Hakeem Jeffries Pleads With Republicans to Have ‘John McCain-Level Courage’ And Vote to Defeat Trump’s Bill
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) called for “just four” House Republicans to have “John McCain-level” courage on Wednesday and help Democrats to defeat President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful” bill.
During a press conference on the Capitol steps, Jeffries said, “Good morning. We are here today, united as House Democrats, to make clear to the American people that every single House Democrat will stand up for your health care, stand up for your Medicaid, stand up for Medicare, stand up for the Affordable Care Act, stand up for nutritional assistance for our children, our seniors, and our veterans.”
He continued by listing off all the various groups he believes will be hurt by the bill, “Children will be hurt. Families will be hurt. People with disabilities will be hurt. Women will be hurt by what is an all-out assault on the health care of the American people, an unprecedented assault, ripping health care away from more than 17 million Americans. Premiums, copays, and deductibles for other people on private insurance will go up all across the country.” He continued:
Hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down, community-based clinics won’t have the ability to operate, and as a result, people are going to die. Connected to this one big, ugly bill. Tens of thousands of unnecessary American deaths per year. Shame on Republicans for even bringing this bill to the House floor.
“So all we need are four Republicans to join us in support of their constituents to have John McCain-level courage and stand up in defense of the health care of the American people,” Jeffries added, referring to the late Republican senator who helped Democrats to stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
“What type of party would bring a bill to the House floor that rips away Medicaid from those in need? What kind of party would bring a bill to the House floor that literally robs food from the mouths of children, veterans, and seniors? And all of this is being done to provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors. It’s unconscionable. It’s unacceptable. It’s un-American. And House Democrats are committing to you that we’re gonna do everything in our power to stop it. And all we need are four Republicans. Just four to show John McCain-level courage. Just four. There are 220 of them,” Jeffries added, concluding:
All we need are four. And so all we have to do as a congress is act in a manner consistent with the better angels of this country. Stand up for everyday Americans, not the wealthy, the well-off, and the well-connected. That’s what Republicans are doing in bringing this one big ugly bill to the House floor. Why would anyone vote for this dangerous and extreme bill?
Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.
