Congresswoman: “In the Absence of Any Desire by Speaker McCarthy to Reverse Course and Focus on Governing, the Answer is No.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement ahead of a vote to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The American people — and the people of Virginia’s Seventh District — deserve a Congress that functions. In the short time that Speaker McCarthy has been at the helm of the U.S. House of Representatives, he has threatened our country’s economic stability, our position of global leadership, and the financial security of the thousands of federal employees, servicemembers, small businesses, and government contractors I represent.

“Speaker McCarthy brought America to the brink of a debt crisis long before he was willing to acknowledge that a bipartisan solution — and the votes of House Democrats — would be necessary to protect our economy. And again last week, he brought us to the brink of a government shutdown before he was willing to acknowledge that a bipartisan solution — and the votes of 209 House Democrats — would be necessary to protect the function of our government and the livelihoods of the Virginians I serve.

“Each time, I implored him to demonstrate leadership, bring forth bipartisan bills, and not bend to the will of his extreme right wing. Unfortunately, he has coddled this faction — and the American people have suffered. Speaker McCarthy’s lack of leadership has not only threatened America’s economy and national security, but it has imperiled his own speakership.

“Today’s vote represents whether I want to further enable a Speaker who — in demonstrating a lack of principles — has hurt our country, damaged our democracy, and threatened the financial security of my constituents for political purposes. In the absence of any desire by Speaker McCarthy to reverse course and focus on governing, the answer is no.”

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