the democratic leader in the house. [indiscernible chatter. ] >> ladies and gentlemen the democratic leader, hakeem jeffries! [cheers and applause] >> the whip clause chair aguilar and all those assembled, it's my honor and privilege to stand before you with the house democratic caucus which has made very clear from the beginning of this congress, that we will put people over politics. [cheers and applause] and do everything possible to find common ground whenever and wherever possible with our republican colleagues in order to chart a bipartisan path forward to get things done for the american people. that's been our position from day one and remains our position, because we are here as members of the house of representatives to make life better for every day americans, not play political games. [applause] house democrats will continue to fight for lower costs, better paying jobs, safer communities, reproductive, fix our broken immigration system and protect the right to vote and protect the economy from the middle out

house democrats will continue to partner with president biden and senate democrats to put people over politics. house democrats will continue to fight for lower costs, better paying jobs, safer communities and to build an economy from the middle out and the bottom up and not the top down. house democrats will continue to push back against extremism in this chamber and throughout the country. house democrats will continue to protect social security medicare, medicaid, protect our children, protect our climate, protect low-income families, protect working families, protect the middle class, protect organized crime, protect the lgbtq community, protect veterans, older americans, protect the affordable care act, protect the right to the right to vote, the peaceful transition of power and protect a woman's right to make her own health care decisions. these are blue lines in the sand. and we will work hard to make sure that they are never crossed. we must also continue to stand by president biden as he works to bring american hostages and israeli hostages held by hamas back home. american h

as a result of that, you had house democrats in alignment with senate democrats. both of us were in alignment with senate republicans. both of us were in alignment with president biden. on behalf of the american people. you had the extreme maga republicans on an island all by themselves. as recently as yesterday, they put forth a draconian bill that would have slashed and burned the ability of the federal government to meet the health, safety, and economic needs of the american people. but, largely, as a result of our unity within the house democratic caucus in fighting for everyday americans and putting people over politics, and, because senate democrats had set the stage, thanks to incredible leadership by senator schumer and his team working in a bipartisan way for -- with his senate republican colleagues, we were able to arrive at a place where the american people won. reporter: i heard today there would be a motion that would go to table it because the vote would be to reward or punish on the floor. you see it that way? leader jeffries: we have not had a disc

house democrats want to be reasonable here. we respect elections. we were disappointed that we failed to hold on to the house in november of 2022. but we're not election deniers. we did overperform, we defied the rules of political gravity in a midterm election in a president's first two years in office. but the republicans now hold the gavels. we recognize that, we respect that. but the republicans are unable to function on their own right now. so there's only two paths. either you're going to continue to bend the knee to the most extreme members of your conference who are not interested in governing, or you can partner with democrats to do the business of the american people. >> does ukraine aid need to be part of the solution for you? do you need assurances from republicans on ukraine aid? rep. jeffries: i think it's important for us to reopen the house so we can take care of the health and safety and the economic needs of the american people. it's important to reopen the house so we can stand by israel. it's important to reopen the house so we c

that is the track record of legislative accomplishments under a house democratic majority. house republicans have just elected a speaker nominee who in 16 years in this congress hasn't passed a single bill, because his focus has not been on the american people, his focus has been on peddling lies and conspiracy theories and driving the vision amongst the american people. house republicans now have a choice, their only true path forward. on the one 457bd, house republicans company continue to triple down on the chaos, the dysfunction and extremism that has been visited upon the american people as a result of the house republican civil war. on the other hand, traditional republicans can break away from the extremism, partner with democrats on an enlightened bipartisan path forward so we can end the recklessness and get back to doing the business of the american people and democrats are ready, willing and able to get that done. [applause] >> i yield to our distinguished minority whip, the honorable katherine clark. ms. clark: thank you, it is an honor to be here with our entire

house democrats will continue to partner with president biden and senate democrats to put people over politics. house democrats will continue to fight for lower costs, better paying jobs, safer communities and to build an economy from the middle out and the bottom up and not the top down. house democrats will continue to push back against extremism in this chamber and throughout the country. house democrats will continue to protect social security medicare, medicaid, protect our children, protect our climate, protect low-income families, protect working families, protect the middle class, protect organized crime, protect the lgbtq community, protect veterans, older americans, protect the affordable care act, protect the right to the right to vote, the peaceful transition of power and protect a woman's right to make her own health care decisions. these are blue lines in the sand. and we will work hard to make sure that they are never crossed. we must also continue to stand by president biden as he works to bring american hostages and israeli hostages held by hamas back home. american h

