STATEMENT ON CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS’ THREAT TO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT FROM BUILDING BACK TOGETHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIELLE MELFI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2021
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

STATEMENT ON CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS’ THREAT TO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT FROM BUILDING BACK TOGETHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIELLE MELFI

Senate Republicans expected to block effort to raise debt ceiling tonight

“Tonight, Senate Republicans are expected to block an effort to raise the debt ceiling and prevent a government shutdown as the Republican Party continues to play partisan games with the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and the economic wellbeing of everyday Americans. Despite experts across the political spectrum agreeing that a default would be catastrophic for the economy and wipe out as many as six million jobs, Republicans in Congress continue to refuse to join Democrats to raise the debt ceiling on a bipartisan basis, despite voting to do so multiple times, including during the previous Administration.”

“Let’s be clear — raising the debt ceiling doesn’t generate any new spending, but simply allows the government to meet existing obligations to our seniors, families, service members, business community, and more. Fundamentally, we cannot build back better for everyday Americans if Republicans willingly cause a catastrophic default and plunge our country into an unprecedented economic crisis just as we are emerging from a historic pandemic for no reason other than political gamesmanship. That is a shameful responsibility their entire party must bear.”

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