Hoyer Statement on Republicans' Partisan Legislative Agenda That Ignores Substantive Legislation

Statement

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on House Republicans' partisan legislative schedule for the House Floor this week:

"At a time when our country continues to face major challenges to its economy, it is very disappointing that the House returned yesterday for a three-week session with no substantive legislation planned to address those challenges. This testifies to the leadership gap that now exists in Congress, as the Republicans who control the House calendar place one partisan messaging bill after another on the agenda and obstruct bills sponsored by Democrats or with bipartisan backing that would tackle some of our most pressing issues. These include restoring emergency unemployment insurance to 1.9 million Americans who are looking for work, raising the minimum wage so that no full time workers have to live in poverty, reforming our broken immigration system, and passing Make It In America bills to invest in economic competitiveness and job creation.

"The American people don't want their Congress wasting its time on posturing and partisanship. They have no patience for a fiftieth vote to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, nor will they tolerate Republicans' fixation on unraveling critical environmental protections and safety standards. This Congress's focus ought to be on the issues that matter to middle-class families and the small businesses working hard to expand and create jobs. That's what Democrats will continue to focus on in the 113th Congress, and I hope the Speaker and Majority Leader will set their partisan, "do-nothing' agenda aside and instead work across the aisle to achieve real results for the people we serve."

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