the house democratic caucus is unified. reporter: when a new speaker is elected, how does that bode on appropriation bills? >> our message is that we need to reopen the house and do things like make sure there is child care funding for working families, middle class families and low income families and need to reopen the house to ensure that the affordable broadband connectivity that provides access to people in urban america, rural, suburban, small town america, the middle of america. the heartland of america and appalachia has access to affordable internet service. we need to reopen the house of representatives so we can provide additional disaster relief to americans all across the country in blue states, purple states and red states whose lives have been devastated by extreme weather events. we need to reopen the house to solve problems for hardworking american taxpayers. and house democrats continue to say we are willing to do that in a bipartisan fashion because clearly the votes do not exist in the house republican co

speaker pro tem, i rise today at the direction of the house democratic caucus to place into nomination for the position of speaker of the house of representatives the honorable hakeem jeffries of new york. [applause] here we are again, mr. speaker. and i promise to make these speeches shorter if we get closer to a compromise, but i am not certain that that is going to happen at this moment. while the republican candidate for speaker is making late-night backroom deals to secure the gavel, leader jeffries has once again extended the hand of bipartisanship for a path forward. one thing was very clear yesterday. the vote total. 220--- 212-200. the people's house has spoken and leader jeffries has the support to be speaker that this country needs. [applause] mr. speaker. 212-200. no amount of election tonight is going to take away from those vote totals. [applause] we should not -- mr. speaker pro tem, we should not be surprised at the vote count. i noted yesterday the legislative acumen of the gentleman from ohio. wouldn't surprise anyone that in addition to not passing a single piece of

i think that is what the house democrats would point out. he's supposed to be speaker of the house, not just speaker of the republican conference. that's what democrats would say. but i guess the big question i have is how worried are you that this speakership fight is going to drag out, it's going to affect house republicans' ability to govern, to pass spending bills -- >> jake. >> go ahead. >> this is the issue. i came here to get something done. >> right. >> our freshman brothers came here because we were this close to losing our nation. and we gave up everything we had in life to come here and serve the people of our district. and now we're dealing with these shenanigans. they're on the house floor right now debating the rules for energy and water. we have passed four appropriations bills, eight to go. we have 45 days to get this done for the american people. and this is gamemanship that is going to slow us down and prevent us from doing the work that our voters sent us here to do. it's unacceptable. >> do you worry that this fight will f

house democrats, house republicans, senate democrats, senate republicans and president biden. so -- so why have we spent the last several weeks here in the house of representatives trying to break that agreement and threaten a reckless government shutdown? which by the way will have catastrophic consequences for the american people. we want the american people to know that we are going to do everything possible to stop extreme maga republicans from shutting down the government. we are fighting on their behalf to put people over politics. that's why we're here. that's why we're making this fight. and we want to do it in a bipartisan way. so we're in the process of evaluating the legislation that was dropped on the american people at the 11th hour. and once we conclude that expeditious review of the four corners of the legislation, we can make a decision as to the best path forward. when we have said all week that the only path forward is a bipartisan one, a bipartisan bill working its way through the senate right now. senate democrats and senate republicans coming together to me

house of representatives. tyrone in wilson, north carolina. democratic caller. we are getting your thoughts on how this all unfolded today. right here on c-span. in the house of representatives. tyrone, what are your thoughts? caller: my thoughts is, i wish mr. jeffries would get it. he's more concerned about the people and then the thing about this, they've been promising us our money that we need, stimulus check we haven't got it. i put many i faith in mr. jeffries. i'm thinking maybe he'll make some kind of arrangement, put a word in for the middle class people because we need sources too and as well, you know, i'm living out here with my mother, she has stage iv cancerring we have the help but they're not sending us the funds we need to get because where i live at in wilson, north carolina, i wish mr. jeffries could come and just walk through my neighborhood and look at how we live each and every day. host: all right, tyrone there for hakeem jeffries. dave sherman of punchbowl news tweeting out, it's not looking good for jordan. most of the 20 who voted again

