Hakeem Jeffries Archives

Democrats elect historic leadership with ‘mandate to stamp out extremism’

November 30, 2022

House Democrats approved a historic leadership team for the 118th Congress starting in January. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has been appointed party leader, becoming the first Black man to head a political party on Capitol Hill.

Jeffries will have two members of the current leadership team at his side, but in elevated positions. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., will be the whip, and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., will serve as caucus chair.

“We look forward to finding opportunities to partner with the other side of the aisle and work with them whenever possible, but we will also push back against extremism whenever necessary,” Jeffries said.

Republicans are taking control of the House, and current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is working hard to get the 218 votes necessary to become speaker. The new Democratic leadership team said they will work to be bipartisan but will continue to fight against what they called MAGA extremism.

“We heard loud and clear this election from the American people that they want us to work to get things done for them. They want us to reduce the costs that they have and they want us to stamp out extremism in every form. And that’s going to be our mandate,” Aguilar said.

The current top Democrats – Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, and Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina – will still be on Capitol Hill, just in different roles. Jeffries said being able to look to them for guidance is a blessing.
Hakeem Jeffries, Pete Aguilar headline new Democratic leadership

November 18, 2022

The House Democratic leadership that has been in power for decades is stepping down. It is also endorsing Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, N.Y., Katherine Clark, Mass., and Pete Aguilar, Calif., to fill its shoes in the hopes of having a smooth transition.

“In the 118th Congress, House Democrats will be led by a trio that reflects our beautiful diversity of our nation. Chair Jeffries, Assistant Speaker Clark and Vice Chair Aguilar know that, in our Caucus, diversity is our strength and unity is our power,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, said in a statement. “A new day is dawning — and I am confident that these new leaders will capably lead our Caucus and the Congress.”

The outgoing Democratic Whip, Rep. James Clyburn, S.C., also expressed his support for the trio, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Md., said Jeffries should be his successor. Hoyer’s also stated he would remain as a resource and assist in any way possible.

“I am proud to offer my strong endorsement to Hakeem Jeffries for Democratic Leader, a role in which he will make history for the institution of the House and for our country. He is a skilled and capable leader who will help us win back the Majority in 2024 as we strive to continue delivering on our promises to the American people,” Hoyer wrote in a letter to the Democratic caucus.

So who are House Democrats’ next generation leaders?

Rep. Jeffries, who officially declared his candidacy to be the next Democratic leader Friday, is the caucus chairman. Jeffries has represented Brooklyn in Congress since 2013. The NYU Law School graduate served as a House impeachment manager in the first Senate trial of Donald Trump. He worked his way up the congressional ladder as whip of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Democratic Policy Communications Committee.

Rep. Clark is the Assistant Speaker to Pelosi, but is on track to be the next whip. She’s a member of the House Progressive Caucus. Before entering Congress, she was both a senator and representative in the Massachusetts state legislature. If she secures the whip position, she’d be the number two, responsible for building support for legislation and getting bills passed.

Rep. Aguilar is the vice chair of the Democratic caucus and the highest ranking Latino in Congress. He is a member of the Jan. 6 investigative committee and the House Appropriations Committee. Aguilar would be the caucus chair, responsible for developing policy priorities.
Nancy Pelosi stepping down from House Democratic leadership

November 17, 2022

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, is not seeking a leadership position in the next Congress, opening the door for the Democratic party’s next generation. She is not retiring and will retain her seat representing San Francisco.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD, will also step down from House leadership and endorse Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, to be the next party leader.

“For me the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Caucus that I so deeply respect,” Pelosi said during a speech on the House floor.

Pelosi has been in the House for 35 years and has been in Democratic party leadership for over two decades. She said she’s most proud of passing the Affordable Care Act with President Obama and an Infrastructure bill with President Biden. She also reflected on the recent midterm elections in which her party lost the majority but didn’t lose as many seats as expected.

“Last week the American people spoke. And their voices were raised in defense of liberty, of the rule of law, and of democracy itself,” Pelosi said.

