'Not One Vote': Johnny Olszewski Pans GOP For Not Tackling 'Rising Costs For Struggling Families'

3 days ago

During remarks on the House floor, Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) tore into House Republicans' legislative agenda.

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Transcript

00:00In November, the American people sent us all here to Congress with one clear mandate to

00:09lower costs, to make life easier for working families, to ensure that no one in this country

00:15has to choose between putting food on the table and keeping the lights on.

00:20I came to this floor 49 days ago with a similar poster.

00:25Now here we are again, 81 days into this session of Congress, and I return with the

00:30exact same message.

00:33Nearly three months in, and what do we have to show for our work?

00:37Not one vote.

00:40Not one serious effort from Republican leadership of this House to tackle rising costs for struggling

00:45families.

00:47Nothing to lower grocery prices, bring down the cost of gas or prescription drugs, help

00:53parents afford childcare, or support seniors who are worried about their retirement.

00:59President Trump promised to lower costs on day one.

01:02He has now failed to deliver on his day one promise for 64 consecutive days.

01:08Making matters worse, costs are anything but lower.

01:12Instead, the reality is grocery prices are rising, inflation is up, and the stock market

01:18is unstable.

01:19In fact, rather than lowering costs, the Trump administration is actively promoting policies

01:25that are poised to drive up costs even higher.

01:29The Trump tariffs alone will increase costs for the average family by as much as $2,000

01:35per year, simply to buy essentials like gas and groceries.

01:40God forbid your family needs a new car or a home renovation in the near future.

01:45Making matters even worse, as prices go up, safety nets for our most vulnerable families

01:51are poised to be slashed under this reckless Republican budget.

01:55I voted no because it cuts hundreds of billions of dollars in funding for SNAP and Medicaid,

02:01which means children will go hungry, seniors will lose care, and people with disabilities

02:06will be left behind.

02:08Period.

02:10And you don't have to take my word for it.

02:11The Congressional Budget Office issued a letter on March 5th where they reinforced

02:16that the math is conclusive.

02:19Major cuts are the only way to meet the requirements of the Republican House budget resolution.

02:25The American people are tired of the political theater.

02:29They're simply asking for solutions.

02:31But this administration and extreme Republicans have offered no real plans, no real solutions,

02:36just more empty promises with painful cuts and a whopping federal deficit increase looming

02:43on the horizon.

02:44That's why I've been tracking congressional inaction day after day after day on my social

02:50media.

02:51Because families in Maryland and across the country cannot afford to waste any more time.

02:57So here we are on the House floor once again, calling on House leadership to bring real

03:01legislation to this floor that will start delivering results for our constituents.

03:06The good news is there's no shortage of legislative proposals that will help accomplish this.

03:11For example, I'm proud to have co-sponsored bills that will provide immediate relief by

03:15strengthening and modernizing the child and earned income tax credits, expanding paid

03:20leave, providing penalty-free retirement withdrawals, and giving Americans more financial flexibility

03:26in these tough times.

03:28These aren't partisan bills.

03:30These are common sense solutions.

03:32And yet, House leadership refuses to bring a single one forward for a vote.

03:38Mr. Speaker, I will not stop calling for action.

03:41Our families in Maryland and across the country demand it, and they deserve it.

03:45I will not stop until we do what we were sent here to do, lower costs and build a better

03:50future for every American.

03:52Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

03:53I yield back.

'Not One Vote': Johnny Olszewski Pans GOP For Not Tackling 'Rising Costs For Struggling Families'

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