Neal Opening Statement at Health, Worker and Family Support, and Social Security Markup

(As prepared for delivery) 

American families have had enough of Republican failure and the President’s brazen corruption. They’re rightly angry that the President who once promised to lower costs on day one now dismisses their pain as something he doesn’t even think about. And they’re rightfully scared as they watch their gas prices, airfare, and grocery prices soar right at the start of the summer travel season. The numbers speak for themselves. New polling shows that 70 percent of Americans believe President Trump is harming the middle class, and for good reason. They’re reminded of his failure every time they pay a bill or visit the doctor, the gas pump, and the grocery store.

They’re also demanding answers as to why House Republicans continue pretending they’re powerless and look the other way as the President leverages his office into a personal cash cow. Pretending to care about fraud in this room rings hollow as people witnessed this week one of the most brazen acts of public corruption and self-dealing in American history. The President settled a phony lawsuit where he was on both sides—one the Court would have thrown out. He created a sham $1.8 billion slush fund for his friends, family, and January 6 criminals, which stenches of dirty dealing at the highest level. Worse yet, the President gave himself a free pass from federal taxes. Further, he absolved the federal government from any responsibility for oversight of the slush fund and liability for fraud. The fund is cloaked in darkness and secrecy, which makes it ripe for committing crimes. For someone who says he doesn’t think about Americans’ finances, he’s spending a lot of time figuring out how to put their dollars in his own pocket.

Republicans have been incapable of bringing costs down, unwilling to reign in a President abusing his authorities, and complicit as the Administration operates by crooks for crooks, handing out special favors and get out of jail free cards to the President’s family, allies, and friends. 

Americans deserve better than this betrayal, and Republicans should be standing with us to end it. Put real solutions on the table that end the President’s graft, bring relief to families buckling in this economy, and protect their tax dollars from blatant abuse and corruption by the President. Anything less is just theatre.

I yield back. 

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