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And we're taking a closer look at the impacts of the longest ever government shutdown this week. After 43 days, the federal government is back open, operations slowly returning to how they were from SNAP benefits to airports. But what comes next? So joining us to discuss is Congresswoman Yvette Clark. Congresswoman, thanks so much for the time, especially after the week down in DC. Well, thank you for having me, Amanda. You know this is part of what we do. We're there for the American people. And now with some days to reflect on all that unfolded, looking back on this 43 day long, the longest ever, as I said, government shutdown, are there any key takeaways or lessons learned for you? Well, you know, for me it's, you know, how we move forward as a nation, uh, in a bipartisan manner. What this taught me was that our colleagues will stop at nothing. uh, the president of the United States will stop at nothing to pursue their agenda, and that agenda, uh, is so very harmful to the people I represent in in New York's 9th congressional district, and from what I hear from my colleagues there. Constituents as well. This it's, it's uh I think an indictment of the fact that uh there is a move afoot to strip the American people of the health care that they that they need, that they desire. That this administration will stop at nothing, uh, will go as far as to, uh, suspend the, the the the food nutritional benefits that our communities need across this nation in order to pursue an agenda that is very cruel. Yeah, you mentioned health care, and I do want to start there because the majority of Democrats you included voted no to the funding bill, and I know that health care and the Affordable Care Act subsidies were really at the center of this standoff unfortunately no movement on that front between the start of the shutdown and where we ended. So what comes next in that fight? Well, there are a couple of things. One, we have to continue to make the case to the American people. The American people need to make their voices heard as well. We have an opportunity. We're coming back again unfortunately at the end of January. Uh, that won't help a lot of our, uh, constituents, the people of the United States who have to go into the health care marketplace and make decisions right now, and those decisions are predicated, quite frankly, on the fact that we have not, uh, continued, uh, the tax credits, uh, that the American people need, and they're finding that, uh, you know, in the marketplace, the cost of healthcare is escalating astronomically. Unfortunately, these tax credits expire at the end of the year, at the end of December, and so there's a mismatch in terms of timing and my hope. Is that where we stand prepared certainly in the House of Representatives under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries to go into negotiations to make sure that these tax credits do not lapse. The hope is that they're doing the same thing on the Senate side and that perhaps we can come to an agreement, a negotiated agreement before those tax credits expire. I do also want to touch on SNAP benefits, something else that you had mentioned now funded, I believe through September of next year with this continuing resolution bill, but I wonder what you make of how the Trump administration fought funding SNAP throughout the shutdown in the courts. Are you concerned that it could become a point of negotiation for this administration in future standoffs? Well, we, you know, we're going to have to continue, continue to raise our voices around feeding the American people. I think that oftentimes, uh, you know, we're not really in tune with just how many families across this nation access SNAP. And that the need for it will, will, I think, uh, increase due to the fact that the cost of living is going up so much, the cost of groceries are going up so much and so many people have been laid off during this administration already, so they're going to be folks who are going to be added. Uh, unfortunately to the need to access that benefits, and we're not prepared. Uh, at the end of the day, I am so happy that they've extended it to September, but as soon as the big ugly bill kicks in, we're looking at over $200 billion in cuts to snap. At a time when more and more need uh is being revealed to us, uh, with respect to the challenges that the American people are facing economically in this moment and and and so uh I hope that, you know, uh, folks will look at. The lines that began to form during the shutdown, uh, the, the ramping up of, of food pantries and access to them, um, that occurred just in, in, in, in the time that uh we've had this shutdown. And my hope is that folks will say, you know, we've got to come to an agreement where we don't deprive people of access to nutritious foods. And I believe those images like you mentioned of the lines at pantry, some of the most powerful that emerged out of the shutdown from those who had their benefits suspended. Also though, we saw a lot of federal workers who had to turn to food. Banks for help because they weren't getting paid throughout this period. What is the plan now for back pay for those government workers who were out of work for over a month and how soon can they expect that money? I think everyone has the holidays on the mind and of course the expense that comes with that and you know, I guess one bright light in this past negotiation that the senators. You know, put in place to to pass the continuing resolution is that there will be back pay for all all furloughed workers and that those who were threatened with losing their jobs would be reinstated. So you know we're hoping that people are made whole and they're made whole quickly. So that they can uh have dignified uh holidays uh as as they deserve for the work that they've been doing, many of whom were actually on the job and weren't getting paid.

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As we continue our conversation with Congresswoman Yvette Clark about the aftermath of the shutdown and a special recognition that she received in her home borough. Congresswoman Clark, I do want to turn to a personal note now because this week you were bestowed a special honor from Brooklyn College, their Presidential Medal of Honor. First off, congratulations for the distinction, but I can only imagine that feels a special extra special after this week of all weeks. How does it feel to be recognized in that way coming off of everything that's unfolded down in DC? Well, Amanda, I have to tell you it was a cleansing moment for me when I think about the fact that here I am born and raised Brooklynite and the fact that Brooklyn College saw fit to acknowledge and lift up my service to the community, uh, it was a breath of fresh air and certainly an expelling of all the toxicity that uh I, I consume while being in Washington DC. You know, uh, there is nothing more special than being acknowledged by your hometown, by the people in your community and by academia, quite frankly, it, it, it, it was certainly uh the honor of a lifetime and I have to thank uh President Andrew. In and all those who were made it possible for me to receive this recognition. Well, once again, congratulations on it and thank you for the breakdown of everything that is in this continuing resolution bill and how the impacts will play out. Congresswoman Yvette Clark, a pleasure to have you here on Power and Politics. Thank you. Thank you and as I'd like to say to uh the listening audience this is to be continued, uh we cannot live in a civil society where uh we uh forget about those who you know are working each and every day uh and are still unable to make ends meet because of the cost of living and what kind of society would we be if we. saw families go unfed uh amongst us. We've got a lot of work to do and uh I'm proud and honored to be leading the fight and hoping we can continue these conversations as those developments play out for sure. Thank you. Thank you, Amanda. And that's all for this week here on Power and Politics on News 12. Thanks so much for watching.

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New York City congressmembers Adriano Espaillat and Yvette Clarke join the show

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