WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) for a press conference following the House’s passage of legislation to keep the federal government open. Below is a transcript of her remarks:

“Thank you so much, Mr. Leader, for those comments and for leading our Caucus and putting the American people's voice into this process. And, of course, for your hour today, setting out the vision that Democrats have and the contrast with the MAGA extremists. Today, Democrats have ensured that those interests – the American people – have won out over the demands of MAGA extremists.

“But only after months of Speaker McCarthy and the MAGA majority playing chicken with the lives and livelihoods of the American people. They have brought us to the edge of a needless shutdown, trying to blackmail the country into accepting their extreme, right-wing agenda. And today, Democrats came to the rescue. Speaker McCarthy admitted defeat and asked Democrats to put out the fire that he and his party had started.

“We proved today that Democrats will continue to unify around our shared values. We will continue to put the concerns of the American people first, and we will not allow the twisted priorities of the MAGA Republicans to become law. As we move forward, as the Leader said, we will continue to try and build a budget in a bipartisan way that will meet the needs of the American people and live up to the spending agreement that Kevin McCarthy has already agreed to back in June.

“And I call on Speaker McCarthy not to let the pro-Putin part of his conference win the day and bring a vote to the Floor on assistance to Ukraine so we can continue to defend their democracy and our own. And with that, I yield to our amazing champion for our Caucus, our Caucus Chair, Pete Aguilar.”

To view the complete press conference, click HERE. To view press conference photos, click HERE.