Velazquez Statement on House Democratic Rules Package

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez released the following statement regarding the Democratic Rules package considered today in the House:
"The Democratic Rules for the 116th Congress contain a number of critically important, progressive steps. This package includes a select Committee to address climate change, which is an existential threat to our nation's and planet's future. After the most closed Congress in recent history, this package would reopen our legislative process to transparency and fairness. It also permits the House to take a role in legally defending preexisting condition protections from the Affordable Care Act and in opposing draconian work requirements for federal nutritional benefits. These are important steps that I wholeheartedly support.

"With regards to PAYGO, it is important to remember some basic facts. First and foremost, PAYGO is already part of statutory law and the House Rules package cannot change that. In addition, the Senate has its own set of PAYGO rules. Thus, under current law, if the House does not choose offsets, we would essentially be abdicating that responsibility to the Republican-controlled Senate and Donald Trump's Office of Management and Budget.

"I, for one, refuse to hand Mick Mulvaney a scalpel and enable this Administration to unilaterally slash programs like Medicare payments, the Crime Victims Fund, vocational rehabilitation grants, the Social Services block grant and many other progressive priorities.

"We should also note that for major legislative items, like a ‘Medicare for All' bill the House can vote to waive the PAYGO rules.

"Going forward, I will work with my colleagues in the Progressive Caucus on legislation to reform the PAYGO requirements that are already in statute. However, voting against this rules package would be bad policy, bad for the country, bad for our progressive values and bad for our Democratic Majority. I voted in favor of the Democratic rules package."

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