Reps. Jackson Lee and Escobar Address Debt-Ceiling Fight

Texas Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D) and Veronica Escobar (D) addressed the ongoing debt-ceiling fight.

In a tweet, Rep. Jackson Lee pleaded with her colleagues to avoid the possible default.

“Save the economy, stop the default,” said Rep. Lee

“I signed the petition to stop the default on our children, to stop the default on our working families, to stop the default on the United States military and stop the default on our veterans. The nation pays her bills. Stop the default!”

Rep. Veronica Escobar accused Republicans of a possible attempt to sabotage the economy.

“The @HouseGOP is threatening to blow up our economy and default on our debts, and the only way they’ll allow us to pay our bills is if we agree to deep cuts. Let’s take a look at what cuts they want:”

The Democratic lawmaker continued to criticize Republican policies.

“While three in five Americans support @POTUS's debt relief plan, House Republicans are attempting to use legislative proceedings to not only rescind the debt relief plan, but make you pay MORE,” said Rep. Escobar.

“Student loan forgiveness, as well as the payment pause during the pandemic, has overwhelmingly helped keep more money in people's pockets. 37 million borrowers saved about $230/month from the payment pause. 43 million borrowers saved about $150/month from a 0% interest rate.”

Escobar questioned the Republican policy that she states will raise the amount of debt that student loan borrowers owed.

“With their legislation H.J.Res. 45, House Republicans are demanding that borrowers pay the interest from September - December 2022, totaling about $233/month or about $932,” said the Texas congresswoman.

The Texas representative took issue with the idea that Americans could have to pay money on loans that have already been forgiven.

“Not only that, they're going to reinstate payments on public servants like teachers and firefighters who have already had these loans forgiven. Can you imagine finding out you no longer have that burden of monthly payments only to find out they've been reinstated?”

Escobar expressed her opposition to the bill while criticizing the Republicans’ use of existing loan forgiveness programs.

“I'll be voting against this bill. While 90% of the people who benefit from student debt relief are currently making under $75k/year, the same Republicans proposing these measures are the ones who received millions in loan forgiveness from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP),” said the El Paso native.

Recently, Texas Representative Pete Sessions (R) introduced new healthcare legislation, the Health Care Fairness for All Act. The bill, also known as H.R. 3129, is intended to reform the health care system.

“My Health Care Fairness for All Act gives Americans more control, lower prices, and less hassle by: Reforming federal health tax subsidies, Offering a tax-advantaged health savings account. Removing barriers between patients and doctors,” said Rep. Sessions.