June 04, 2024

Chairman Aguilar: The American economic recovery is among the greatest comeback stories in our time

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu held a press conference on President Biden and House Democrats delivering the strongest economic recovery in modern history while Extreme MAGA Republicans continue to push for cuts that would hurt working families.

CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. Please to be joined with Vice Chair Ted Lieu this week, as always, our amazing Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus.

Last week, we saw Core Inflation dropped to the lowest number since March of 2021, which is good news for hard-working families. The American economy's recovery is among the greatest comeback stories in our time. Because of legislation championed by President Biden, working with House Democrats, we've seen 15 million jobs created, 17 million small business applications, supply chains strengthened and manufacturing jobs brought home after decades of Republican policies that sent these jobs overseas. 

Too many people, though, feel that the economy has left them behind. Too many people feel that it's rigged against them. House Democrats understand this. The task of addressing the affordability crisis and expanding economic opportunity is the most important thing that we can continue to do in this Congress. The American people don't understand why buying a home is out of reach, why prices at the grocery store keep going up and companies are raking in massive profits while child care they need is becoming difficult to achieve and more expensive. 

These patriotic Americans, who just want to work, raise a family and be good neighbors and citizens, deserve our undivided attention. Which is why it's so disheartening to see the Appropriations process unfold as it has with extreme cuts and policy riders that Republicans keep advocating. And it's disheartening to see the Farm Bill and the $30 billion in cuts taking food off of the table for women, veterans and children. The Extreme Republican majority continues to put Politics Over People and House Democrats will continue to put People Over Politics.

Vice Chair, Ted Lieu.

VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. 

As Chairman Aguilar noted, Core Inflation went down. At the same time Democrats know that prices are high. That's why when we were in control, we passed laws to cap insulin at $35 a month, to require Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to reduce the costs of other prescription drugs and we're working on now with the Biden Administration to tackle the issue of junk fees, to make sure that mortgages are less expensive. And if Democrats continue to be in control, which we're not right now, we'll work on further legislation to lower costs and create jobs because Democrats are putting People Over Politics.

What are Republicans focused on? Banning abortions, banning IVF and banning contraception. And that's why Democrats have put on the Floor a discharge petition for Representative Kathy Manning's bill that is going to say, “no, we cannot ban contraception.” The federal government needs to stay out of this. The states need to stay out of this. Donald Trump recently said that he's gonna come up with a plan for birth control. No, the only acceptable plan is the federal government should stay out of your bedrooms and allow people access to birth control.

I also want to note that at Caucus, Chairman Aguilar and the Caucus, we're thinking of Sheila Jackson Lee, and we hope she recovers soon. And I yield back.

Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

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