WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined House and Senate Democrats to denounce Donald Trump’s obstruction of commonsense, bipartisan housing legislation. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

“I am so delighted to be standing with these colleagues. With Democrats who know how to get stuff done. Who are delivering solutions for the American people and doing what Congress is supposed to do: come together, compromise, make a bill that is good for people, and put people first.

“What a contrast to what we’re seeing from the Republicans and Donald Trump today.

“We have a commonsense, bipartisan bill that should already be the law of the land. This should have happened a few hours ago. The chairs were set up. We were ready to go. But Donald Trump and the Republicans have blocked it.

“They are holding a housing bill — that the American people are desperate for — hostage to Donald Trump’s ambitions to rig our elections. This is what they do every single time. Even when they have a chance to do something that would meaningfully help people, they choose their own power. Because that’s all they believe in.

“They do not have another agenda. And that’s why they’re willing to blow up a bill that they helped write. That’s the moral rot at the core of the Republican Party. It is self-preservation above all else.

“Here’s the calculation. If you’re not a billionaire, if you’re not a corporation, if you’re not a good friend or a campaign donor, you do not matter. If you’re struggling to pay rent, if you are trying to buy your first home and are unable to do it, they are telling you: ‘Tough luck.’

“We’ve come to expect this from Donald Trump. He already said out loud he doesn’t want housing prices to go down. But let’s not forget House Republicans have a role in this too. Mike Johnson could, right now, at any time, formally present this bill to the president and make the president choose: Will he veto it or will it become law in ten days? But Mike Johnson is not choosing that path. That is a betrayal of duty.

“Republicans are so desperate to appease Donald Trump, to cling to their jobs, they are willing to sabotage legislation they have already passed and force Americans to, quite literally, pay the price.

“Every day, they show us who they are. They don’t work for or care about anyone but their own political careers.

“The American people are paying attention. They have noticed. And they understand that it is Democrats that are standing with them and for them in this fight to lower their costs and give families across this country a chance of having a little breathing room and opportunity in this economy.

“This is the work that we will continue to do and recommit to today, while we are watching this betrayal of the American people unfold in the Republican Party.”

The full press conference can be viewed HERE. Photos of the event can be viewed HERE.

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