“The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) believes that the GOP leaders of this Congress have made their priorities clear, just in time for their own holiday recess. In their rush to leave town, they had no problem taking away health care for 13 million Americans –all while spending trillions to give tax cuts to the wealthiest and corporations. What they didn’t do, is reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or pass a budget, disaster aid, or a solution for Dreamers.

“Leaving so much unfinished business, not to mention unanswered questions for millions of children and families, is irresponsible. Nine million children rely on CHIP for their health insurance. Yet the continuing resolution (CR) rammed through Congress at the 11^th hour only reauthorizes the critical program through March. Further, President Trump’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program left the futures of thousands of Dreamers, young immigrants brought to the US as children, up in the air. Despite the fact that the bipartisan Dream Act (S 1615/HR 3440) would provide a path to citizenship for these young people, Congress failed to act on it. Until they do, 122 Dreamers per day will lose protections. Kudos to the 32 Senators who voted no on the CR because it did not address those Dreamers.

“While lawmakers are at home over recess, they will hear from NCJW members about their misplaced and harmful priorities. And we will continue to call upon our lawmakers to get down to business in January — to stabilize the Affordable Care Act marketplace; pass a budget that protects and invests in the American people; fully reauthorize CHIP; and pass the Dream Act.”