Not happy: Key progressive pushes back on new food aid work requirements in debt deal
POLITICO The Houses biggest anti-hunger crusader is rejecting the Biden administrations defense of new food aid restrictions in its deal with Republicans to raise the debt ceiling but he didnt say he wouldnt vote for the legislation.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the ranking member on the House Rules Committee, said Tuesday that hes not happy with the GOP-backed measure expanding work requirements on the nations leading food aid programs, which he had pleaded with White House negotiators to reject. McGovern also dismissed one of the White Houses key selling points on that part of the deal that the expanded work requirements are offset by provisions that provide new access for veterans, the unhoused, and people just aging out of foster care. Biden aides hope that pitch will secure enough Democratic support for the bill ahead of the House vote on Wednesday. Without them, the legislation is likely to fail in the lower chamber.
The debt limit bill faces its first procedural Tuesday afternoon when McGovern and other members of the House Rules Committee are set to vote on the legislation. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that if Congress doesnt raise the debt limit by June 5, the country is at risk of defaulting on its debt.
