On Wednesday Oct. 22 California congressional district representatives held a press conference call to speak directly to the public about the ongoing issue of the current federal government shutdown. As of Oct. 30 — 30 days into the shutdown— both GOP parties still have not come to an agreement about Tax Credit extensions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Senate, which is a majority Republican, took a 12th vote on temporary federal funding but the vote failed. A 13th attempt at passing a short-term funding bill, or continuing resolution (CR), to supply federal funding through Nov. 21.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) led the press conference call and was joined by democrats Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30), Rep. Dave Min (CA-37), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45).
Aguilar opened up the call, directly addressing the issue of the shutdown. “We’re here because this summer, Donald Trump led congressional Republicans in passing the largest cut to health care in American history in order to give billionaires more tax breaks. As a result, Republicans’ big, ugly law (Big Beautiful Bill) has created a health care crisis on top of the affordability crisis that we all know way too well in California, that Americans are facing.”
Aguilar then said that the San Bernardino Adult Day Health Care Center is a facility that serves seniors and people with disabilities and it is at risk of closing if Republicans successfully cut healthcare, causing great harm for Californians.
He went on and emphasized that 2.3 million Californians on Medi-Cal will lose their health care if the ACA tax credits are not extended, a dire task that democrats are bringing to the forefront.
Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45) discussed democratic reps. concerns about reaching a resolution but not being responded to by their Republican counterparts. Trans then shared with Our Weekly that a letter in regard to SNAP benefits cuts as a proposal to urge protection of his constituents in Orange County.
“I along with every single colleague on this call and the Democratic caucus have been waiting for our Republicans to come back to work in Washington, DC, allow us the opportunity to negotiate with them and figure this all out. I don’t really do anything without thinking about how I can bring on a Republican co-sponsor to my bills or my letters, and that’s just something that I’ve always done to ensure that we can find common ground on a lot of the issues, especially healthcare.”
He continued, “For example, today I’m leading a letter on the SNAP cuts that are going to impact Orange County. I opened that letter to my fellow Orange County Republican colleague, young Kim. So you know, the communication and the want is there on our end, I just need them to respond on their part and do their part.”
Aguilar then followed up after Tran’s comment and stated that in early October, 13 Republican members of Congress wrote a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, urging him to address extending Affordable Care Tax credits that the democratic congressional reps on the press call are fighting for. He clarified that “there are republican members who want to work on these issues.”
Democratic congressional rep. Lateefa Simon (CA-12) weighed in on the issue but assured that California democrats are working hard, daily, to find resolve and communicate with their constituents in each congressional district in California. “We’re almost five weeks into this thing. If Republicans refuse, this is on them to renew Affordable Care Act tax credits. 30,000 people in my district alone will see their premiums skyrocket. That means a parent choosing between rent and a doctor’s visit, a 60 year old couple in Oakland who could see their premiums literally jump.”
She continued, “Keep your hands off the health care of the American people, both insured and uninsured folks, are deeply, deeply affected by this callous, callous policy making.”
The government shutdown is causing major concerns for all Americans with SNAP/WIC benefits also being potentially discontinued on Nov. 1, if an agreement is not reached between both bipartisan parties.