McGovern: McConnell is obstructing important bills

Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) is calling for action on the 400+ bills, including more than 275 bipartisan bills, passed by the Democratic House Majority over the past year that are still awaiting action in the GOP-controlled Senate.

“Last year, the American people elected a Democratic House Majority committed to making a difference in the lives of Massachusetts families,” McGovern said. “Democrats have delivered, passing key bills to lower prescription drug prices, prevent gun violence, and get money out of politics. We know we won’t get our way on every issue in divided government, but Leader McConnell refuses to even bring up any bills for debate! While Republicans continue their outrageous obstruction, Democrats will continue to demand that Leader McConnell schedule these important bills for a vote.”

Many important house-passed initiatives have been sitting on McConnell’s desk for months, including:

• H.R. 1, For The People Act, to restore confidence in our democracy, including by cracking down on dark money in campaigns;
• H.R. 3, Lower Drug Costs Now Act, sweeping legislation to dramatically reduce drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies; making lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance, not just Medicare beneficiaries; and stopping drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs;
• H.R. 4, Voting Rights Advancement Act, to finally restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act after the disastrous 2013 Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision;
• H.R. 5, Equality Act, to finally and fully end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans;
• H.R. 6, The American Dream and Promise Act, to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence (and eventual citizenship) to those who have lived most of their lives in this country, including Dreamers and TPS and DED holders;
• H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work;
• H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a commonsense measure to require background checks for all gun sales, closing the gun show and online loopholes;
• H.R. 9, Climate Action Now Act, to ensure that the U.S. honors our commitments on climate action detailed in the Paris Agreement;
• H.R. 987, Protecting People With Pre-Existing Conditions/Lowering Drug Costs, an omnibus bill that includes several provisions to strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions, end ACA sabotage, and bring down drug costs;
• H.R. 582, Raise The Wage Act, to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, raising the wages of up to 33 million hard-working Americans;
• H.R. 1585, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, a strong improvement and long-term reauthorization of VAWA;
• H.R. 1644, Save The Internet Act, to protect the free and open internet for all;
• H.R. 2722, Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act, to strengthen our election defenses against foreign attack;
• H.R. 1112, Enhanced Background Checks; to close the Charleston loophole;

These key bills have the support of strong majorities of the American people.  For example:

• 93 percent of Americans support universal background checks.
• 88 percent of Americans support giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices with drug companies.
• 75 percent of Americans support bills strengthening the protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
• 67 percentof Americans support raising the minimum wage to $15.
• 66 percent of Americans support legislation to combat climate change.
• 87 percent of Americans support protecting Dreamers from deportation.

“Voters sent us to Congress to work for them — not to sit on our hands and run out the clock. Mitch McConnell ought to stop playing games with the health and safety of the American people and bring these bills up for debate,” said McGovern.