WASHINGTON D.C. – With less than five hours until the government shut down, Senator Andy Kim hosted a town hall with more than 5, 000 New Jerseyans participating, immediately followed by delivering a speech on the Senate Floor uplifting their calls for action to address rising healthcare costs and the lawlessness of the Trump Administration. 

In his Floor speech, Senator Kim conveyed his constituents’ stories of fear and anger about the impending government shutdown, represented by the more than 3,500 stories he’s received from constituents concerned about rising prices caused by Trump and Congressional Republican policies. He called on Congressional Republican leaders in the House to come back to Washington and take immediate action to keep the government open and address the immediate crisis facing millions of Americans who will shortly see their healthcare premiums increase by double.  

Video of Senator Kim’s remarks can be foundhere. 

Key quotes from Senator Kim’s remarks, as prepared: 

“I rise today because I have literally just come from hosting a telephone town hall with over 5,200 people back home in New Jersey; thousands of people from across New Jersey who called in specifically because they know this shutdown will be happening in just a couple hours from now. They’re scared. They’re nervous about what comes next. And they’re pissed off. And they have a right to be.” 

“How can anyone say they are actually fighting to keep the government open if [the Republican House members] can’t even be bothered to show up?! We need a functioning government, one whose representatives understand the seriousness of their job; Republicans are showing they are not up to the task.” 

“Or an urgent call from Barbara who begged us to not back down from this fight, even though both herself and her 25-year-old medically ill daughter rely on programs like Medicaid and Medicare and will be affected by the shutdown. She recognized this moment is far too important for us not to keep fighting. I am inspired by her courage in this moment.” 

“Americans like Jody from Manchester, NJ, who is concerned that with all the rising prices she will have to choose between being able to afford food OR medicine, because costs are simply too high for her to be able to afford both. No one in this country should have to ever worry about that.” 

“And we need to recognize that a President who can’t even bother to learn about the hurt he is instructing his party to cause when it comes to healthcare, our bills, is not one that is looking out for them.  

“We need leaders who understand what is going on. We need leaders who care about the people they are supposed to be leading. We need leaders who will actually be the adults in the room. 

And so I rise today to make that promise to New Jersey and to the American people – I will keep fighting for you and fight with you – for your families, for our country that I still believe in, and for a future that looks nothing like this moment in time.” 

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