Chicago City Wire

Washington, DC – On May 31, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement after voting NO on the Fiscal Responsibility Act, legislation that established the deal President Biden and Speaker McCarthy reached to address the Republican-made debt ceiling crisis:

“On May 31, we should be voting on a straightforward suspension of the debt ceiling. Instead, Republicans continue to throw the American people and the American economy into chaos by threatening a default on the national debt unless their demands are met. Their demands do nothing meaningful to increase revenue. They are instead cruel policies to punish everyday people who are already struggling to get by in the face of rising costs for housing, for food, for utilities, and more. Adding more work requirements to SNAP is cruel. Adding more obstacles to TANF is cruel. Forcing student loan repayments to resume is cruel. Favoring polluters and prioritizing tax cheats is cruel. That is why I decided to vote NO on the so-called Fiscal Responsibility Act,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “The Fiscal Responsibility Act reflects how little Republicans care about everyday people - even their own constituents. 

“I am clear for whom I am here. I am here for the communities that will be affected by expedited dangerous permitting reform that favors the fossil fuel industry over clean air and clean drinking water; I am here for the 1.3 million student loan borrowers in Illinois who are being forced to resume payments even when they are struggling to keep up with the bills; the 76,836 members of working families and elderly across Illinois counting on TANF cash assistance to keep their families afloat; and the 1,981,700 single mothers and children of Illinois counting on SNAP to put food on the table. “While the debt ceiling legislation will move forward out of the U.S. House of Representatives, we shouldn't have been in this position. We cannot allow to set a precedent for appropriation or any legislative package. The hostage situation Republicans forced onto the American people has led to a deal I cannot, in good conscience, support.”

To look at Congresswoman Ramirez’s remarks on the House Floor, click HERE.

Original source can be found here.