Congressional Black Caucus

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE. Well, thank you so much for that clarification, Mr. Jeffries. So this doesn't pass a constitutional test, it doesn't pass a legal test, and it doesn't even pass the laugh test because I can tell you, for folks who have pursued repeal of the Affordable Care Act for over 50 times, not wanting to implement the employer mandate, to turn around and say, we have been injured because the President delayed it, does not pass the laugh test.

I tell you I have been elected to and served as a public servant since 1988, and I can tell you that Republicans have continuously chastised Democrats for their frivolous lawsuits.

Republicans have continuously claimed that people who have been injured by products--consumer products--should have a cap on their claims, and yet, this frivolous lawsuit will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. So, while it may not have any standing, Mr. Jeffries, it certainly will cost hundreds of millions of dollars before that ruling will be made.

As a matter of fact, in this do-nothing Congress, we have, in fact, wasted money. It is not only that we wasted time; we are wasting money. Some examples of what we have done so far: we have spent $79 million so far in over 50 attacks on the Affordable Care Act; we have even shut the government down for 24 billion--that is billion with a B--dollars. So how much is it going to cost us, once again, to promote this frivolous lawsuit?

We are in session--this is the last week of Congress--and are we going to talk about helping young people with unaffordable interest rates on student loans? No. Are we going to talk about extending and reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank to help manufacturers that are in my district? No.

Are we going to talk about providing unemployment compensation for people who are suffering with no income through no fault of their own because of the economy? No. Are we going to talk about raising the minimum wage? Are we going to talk about reauthorizing terrorism risk insurance? No.

Are we going to talk about whether or not we will provide moneys to humanely and adequately discuss the crises on the borders of our country, the influx of children escaping violence in their home country? No. No. No. We are going to sue the President of the United States. This does not pass the legal test, the constitutional test, and it does not pass the laugh test.

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