Jeffries doubles down on health care demands ahead of open enrollment start date
In a one-on-one interview, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries weighs in on health care demands, SNAP benefits, and Head Start funding as the government shutdown continues
In a one-on-one interview, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries weighs in on health care demands, SNAP benefits, and Head Start funding as the government shutdown continues
In a one-on-one interview, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries weighs in on health care demands, SNAP benefits, and Head Start funding as the government shutdown continues
In a one-on-one interview on Friday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) doubled down on Democrats' health care demands ahead of a key date on the government shutdown calendar.
On Nov. 1, open enrollment starts for those seeking health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats are concerned that Americans will get sticker shock if Congress doesn't extend enhanced tax credits that have lowered monthly costs for millions.
Jeffries did not indicate that Democrats plan to shift their strategy as open enrollment approaches.
Asked if Democrats will vote to reopen the government if a health care deal can't be reached by the end of next week, Jeffries said, “Well, the Republican health care crisis is just going to become even more urgent on Nov. 1 when open enrollment starts and, for the next five and a half weeks, the American people across the country are going to realize that their health care premiums have become unaffordable.”
Republicans have accused Democrats of holding the federal government hostage over policy demands unrelated to the shutdown. They argue the health care debate can be revisited once the government reopens.
Nov. 1 is also a key date for those who rely on food stamps. Funding for SNAP could run dry if the government shutdown continues into next month.
Earlier this week, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) introduced a bill that would ensure full funding for SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
"Missourians shouldn’t go hungry because of the Left’s incompetence. Our kids deserve to eat," Hawley said in a statement.
Asked about the legislation, Jeffries criticized Hawley for supporting "the largest SNAP cut in American history," referring to that was signed into law over the summer.
"We'll consider anything that emerges from the Senate in a bipartisan way that is designed to make sure that we don't rip food away from the mouths of hungry children, seniors, and veterans," Jeffries added.
Also on Nov. 1, more than one hundred Head Start centers serving some of the nation's neediest preschoolers face a funding cliff that's putting some at risk of closure. Many are scrambling to find alternative funding sources to keep their doors open.
"Head Start is an incredibly important program, and we're going to make sure that they are reimbursed," Jeffries said.
