Florida Parish News

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) spoke in Washington, D.C. alongside Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and leaders of the House Main Street Caucus to address concerns about the ongoing government shutdown. Scalise criticized Senate Democrats for their role in the impasse, claiming it is negatively affecting American families.

Scalise specifically focused on the impact of the shutdown on military personnel. He stated, “I want to say thank you to the over one million men and women in uniform who continue to serve right now, despite the uncertainty – that uncertainty that does not need to exist. And why? Because Chuck Schumer is more afraid of the radical leftists in his own party than he is concerned about making sure that those families don't have to wonder about whether or not they're going to be able to put food on the table. Their families, while they're overseas, many of them, are going to be able to put food on the table during this Schumer shutdown."

He continued by highlighting financial difficulties faced by service members: “Keep in mind, over one-third of all men and women who serve in uniform right now, over one-third of them live paycheck to paycheck. That means when Chuck Schumer is voting to deny them pay, many of them will not be able to make their rent payment or their mortgage payment. Many of them will not be able to make their car note payment. The stress that that adds to their lives unnecessarily should not happen, did not need to happen.”

Scalise called for Senate Democrats to act: “This House came together. I'm so proud of the men and women I serve with in Congress here in the House, where we did our job, weeks ago, we sent a bill over to the Senate. That doesn't resolve all of our differences. People often say, 'Gee whiz, why can't Washington just get together? Which side is going to win this thing?' It's not about which side wins. It's about stopping the American people from being the losers in Chuck Schumer's fight while we go negotiate our differences. We have big differences we need to negotiate. The clean CR that we passed over to the Senate does not resolve those differences. It just gives us some more time to have that negotiation.”

Addressing what he described as partisan demands from Democrats during negotiations, Scalise said: “How big are those differences? Just look at the wishlist, the hostage list that Chuck Schumer filed weeks ago. His demands that he said have to be met before he'll even open up the government again – $1.5 trillion in new, unrelated spending, Chuck Schumer demanded, including, yes, eliminating all the verifications so that illegals will get taxpayer-funded health care. That's in Chuck Schumer's bill. Chuck Schumer guts the $50 billion rural hospital fund to give taxpayer-funded health benefits to illegals in his hostage demands. That's not going to happen. When are we going to have a rational conversation? When are Democrats going to actually become serious in this discussion?”

Scalise contrasted President Trump’s actions with those of Democratic leaders: “In contrast again, just look at what happened yesterday. Some of us were at the White House at just an amazingly emotional ceremony where President Trump posthumously, unfortunately, issued the Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, and his incredibly brave widow Erika was there... This comes on the heels of President Trump returning from the Middle East... working with other world leaders... President Trump has been doing all those things... he had to go find time ...to pay our troops... even though Chuck Schumer wants ...not paying them...”

He concluded by noting repeated votes on troop pay: “We had yet another vote...the eighth time on the Senate floor yesterday...the Senate was having that vote on whether or not open up government...Democrats continued led by Chuck Schumer ...deny troop pay....It's embarrassing....it's having devastating consequences on millions Americans around this country..."

Steve Scalise represents Louisiana’s 1st district and has served in Congress since 2008 after replacing Bobby Jindal (source). Before serving nationally he held seats both in Louisiana’s House and State Senate between 1996 and 2008 (source). Born in New Orleans in 1965 and currently residing in Jefferson Parish (source), Scalise holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.