WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), and First Vice Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) issued the following statement announcing the introduction of an amendment to block the House GOP Majority from cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits and hold President-elect Donald Trump accountable to his promise to protect these programs.
"Yesterday, every Senate Democrat and Independent joined with one Republican to vote to block cuts to the guaranteed benefits of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Now it’s time to see where House Republicans stand. Will they join Democrats in protecting these critically important programs? Or will they break President-Elect Trump’s promise to the American people and double down on their plan to end Medicare as we know it, threaten nursing home coverage for millions of seniors, undermine comprehensive health care for children by cutting Medicaid, and slash benefits earned through a lifetime of hard work?"
A copy of the CPC “No Benefit Cuts” amendment can be found here. On January 10, 2017, CPC Member Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) offered a similar amendment that was defeated by a vote of 49-49.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest values-based caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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