house democrats stand behind hakeem jeffries and stand toward a bipartisanship path forward. i encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do the same. >> i represent central and southern illinois. as a front liner and someone who flipped the seat last cycle from red to blue, my constituents sent me to congress to find solutions and not be part of the political noise and dysfunction in washington. where i come from, compromise is not a dirty word and the people i represent deserve results. as we face terrorism in israel, humanitarian needs in gaza, a war in ukraine, a crisis on the southern border and another government shutdown possibility, we cannot afford a house majority that is not up to this job. i know i have colleagues across the aisle who are in the same boat, who came here to get real things done for their constituents. within my 10 months in congress, there has been nonstop chaos. i voted 18 entitlements for speaker of the house while some of our significant challenges remain unaddressed by the house majority. and now we have gone 20 days unable to do

. >> house democratic leaders spoke to reporters about the search for a speaker of the house as we approach 21 days without a speaker. you to that now. >> today is day 21 without a speaker and the other side is back to square one. after the failure of maga extremists, jim j rep. aguilar: today is day 21 without a speaker and the other side is back to square one. after the failure of maga extremists, jim jordan, multiple candidates have emerged to see if they can be the ones to get to 217, if any of them at all can get that done. the american people and our allies abroad cannot afford any delays. every day of maga madness is another day of not sending aid to israel and ukraine, not taking meaningful steps to fund our government, and not making sure that we are looking out for working families in this country. it is another day of being away from our districts and talking to folks in our communities who elected us to work on their business, the people's business, not to be here and baby sit house republicans as their party infighting further cripples the integrity of this institution. house r

this is the house democratic leadership news conference. we'll take you to that now. >> today is day 21 without a speaker and the other side is back to square one. after the failure of maga extremists, jim jordan, multiple candidates have emerged to see if they can be the ones to get to 217 if any of them at all can get that done. the american people and our allies abroad cannot afford any delays. any day of maga madness is another day of not sending aid to israel and ukraine or funding our government and not making sure that we are looking out for working families in this country. another day of being away from our districts and talking to folks in our communities who elected us to work on their business, the people's business, not to be here and baby sit house republicans as their infighting further crimes this institution. they can continue down the path of destruction or work with house democrats in a bipartisan path forward to get back to doing the people's business. the clock is ticking and end the chaos and dysfunction and get back t

before i say anything further, let me just communicate on behalf of house democrats.ow heartbroken we are by the tragic events in maine, the killing and slaughter once again of innocent americans, families, broken individuals, injured, fighting for their lives. and we stand with the people of maine and will do so in every way possible moving forward. president biden continues to show tremendous leadership. and he has requested that congress act now on a national security supplemental funding request for israel, ukraine, other parts of the free world, along with humanitarian assistance to palestinian civilians and others who may be in harm's way. the house needs to prepare itself to act immediately. as soon as bipartisan legislation is sent over from the united states senate. president biden has also requested supplemental funding in terms of some of the domestic priorities for the american people, particularly as it relates to child care support for ensuring that there's affordable broadband access all across the country. as well as making sure there's additional fund

house democrats made it clear they are unenthusiastic about bailing out the republican majority. >> weant to find a bipartisan path to reopening the house of representatives so we can solve problems for the american people and stand with our friends like israel and ukraine and others throughout the free world. but the house republican civil war continues to rage on. >> joining me now is the house democratic leader congressman hakeem jeffries of new york. leader jeffries, welcome back to "meet the press." >> good morning. >> well, let's start right there. we heard you talking about a bipartisan solution to resolving this stalemate in the house. are you actually having conversations behind the scenes with the republican counterpart about trying to create a bipartisan solution, a governing coalition? >> there are informal conversations that have been under way when we get back to washington tomorrow. it's important to begin to formalize those discussions. from the very beginning of this congress, house democrats have made clear that we want to continue to put people over politics, and to

senator feinstein, but i have to ask you, house democratsek your advice regarding this news made moments ago in the show about this pending motion to vacate speaker mccarthy's speakership, how will you vote and what advice would you give fellow democrats on whether you can trust fellow democrats so that he can stay in power? >> my advice to my fellow democrat democrats simple. hakeem jefferies has done a great job and we had a victory in the continuing resolution and it was a victory for the democrats and a defeat for the mag as. listening to your conversation if that's the conversation, that back and forth there, it's such a fraud when they start the basis of this is about spending. these are people who gave a tax cut to the richest people in america to the cost of $2 trillion to our national debt when what's his name was president of the united states. $2 trillion to the national debt, and that was to give 83% of the benefits to the top 1%. they're on the proud for medicare and medicaid and they would cut social security, to help meet the

