WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Congressional Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), consumer advocate Angela Hanks, and local business owner Elizabeth Mahon to denounce Donald Trump and Republicans' "baby tax" on working parents. Below is a transcript of her remarks:
"We hear a lot from our Republican colleagues on the importance of families. We saw a lot of nice tweets about Mother’s Day.
"But when they show up for work? All they do is take from moms and dads and kids. Cutting health care. Taking food off the table. Defunding public schools. And even imposing a baby tax.
"In a matter of months, Republicans have unilaterally raised the cost of living through tariffs on car seats, cribs, toys, and baby clothes.
"Walmart just announced they’re hiking the price of bananas. I raised three kids — I know young families run on bananas.
"And Republicans are surprised that their town halls are not roaring with applause.
"They tax families and then they say to them, 'Get over it.'
"Trump tells parents they just will have to buy their children fewer dolls. Trump tells parents they’ll have to get through the school year with less pencils. And tells the media not to worry about it.
"The cost of strollers? 'Don't worry about it. It's peanuts.'
"And let’s be clear: Before these tariffs, family budgets were already tight.
"CBS just reported on a new study that found that most Americans can’t afford what’s called a 'Minimal Quality of Life.'
"60% of Americans can’t afford to go to a doctor, save for an education, afford child care, take their kids to the movies now and then, while putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads.
"We are not talking about a middle-class standard of living. We’re talking about basic needs. And those basics are out of reach for most American families.
"Think about that.
"This is the richest nation on earth. But 60% of our people can’t even afford that first rung of the American Dream.
"So what’s the GOP response? They are doubling down. Funneling even more money to billionaires and making it more expensive to be a parent.
"We are watching them, this week, enact the largest cut to health care in our country's history. The largest cut to food assistance, ever. Taking meals from kids, from grandparents. Defunding local hospitals. Shutting down maternity wards. Endangering pregnant moms and babies.
"So they can turn around and hand more money to the wealthiest people on earth.
"So, whether it’s the Baby Tax or cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and Head Start, there is one agenda from this administration and Congressional GOP: Enriching the rich. Empowering the powerful. Serving America’s 902 billionaires — at the expense of 340 million working people.
"Democrats are in this fight for the country that most Americans want. A system built on a basic truth — that this country belongs to the people who built it. The moms and dads who are working hard every day to forge a future for their family."
To watch today's press conference, click HERE. For photos, click HERE.
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