Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statements after Representative Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and the Republican leadership adjourned the House of Representatives for the long weekend without a debt limit deal in place, risking default on the United States and a collapse of the US economy:

“When Rep. Van Orden voted for the Default on America Act last month, he voted to force a draconian 22% cut on government programs and services, like Meals on Wheels, vital dairy subsidies, and housing vouchers for veterans, effectively kicking homeless veterans to the curb,” Rep. Pocan said. “When House Republicans released four of their appropriations bills earlier this month, those cuts could now be as high as 30 percent. This is an extreme position and hardly leading in a responsible way. I urge Derrick to sign the discharge petition to force a vote on a clean debt limit. After that, then we can talk about spending levels in the normal appropriations process. But damaging the US economy by inaction is not a reasonable position for anyone to have.”

“After being on U.S. Capitol grounds during the attempted insurrection on January 6th, I would think that Rep. Derrick Van Orden would want to take this opportunity to demonstrate to the people of Wisconsin that he will put their interests first,” Rep. Moore said. “He must go beyond his rhetoric and sign the discharge petition to help end the debt ceiling crisis his party created.”

All 213 House Democrats signed a discharge petition to lift the debt limit cleanly. Democrats need only five rational and reasonable Republicans to do this or risk a catastrophic default on the United States’ economy. Unfortunately, Rep. Van Orden supported his Republican caucus in adjourning the House for the long weekend without signing the discharge petition.

Rep. Van Orden and his Republican colleagues are holding the country hostage, risking default for a 30 percent cut to most services that help nearly everyone in his district and across Wisconsin.

Rep. Van Orden’s 30 percent cuts would hurt Wisconsin by:

• Cutting 190 Rail Safety Inspections in Wisconsin.
• Eliminating 7,000 Preschool and Child Care Slots in Wisconsin.
• Worsening Social Security and Medicare Assistance Wait Times for 1.4 million Wisconsin Seniors.
• Denying 440 Wisconsinites Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
• Gutting Funding for 380,000 Low-Income Students.
• Cutting Support for 120,000 Students with Disabilities.
• Making College More Expensive for 86,100 Wisconsinites.
• Denying 14,000 Wisconsinites Access to Workforce Development Services.
• Betraying thousands of Wisconsin veterans by underfunding the PACT Act Toxic Exposures Fund by $14.7 billion.