house democratic caucus is unified. reporter: how does the dysfunction bode for passing appropriation bills, are you concerned about that? mr. jeffries: we need to reopen the house so we can do things like make sure there is child care funding for working class families, low-income families and reopen the house to ensure that the affordable broadband connectivity program that provides access to people across the country in urban america, rural america, small-town america, the middle of america, the heartland of america, in appalachia has access to affordable internet service. we need to reopen the house of representatives so we can provide additional disaster relief to americans across the country in blue states, purple states and red states whose lives have been devastated by extreme weather events. we need to reopen the house to solve problems for hard working american taxpayers. and house democrats are saying we are willing to do it in a bipartisan fashion. because clearly the house does not exist in the house republi

the house democrats are in agreement with the senate democrats. we are in agreement with senate republicans. all of us are in agreement with president biden. it's the extreme maga republicans in the house who are on an island. they need to get off that island and join us in a bipartisan way so we can fund the government responsibly. >> another issue this -- to put it kindly, circus, delayed the consideration of the $105 billion supplemental aid request, including money for ukraine as well as for israel and humanitarian support for citizens of gaza. would you be willing to separate those out, particularly the israel/ukraine aid issue, given some of the opposition there? >> no. it's my expectation that the senate will send over a bipartisan bill that meets the needs of the american people from a national security standpoint and that necessarily involves being supportive of israel and its war against hamas, being supportive of the ukrainian war effort against russian aggression. it's in the best interest of the free world that we stand by ukraine, tha

we came just hours away from a shutdown this weekend, with 209 house democrats and 125 house republicans voting to put people over politics. a government shutdown would have been a disaster for the american people. and i'm glad democrats and reasonable republicans were able to come together to get a short-term funding package to the house through the senate and on to the president's desk, with just hours to spare. this short-term funding package includes an extension of the f.a.a. authorization, funding for flood insurance programs, $16 billion for disaster relief and, most importantly, it will keep the lights on for the over 6,500 federal employees in north carolina's 13th district. looking ahead, this short-term funding package gives us more time to come together, find common ground, and pass bipartisan spending bills for the full year. for democrats, that means funding for ukraine. our support for ukraine cannot waiver. -- waver. i wish we didn't have to spend any money in ukraine, but if vladimir putin wins, we'll have to spend a thousand times more trying to contain an aggressive an

>> personally, no. >> i'm told that house democratic leaders began this morning's behind closed-doors meeting by playing clips from kevin mccarthy on television this past weekend. he was trash talking democrats. is and that set the tone for the conversation and led most democrats to feel they don't oweowe kevin mccarthy anything. i want to get straight to capitol hill where manu raju is, who has been doing extensive roorting. what's the latest that you're hearing on that critical question. will democrats bail out kevin mccarthy? >> reporter: the short absentee is no. coming out of that meeting, you're right. there was the view among members that they cannot trust kevin mccarthy. i they listened to that video clip that you refer red to abou kevin mccarthy on the sunday shows, and a number of them went up to the mics, one after one, indicating that they can't trust him. there's no reason to save him. i did not hear from a single member. i talked to many in the meeting who are ready to vote to help him out in any way. that's the message coming from the democratic leadership. include ing

house republicans. i'm not talking about democrats or the media, i'm talking about house republicans. they're pretty angry. take a listen. >> unfortunately, a handful of people, and in particular, a party of one, matt gaetz, have chosen to put his own agenda, his own personal agenda above all else. he's not a conservator republican, he's a charlatan. >> they killed the most conservative we could take and called themselves the realaeal conservatives. like, make that make sense. >> "the wall street journal" editorial board called it a government shutdown for dummies, and among the criticisms, the real goal of the malcontent seems to be tom mr. mccarthy for personal spite. it's also personally stupid with failure foreordained. the gaetz republicans are playing personal games. what do you say to these conservatives, these republicans? >> well, i think what's really stupid is sitting atop a $33 trillion debt facing $2.2 trillion annual deficits, while the world is de-dollarizing. just in august, you saw the bric system that is moving away from the dollar add six new countries, including go

