Monmouth Times

Piscataway, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) on May 19 held a press conference to call out House Republicans’ manufactured default crisis and highlight the devastating impact it would have on New Jersey. House Republicans recently passed the Default on America Act that would make harmful cuts to critical programs and services in New Jersey. 

In New Jersey, the Default on America Act would:

• Endanger health insurance for 701,000 people.
• Strip nutrition food assistance from at least 43,000 women, infants, and children.
• Threaten access to food assistance for 11,000 people aged 50-55.
• Eliminate preschool and child care for at least 9,100 children.
• Increase housing costs for at least 20,200 people.
• Make college more expensive for at least 150,100 students.
• Cut at least 190 rail safety inspection days.
• Reduce access to outpatient care at Veterans Affairs medical facilities by approximately 218,904 visits.
• Repeal investments in cleaner, cheaper energy, threatening at least 200 clean energy and manufacturing jobs announced in New Jersey since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Republicans are also gambling with Americans’ safety by threatening to not pay the nation’s bills by raising the debt limit. The Default on America Act would inflict a 22% spending cut and would slash nearly $17 billion in funding nationwide for federal law enforcement, courts, and prisons that support public safety.

“Right-wing Republicans are holding all Americans hostage, insisting that we inflict cruel cuts to hurt hardworking Americans or force a devastating default on our debt. House Republicans recently passed a bill to take Medicaid away from millions, kick kids out of child care, rip food assistance away from families, and slash veterans’ health care,” Pallone said. “House Democrats are committed to lowering costs and creating better paying jobs while cutting wasteful spending on special interests. We simply do not have to choose between paying our bills and building an economy that works for everyone.”

“How much harder can House Republicans squeeze the Garden State?” Piscataway Mayor Brian C. Wahler asked.  “We already give more than we get back and now to pay for the Trump tax cuts they want to jeopardize our kids in day care?  Our veterans?  Our seniors?  It’s simply unconscionable.”

“There were times – many times – when our country put its future in the hands of young men and women in uniform and these same men and women still carry the burdens of war placed upon them,” Piscataway American Legion Commander Ron Veliky said. “The medical needs of veterans should not be up for debate but sadly they are with the House Republicans’ budget cuts.”

“My generation understands responsibility,” Piscataway senior citizen Brenda Smith said. “Day after day, year after year, we went to work, raised our families and paid our taxes – and we never questioned it. We spent our lives investing in America and now the House Republicans want to pull back on the promises made to us. Shame on them!”

If Republicans don't get what they want, they’re threatening to default on our nation's bills, unleashing economic catastrophe and putting vital government services at risk in New Jersey, including:

• Destroying an estimated 8,100 jobs in New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District alone and more than 7 million jobs nationwide.
• Jeopardizing Social Security payments for 85,000 families in NJ-06.
• Putting health benefits at risk for 233,000 people in NJ-06 who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs for health care.
• Increasing lifetime mortgage costs for the typical homeowner in New Jersey by $63,000.
• Raising the costs of a new car loan for the typical American by $800.