On Jan. 4, 2007, Pelosi became the first woman in history to be Speaker of the House, the highest-ranking member of Congress and second in line to the President.

In her initial address, she called for bipartisanship and supporting the troops as the war on terror continued.

“In this House we may be two different parties, but we serve one country,” Pelosi said. “And our pride and our prayers are united behind our men and women in uniform.”

Fifteen years later, she will hand the gavel to someone else for the final time.
Republicans win House majority

November 17, 2022

Republicans win: Republicans will take a majority in the House of Representatives. Although it’s still unclear exactly what the final balance of power will be, current return data indicates they will win at least the 218 seats necessary to control the chamber. Control of the House is crucial for 3 main reasons:

1. Legislation

The House majority will determine the future of President Joe Biden’s agenda. Democrats had a razor thin 220-212 advantage for the first half of Biden’s first term in office and struggled at times to get key bills over the finish line, including the Inflation Reduction Act. Any further loss means the president will have to curb or abandon some of his more ambitious plans, especially when it comes to climate change and social spending.

2. Investigations

Democrats want to continue to look into former President Donald Trump’s time in office and his business dealings. Republicans meanwhile say they want to investigate the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the origins of the coronavirus, and the Biden family’s business deals.

But only one party can have its way. A majority in the chamber also means that party gets a majority in the committees. That brings the power to call hearings, direct where committee resources are used, and perhaps most importantly, the power to subpoena.

3. The Speaker

The speaker of the House is second in line to the presidency, behind only the vice president. But on Capitol Hill, they are in charge. The speaker can determine who sits on which committees and which bills are brought up for a vote on the House floor. A member needs a majority vote from the whole House to become speaker. Although the vote typically follows party lines, it is not solely a majority party decision.

It’s unclear who would rise to the top for Democrats. Current Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been the leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2002. Reports indicate Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the current Democratic Caucus chair, is in the lead to become the next Democratic leader on Capitol Hill.

Republicans appear poised to select the current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Calif. He has made it clear he wants the job after losing a previous bid to become speaker in 2015.
Congress on track to fund government, avoid shutdown

September 29, 2022

Members of Congress in both chambers believe they are on track to pass a government funding bill and avoid a shutdown Friday at midnight. The package just passed the Senate, 72-25, and is now headed to the House

“The last thing the American people [need] right now is a pointless government shutdown. I’m optimistic we are on track to avoiding one well before the deadline,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said.

House Democratic Leadership said they expect a relatively smooth process because Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., has been participating in negotiations with the Senate.

“We are prepared to act, as soon as the Senate acts,” House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, N.Y., said.

The Continuing Resolution (CR) largely funds the government at its current levels, but there are a few key additions. There will be $12.3 billion for Ukraine to provide equipment, training, weapons, logistics support, and financial support for their government. Financial support for the war received strong bipartisan approval.

“It’s crystal clear that American assistance has gone a long way to helping the Ukrainian people resist Putin’s evil, vicious aggression,” Sen. Schumer said.

“Assisting Ukraine is not some feel good symbolic gesture, it’s literally an investment in our own national security and that of our allies,” Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., echoed.

But to ensure all that money for Ukraine is going exactly where it’s intended, the Inspector General will receive $2 million to put together a comprehensive list of all the articles and services provided to Ukraine, and to monitor their end use.

The CR will also provide $18.8 billion for the FEMA disaster relief fund. That will pay for the response to a number of natural disasters including Hurricane Ian. In addition, Jackson, Mississippi will receive $20 million for water and waste water infrastructure improvements.

The package also includes a 5-year reauthorization of FDA user fees that are paid by drug companies and used to fund the review process for new medicines.

This continuing resolution will fund the government through Dec. 16, at which time Congress hopes to pass an omnibus package for all of next year.

Democrats elect historic leadership with ‘mandate to stamp out extremism’

Hakeem Jeffries, Pete Aguilar headline new Democratic leadership

Nancy Pelosi stepping down from House Democratic leadership

Republicans win House majority

Congress on track to fund government, avoid shutdown

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