MALDEN, MA – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined MS NOW's The Weekend to discuss House Democrats' health care victory on behalf of the American people and their continued fight for affordability. Below are excerpts from the conversation:

On House Democrats Forcing a Vote on an ACA Tax Credit Extension:

"Donald Trump still doesn't understand that when you take away health care from the American people in order to finance tax cuts for the billionaire class, that is deeply wrong and deeply unpopular.

"It is the unity of the Democratic Caucus in the House that is in lockstep with and listening to the American people who placed millions of calls to Members of Congress, who came to town halls, who marched in protest, who told their stories of how important health care is to their family, to their small business. Those are the voices that we stood in unity with, and it was the political pressure of that that caused those 17 members of the Republican Party to come over and do the right thing.

"Our job now is to keep that pressure up, keep the voice of the American people in the Senate, so they understand the political peril they are in if they continue to ignore the needs of the American people and sell out their health care for tax cuts for those who already have great wealth and power."

On the Horrific Killing of Renee Nicole Good and Actions Democrats Can Take:

"What we saw in Minneapolis this week is beyond horrifying. The rush to make sure that their narrative of protecting [the federal agent] — however horrible and unlawful those actions may have been — without investigation. Declaring Renee Good a 'domestic terrorist.' That should run a chill down every single American.

"We are going to look at all of the tools that we have, and that includes the budget. And we are in negotiations right now about DHS's budget and how not only is it being used to fund these masked forces in our communities, but also the national security issues that they are taking money away from in order to give it to ICE.

"Homeland Security Investigations has done critical investigations in the past – stopping fentanyl pipelines, disrupting cartels and critical work in child exploitation and human trafficking. We are hearing reports that those units are being decimated in order to turn them into deportation units solely.

"So we have an issue of the security of communities and the American people on the streets and other national security issues. This is important and critical as we look at the funding bill coming forward."

On Republicans' Affordability Crisis for Working Families:

"Sixty percent of households are unable to afford the basics. And what we are seeing is this Republican Party and this administration and president do everything they can to further rig the economy against people at home. That starts with health care — and that starts with what they have done, not only to the ACA tax credits, but to Medicaid, to Medicare, to veterans’ health benefits. These are outrageous cuts — all, once again, to give permanent tax cuts to the very wealthy.

"Then we go into Donald Trump's initial promise that he was going to bring prices down on Day One of his administration. Through his tariff policies and everything else, we are seeing the costs of groceries, housing, and utility bills skyrocket. That's where the focus of the Democratic Party and Democrats in the House will remain. And if Donald Trump and Republicans continue to rig the economy against everyday people, they are going to pay for it in the midterms."

To view the complete conversation, click HERE.