Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA-02), released the following statement in response to Congressional Republicans’ amended health care proposal and President Trump’s new tax proposal:

Health Care Proposal

“The Republican health care proposal is a $600 billion tax cut for insurance company executives that would take coverage away from millions of Americans. In addition, the proposal would eliminate essential benefits for Americans like prescription drugs, maternity care, and protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Instead of working with Democrats to strengthen our nation’s health care system, Republicans have made a bad bill worse in order appease extremists in their party. This bill would be even more devastating for the health of African Americans and other vulnerable communities than the last failed Republican bill.”

Tax Proposal

“President Trump’s tax proposal gives tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans at a time of historic wage and wealth inequality, and it leaves far more questions than answers. First, how will the tax cuts he proposes help vulnerable Americans struggling to make ends meet, particularly when President Trump and Congressional Republicans plan to strip them of health care coverage and slash funding for government programs and services they depend on? More importantly, how will President Trump benefit from the tax cuts he proposes? We would know the answer to the latter question if President Trump had released his tax returns as all other presidents in modern history have done – including President Nixon.

“When the CBC met with President Trump we tried to educate him about policies that would help African Americans and other vulnerable communities, but this morally bankrupt health care proposal and fiscally irresponsible tax proposal are proof that he did not take our lessons to heart.”