LEADER JEFFRIES: "REPUBLICANS HAVE SPENT THIS CONGRESS ENGAGING IN RECKLESS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO DISTRACT FROM THEIR FAILED AGENDA"

Interview

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Well, I think it's heading in that direction that Donald Trump's influence is going to kill any possibility at making bipartisan progress on an issue that is clearly important to the American people. From the very beginning of this Congress, House Democrats, we've made clear that we are willing to find bipartisan common ground with our Republican colleagues on any issue in order to make progress for the American people. Joe Biden, as President, has led in a very bipartisan way. Clearly, we have a broken immigration system. We need to address the challenges at the border, do it in a manner consistent with our values, in a comprehensive manner and in a bipartisan way. But the Republicans, apparently, despite insisting for the last few months that this is an urgent challenge that must be met, because they've been ordered by Donald Trump to walk away, appear prepared to do just that.

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House Republicans are engaged in another partisan political stunt. They apparently have been ordered to do so by Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene because these are the individuals who are basically running the House Republican Conference, which is why we've seen nothing from this do-nothing Republican Congress but chaos, dysfunction and extremism. We should be focused on issues related to the economy, inflation, national security, public safety, fixing the border. There are many challenges that we are ready, willing and able to confront with our Republican colleagues in a bipartisan way, but they've basically spent this Congress engaging in reckless political activity designed to distract from their failed agenda.

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On the House side, we're in the middle of having ongoing conversations with ourselves as well as with the administration. I think the point that we've made consistently is that anything that emerges from the Senate should be consistent with two core American principles. One, we are a nation of immigrants. and that will continue to be important to our future competitiveness. It's what makes us dynamic as a country as compared to others who are suffering from demographic challenges. But two, we are a country anchored in the rule of law, and so we'll evaluate the final proposal once it's put into the public domain and we have something to look at in terms of legislative text. But until that time, we'll just continue to dialogue with ourselves, as well as the administration, and make the point that we acknowledge that we have to fix our broken immigration system, but it should be done in a comprehensive, bipartisan, humane fashion.

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Well, I'm going to defer to the administration with respect to what the appropriate response should be. However, it should be strong and decisive and make clear that it's unacceptable for Iran or its proxies to attack U.S. forces in any way, shape or form.You know, our heart goes out to the three military men and women who were killed in the line of duty. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. And we will always honor and cherish them. But this is a dangerous world. Iran is a malignant actor. And it is important for the United States to respond and I'm confident that President Biden and the U.S. military will do so in a strong and decisive fashion.

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