State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), chair of the New York State Senate health committee, had urged Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to hold firm Wednesday, Nov. 12, on a vote to ensure tax credits needed to protect healthcare coverage for millions of constituents be secured amid the federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history at seven weeks.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, the senator released a statement on the shutdown after the U.S. Senate voted on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to end it after eight Democrats sided with Republicans, leaving it up to the U.S. House of Representatives to take their respective vote on the situation. His full statement is attached.

 

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries (NY-8) and other Democrats held a press conference, and urged Republicans to get back to work and ensure health care coverage be provided to all constituents for the next three years by voting to extend the necessary (expiring) tax credits to cover it. They cited at least one constituent death apparently due to lack of coverage and necessary care in recent weeks.

 

A statement on Jeffries website on Wednesday, read, “REPUBLICANS HAVE SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS.”

 

It continued, “In the next few days, more than 20 million Americans are going to receive notices that will indicate that their premiums, co-pays and deductibles are about to skyrocket, which will bankrupt many Americans and prevent others from being able to access the healthcare they need.  Democrats are united in our resolve to make sure that we cancel the cuts, lower the cost and save healthcare for the American people.”

 

The statement continued, “During the Republican shutdown, my offices in New York and Washington, D.C. will remain open to serve the people of the 8th congressional district. We can be reached at (202) 225-5936 (D.C.) or (718) 237-2211 (Brooklyn).”

Both Parties’ health committees were due to meet Tuesday night to discuss the matter further and an actual vote in the House to reopen the government was expected to take place on Wednesday.

 

In reference to the impasse, Rivera had also said Wednesday, “I urge @housedemocrats, especially New York’s Congressional delegation, to hold the line and use every mechanism at their disposal to secure these tax credits once and for all.”

 

The vote in the House to re-open the government went ahead on Wednesday evening finally and narrowly passed 222-to-209 according to reporting by The New York Times.

According to CBS News, the House vote approved a funding package, extending funding for most agencies until Jan. 30, and includes three full-year funding bills for other parts of the government. CBS reported that most House Democrats opposed the legislation since it does not finally address the expiring health care tax credits that were at the center of the party’s shutdown demands.

 

As part of the deal with Republicans, the outlet reported that Senate Democrats were reportedly promised a further vote on the issue by mid-December.

 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), who represents parts of The Bronx and Queens said Wednesday, “It is unconscionable that what we are debating right now is legislation that will give 8 senators over $1 million a piece and we are robbing people of their food assistance and of their healthcare to pay for it. How is this even on the floor? How can we vote to enrich ourselves by stealing from the American people?”

On Nov. 9, she had said, “The average monthly SNAP benefit is $177 a person. The average ACA benefit is up to $550 a person/mo. People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives. Working people want leaders whose word means something.”

 

As reported, local nonprofit Part of the Solution (POTS), located in both the Bedford Park and Fordham Manor sections of The Bronx, had stepped up amid the federal shutdown and bolstered its services and advocacy efforts to help those most affected. POTS officials said the organization is adding additional pantry distributions to ensure families can continue to access nutritious food. For more on this topic, including a list of where to access free food, click here, here, here and here.