in 2010, we lost 63 seats when democrats had the house, senate and presidency. same situation in 1994 we lost 54 seats. that usually happens. that didn't happen this time around. we are only five seats short. we gained a seat in the senate. and won all the governorships including michigan and wisconsin and pennsylvania and governorships in arizona and kansas. every single election denier running in a swing state for attorney general or secretary of state lost. we actually gained seats in legislative bodies all across the country including in pennsylvania and flipped the two chambers in michigan. it was a decisive wing -- win for a forward-looking way of approaching politics and incredible accomplishments to date of president biden in terms of what has been done -- with the legislation for the first time in 30 years, breaking the backs of the n.r.a., inflation reduction act, largest investment in combatting the climate crisis in the history of the world. we made tremendous progress together and now our job is to build upon that progress, not allow the other side

speaker pro tem, i rise today at the direction of the house democratic caucus to place into nomination for the position of speaker of the house of representatives the honorable hakeem jeffries of new york. here we are again, mr. speaker. and i promise to make these speeches shorter if we get closer to a compromise, but i'm not certain that that's going to happen at this moment. while the republican candidate for speaker is making late-night backroom deal it is secure the gavel, leader jeffries has once again extended the hand of bipartisanship for a path forward. one thing was very clear yesterday. the vote total. 220 -- 212-200. the people's house has spoken and leader jeffries has the support to be speaker that this country needs. mr. speaker. 212-200 no am of election denying is going to take away from those vote totals. we shouldn't -- mr. speaker pro tem, we shouldn't be surprised at the vote count. i noted yesterday the legislative acumen of the gentleman from ohio. would it surprise anyone that in addition to not passing a single piece of legislation, he's never put a piece of l

karine: it's not for us to decide, it's up to house democrats and house republicans more specifically house republicans to decide. reporter: it's not in the white house's interest to go in on a fight for the speakership, what are your president's thoughts on that? karine: he said the president doesn't have a vote on this matter and something for house republicans to decide. look, you're right, there is chaos with the house republicans. what we saw this weekend should not have happened. it should not have happened. i mean, thank goodness the government is open and that critical programs are now moving forward but we should never have been marched to the brink that they did. it's their basic duty to keep the government open. we're not getting involved and for house republicans to decide. reporter: with a question on ukraine funding. are you able to outline for us how much the u.s. has left in funding for ukraine in the humanitarian funding bill? karine: any specific questions on the funding left, i have to refer you to the department of defense. they'll be more able to share what is the

we will remember this. >> that from a fellow democratic colleague of yours in the house. what do you say to them? >> outlier democratic lawmakers who spread disinformation and falsely conflate hamas with the palestinian people do not speak for the democratic party. the leader of the democratic party, joe biden, the leader of house democrats, hakeem jeffries, the leader of senate democrats, chuck schumer, they are the ones who represent the democratic party's position on standing with israel and in that vein it is forceful and unequ unequivocal. israel has a right to defend themselves against terrorists who murder jews and the united states has the responsibility to stay with our fellow democracy in the middle east. >> congressman jake auchincloss, thank you for your time. >> good to be with you. >>> moments from now the house of representatives set to convene right up the hallway from where the congressman is standing at our camera position, they are convening one more time for one more vote on the house floor, the third vote for house speaker this speak. jim jordan pressi

democrats did this, with the ye votes in the, house you need 218. ere were 209 democrats took responsibility for keeping the government open, and only about 130 or so republicans. but yet, kevin mccarthy once is just that somehow, he was governing through. this jeffries was, and so matt gaetz actually really has a point within the republican caucus. he is just so roomed and sullied of his own personal reputation, that they find him detestable, and nobody wants to actually support his motion, because it is coming from gaetz. but at the end of the day, i think the votes will be there among republicans, to vacate kevin mccarthy, just because the margins are so slim. and then the question becomes, do democrats support keeping kevin mccarthy? i don't think they should, i think it would be a disaster if they do. but, do they provide the votes to save kevin mccarthy, because it's a question for house democrats. >> well, i'm going to paying that question over to you, mo, because there is now a question among democrats about how this all plays out, including

