Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the below statement on Republicans’ government funding bill, which Republicans voted to pass off the House floor today. 

“Republicans’ disastrous funding bill is yet another attack on women and families. Our communities know that Musk is already destroying federal programs, cutting women’s health research, and closing Social Security offices across our country. Musk just told us he wants to eliminate Social Security and Medicare. Yet, Republicans’ bill gives Trump and Musk the authority to shut down any aspect of the government they don’t like. This bill will be disastrous for our communities and raise costs for our families. Trump has already slashed $1 billion from nutrition programs; this bill will give them the authority to ignore the cries of hungry children and mothers and cut these programs even deeper. It also cuts $15 billion that were destined for community projects in Republican and Democratic districts including help for local domestic violence shelters, youth community centers, and childcare centers.

There is nothing clean about this bill. It cuts 32,000 in rent subsidies for low-income households, including domestic violence survivors. It cuts $860 million in cancer research and $23 billion for veteran care. And it does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. 

Senator Murray and Representative DeLauro introduced a clean continuing resolution bill. If Speaker Johnson had brought that to the floor instead, we could keep the government open and protect our communities. Democrats are always ready and willing to support bipartisan government funding legislation, but we will never vote to hurt women and families in our communities and across the country.”