Pressley has criticized the Republican Party for holding the economy hostage and threatening to default on the national debt

“My colleagues, on the other hand, say they care about seniors, veterans, children and families, but to paraphrase James Baldwin, ‘I can’t believe what you’re saying because I see what you’re saying do.'”

“Republicans continue to govern ignorantly, callously, and with great contempt, and I would say ungodly, for faith without works is dead.”

Ground Speech (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – In an impassioned speech in the plenary session of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) We have criticized Republicans for holding the economy hostage and threatening to default on our national debt while trying to deprive the most vulnerable of health care and lifesaving assistance.

A full transcript of her remarks is below and the full video is here.

Transcript: Pressley blasts the Republican Party for holding the economy hostage and threatening to default on the national debt

US House of Representatives

May 25, 2023

I rise today on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of people in the Massachusetts Seventh.

The single mom in Randolph who relies on SN` to feed her babies.

The disabled veteran in Chelsea who relies on SSDI.

Families in Roxbury are struggling to pay rent and mortgages.

My colleagues, on the other hand, say they care about seniors, veterans, children and families, but to paraphrase James Baldwin, “I can’t believe what you’re saying because I see what you’re doing .”

Republicans continue to rule ignorantly, unfeelingly, and with great contempt, and I would say ungodly, for faith without works is dead.

Republicans want us to make an impossible choice: extreme, drastic cuts in life-saving programs or a catastrophic default on our debt—both of which would affect our most vulnerable.

And this is an artificially created crisis. This is a wrong choice.

If only Republicans had an ounce of sympathy. Democrats want to change and save lives, and Republicans want to gamble with your life. And the American people are currently in limbo because of this.

Stop playing with other people’s lives. This is not a game. Pass a clean debt ceiling hike.

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A Republican default on our debt would:

• Kill about 8,500 jobs in MA-07 alone. Across the country, a default could destroy more than 7 million jobs.
• Put Social Security payments at risk for 64,000 families in MA-07.
• Put health benefits at risk 297,000 people in MA-07 who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs health insurance.
• Raise the lifetime mortgage cost for the typical Massachusetts homeowner $90,000.
• Increase the cost of a new car loan for the typical American $800.
• Endanger the old-age provision of 77,800 people nearing retirement in MA-07saving $20,000 from the typical retirement portfolio.

Last week Rep. Pressley, along with her colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, urged President Biden to prepare to assert his constitutional authority granted in the 14th Amendment to maintain full trust and credit in the United States and to stop the hostage taking of the Shutting down the economy by the Republicans could trigger a financial catastrophe. Rep. Pressley has also joined her peers in urging Speaker McCarthy to allow immediate consideration of debt-ceiling legislation without any unnecessary policy action.

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