House Democrats are taking their message on affordability directly to the people, and according to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), what they’re hearing is clear: the cost of living is crushing working families, and Congress needs to act.
Speaking after a roundtable in Illinois’ 10th Congressional District alongside Brad Schneider (D-IL), Jeffries said the conversations with local residents, business owners, and community leaders painted a stark picture of an economy that feels increasingly out of reach for ordinary Americans.
“The state of the real economy in America right now is a mess,” Jeffries stated, pointing to rising housing costs, expensive health care, soaring grocery bills, and the burden of child care on working families. He also highlighted the pressure on small businesses, arguing that tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump have made it even harder for them to stay afloat.
Jeffries: ‘We Need To Get This Situation Turned Around So We Can Bring The American Dream To Life For Everyone’
Jeffries described the affordability crisis as “very real,” not a “hoax” that Trump has repeatedly insisted, and said it was reinforced by the stories he heard during the roundtable. He emphasized that Democrats are holding similar discussions across the country, with the goal of listening to the American people to help shape what their next steps are in addressing the high of living in the country.
Rather than talking at the American public, Jeffries said, Democrats want to hear directly from them—about what it takes to pay rent, buy groceries, keep a business open, or afford child care. Those conversations, he said, will guide their legislative priorities when lawmakers return to Washington.
The goal, Jeffries said, is simple: make life more affordable and ensure that people who work hard and play by the rules can do more than just scrape by. In the wealthiest country in the world, he argued, Americans should be able to live comfortably and pursue the promise of the American dream.
But he warned that the path forward won’t be easy. Jeffries called out Republicans, led by the president, for making life more expensive despite the president’s campaign promises to lower costs on day one. Jeffries made clear that Democrats remain committed to reversing that trend by pushing policies aimed at lowering everyday expenses.
“Our commitment,” he stated, “is to make sure that when you’re working hard and playing by the rules, you can live an affordable life, a comfortable life, and live a good life.”
Jeffries closed with a call to action, saying Congress must move decisively to address the affordability crisis and restore a sense of economic stability for families across the country.
