Statement by Congressman Rob Menendez on the House GOP’s Debt Ceiling Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After voting against H.R. 2811, the House Republican bill that would dramatically cut vital federal programs and harm working families across the nation, Congressman Rob Menendez released the following statement: “The House Republicans’ debt ceiling legislation is not a solution for fiscal stability in this country. In fact, this bill threatens an economic disaster and will devastate working families in New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District. “Our number one priority should be to uplift working families – instead the House Republicans’ willingness to risk defaulting on our debt threatens thousands of jobs in our district, endangers the retirement savings of tens of thousands more, and also puts health benefits at risk for over a quarter of our district’s residents who are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs health insurance. Additionally, it would jeopardize the federal government’s ability to distribute the approximately $89,000,000 in Social Security payments that 64,000 seniors in our district depend on every month. “While this bill was brought to the floor without any input from House Democrats, my colleagues and I are working to invest in the working and middle-classes while lowering costs by making child care, health care, and housing more affordable, and strengthening our infrastructure. “I support our working families and solutions that meet the moment that we are in. This legislation does the opposite. Therefore, I voted NO.” By refusing to act now to prevent a default, House Republicans are threatening an economic disaster that will devastate working families. In the Eighth Congressional District, a default on our debt would:
In New Jersey, the extreme House Republican Debt Ceiling Legislation would:
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