House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) delivered a forceful appeal on Wednesday, calling on a small group of House Republicans to break ranks and help defeat President Donald Trump’s controversial “Big, Beautiful” health care bill.
Speaking during a press conference on the Capitol steps, Jeffries asked for “just four” Republicans to show the kind of political bravery the late Senator John McCain once displayed when he famously voted to preserve the Affordable Care Act.
“We are here today, united as House Democrats, to make clear to the American people that every single House Democrat will stand up for your health care,” Jeffries said. “We will defend Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and nutritional assistance for children, seniors, and veterans.”
Jeffries warned that the bill would have devastating consequences, slashing coverage for more than 17 million Americans and driving up costs for others. He said it would disproportionately harm children, families, women, and people with disabilities.
“Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. Clinics will be forced to stop operating. And people will die — tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths every year, tied to this one big, ugly bill,” Jeffries said. “Shame on Republicans for even bringing this to the floor.”
Invoking the legacy of McCain, Jeffries issued a direct challenge:
“We need just four Republicans to have John McCain-level courage — to stand up for their constituents and protect the health care of the American people.”
He blasted the GOP for advancing what he described as an “un-American” bill that would cut essential services while delivering massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy.
“What kind of party rips away Medicaid from the most vulnerable? What kind of party takes food from children, veterans, and seniors? All to serve billionaire donors?” he asked. “It’s unconscionable. It’s unacceptable. It’s un-American.”
Jeffries ended with a call to conscience: “There are 220 Republicans in the House. We only need four to do the right thing — just four to reject this dangerous, extreme bill. Stand up for everyday Americans. Not the well-off, not the well-connected. Just the people.”
“All we need are four.”
