It’s painfully obvious that they are trying to hurt President Biden politically to help President Trump get re-elected and distract from the fact that they have accomplished nothing. While House Republicans preside over the least productive Congress in modern history, the economic agenda of House Democrats and President Biden is delivering job creation, rising wages and lower inflation. 

House Republicans are not serious about lowering costs. They’ve done nothing to protect families against gun violence or make our communities safer. They certainly aren’t serious about the border. They actively opposed the President’s plan to hire 1,000 new Customs and Border Patrol Officers, 1,600 asylum officers and to invest in technology to crack down against fentanyl trafficking. 

So, when Speaker Johnson, Chairman Comer and Marjorie Taylor Greene talk this week about transparency and the constitution, remember that they had made up their minds years ago after the President delivered his oath of office. With that, I’ll yield to Vice Chair Ted Lieu. 

VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. Democrats put People Over Politics, and we have passed a series of laws to create jobs. At the same time, we also know that prices are high. So, we're laser-focused on lowering costs. We have passed laws to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. We have also worked on reducing junk fees, and we're working to help people with their child care costs. And in terms of jobs, it has been amazing in terms of what has happened. A jobs report came out again last week showing that over 199,000 jobs were created above expectations. Unemployment declined, and that was also above expectations. We have now had less than 4% unemployment for nearly two consecutive years. That's something that hasn't happened in over half a century. 

What are Republicans focused on? Impeachment with no evidence. In fact, if you ask them today, they can't tell you even what crime they think Joe Biden has committed. They can't name a single policy action he's taken or any actions he's taken that they believe is illegal. Republicans are focused on the wrong priorities, and next November, voters will have a choice. And so, we're pleased to have with us the Chair of DCCC, Chairwoman Suzan DelBene, who's going to explain to the American people the choice they have next November. 

CHAIR DELBENE: Thanks to both of you. It's great to be with you today. And of course, now I have to give a shout out to Michael Penix Jr. for an undefeated season. How about that? 

We just finished a Caucus meeting with our Democratic colleagues down the street, and there's a lot of energy in the room around our work to take back the majority. Democrats are united around addressing the issues families are facing right now. And unfortunately, the same cannot be said of House Republicans. Instead of making progress on must-pass legislation to support our allies, lower costs for families and protect Social Security, Speaker Johnson and extreme Republicans are ignoring the needs of working families across the country by wasting valuable time to pursue an illegitimate impeachment inquiry. 

This week's vote is a deeply cynical attempt to distract the public from the fact that they're doing nothing–nothing to make a difference in the lives of everyday families in their districts. And it's a perfect example of how out of touch House Republicans are. 

As I travel around the country talking to folks everywhere, no one asks about impeachment. They want to know what Congress is doing to help lower costs, make our communities safer. Just take a look at the front page newspapers in battleground districts throughout the country. In Arizona, in Nebraska and in Pennsylvania, not a single top story is about the impeachment inquiry. The American people are taking notes. Nearly seven in ten voters in competitive districts believe that House Republicans are focused on the wrong priorities. 

The vivid contrast between House Republicans and House Democrats could not be clearer. My colleagues and I, and the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries and our Caucus Chair and [Vice] Chair remain deeply committed to building a strong middle class and an economy that works for everyone. Meanwhile, extreme Republicans have given up on governing and they're trying to distract the public from their ineptitude. 

We should be focused on funding the government. We should be focused on fiscal responsibility. We should be focused on crises at home and abroad. We should be focused on the American people.