speaker, i rise today at the direction of the house democratic caucus to place into nomination for the position of speaker of the house of representatives the honorable hah keep jeffries of new york. here we are again, mr. speaker. i promise to make these speeches shorter if we get closer to ament compromise, but i'm not certain that that's going to happen at this moment. while the republican candidate for speak er is making late-nigt bathroom deals to secure the gavel, leader jeffries has once again extended the hand of bipartisanship for a path forward. one thing was very clear yesterday. the vote total. 220, 212 to 200. leader jeffries has the support to be speaker that this country needs. mr. speaker, 212-200, no amount of election denying is going to take away from those vote totals. we shouldn't be surprised at the vote count. i noted yesterday the legislative acumen of the gentleman from ohio. would it surprise anyone that in addition to not passing a single piece of legislation, he's never put a put a piece of legislation that's made it to a committee. the speaker of the house

that's what leaders do and that's exactly why the house democratic caucus unanimously voted to nominateakeem jeffries for speaker of the house yesterday. now i'd like to introduce vice chair ted lieu. >> thank you, chairman. i strongly condemn the brutal invasion by hamas of israel and the barbaric acts committed against israelis, american citizens and citizens of other nations. there are no words strong enough in the english language to describe the unspeakable evil perpetrated by hamas last / . last saturday was the deadliest day for the jewish people since the end of the holocaust, let me know just state the obvious hamas is not interested in peace. hamas is a genocidal homicidal religiously fanatical terrorist organization. it has two goals -- to slaughter jews and to annihilate the state of israel. its founding charter tells its members to kill jews and to destroy israel. shows that when you talk about hamas, they are really isis, the same kind of killing horrendous, inhumane actions. this attack is truly unprecedented. when you consider the size of israel's population proportional

a reminder 221 republicans in the house, 212 democrats in the house. not a very big margin. 205 republicans were present and voted for either jim jordan or austin scott. jim jordan needs to get to 217 on the floor. right now he won 124 votes in the caucus. the democrats will be holding a press conference shortly. we'll get their views and hear what they have to say live in just a few minutes. albert, okeaforest, illinois, democrat. good afternoon. caller: i would rather see hakeem jeffries run again and jim jordan should be tried along with donald trump as far as i'm concerned. that's all i have to say. host: elizabeth is another democrat in monterey park, california. hi, elizabeth. caller: hi, how are you? host: how are you? caller: i'm good. jim jordan is conof the conspirators for overthrowing the capitol. he even avoided his subpoena to come in and speak with the committee. jim jordan will not have any support from the democrats because he is not from democracy. he disrespects the judicial system. he disrespects the founding fathers and the constit

we know that some of our colleagues have complained to the democratic leader in the house, hakeem jeffries, about this. i talked to another democrat who said we've seen the house democrats range from being outspoken on this. debbie wasserman schultz said this was a vile position to take. others are standing back to give her some room to perhaps walk this back. but they said that fetterman tweet that you just read in the lead in there, that that sums up how a lot of house democrats feel right now. >> i talked to a u.s. senator who attended a classified briefing who said the classified intelligence makes it clear there's no doubt that was palestinian islamic jihad, but are democrats afraid that if they call out congresswoman talib that they will alienate and anger the progressive base of the democratic party that is far more critical of israel? >> far more critical of israel and has been part of the democratic coalition in winning these elections in the last several cycles. so they have been a critical part to the democratic coalition. the sense i'm getting from talking to people is there is

in 2010, we lost 63 seats when democrats had the house, senate and presidency. same situation in 1994 we lost 54 seats. that usually happens. that didn't happen this time around. we are only five seats short. we gained a seat in the senate. and won all the governorships including michigan and wisconsin and pennsylvania and governorships in arizona and kansas. every single election denier running in a swing state for attorney general or secretary of state lost. we actually gained seats in legislative bodies all across the country including in pennsylvania and flipped the two chambers in michigan. it was a decisive wing -- win for a forward-looking way of approaching politics and incredible accomplishments to date of president biden in terms of what has been done -- with the legislation for the first time in 30 years, breaking the backs of the n.r.a., inflation reduction act, largest investment in combatting the climate crisis in the history of the world. we made tremendous progress together and now our job is to build upon that progress, not allow the other side