Linked statement

“I want the press to write about how Democrats and Republicans are fighting over who gets to stay home. Democrats say people with 16 or 17-year-olds should not have to work 20 hours. Republicans say only parents with kids under 15 get that break. I think the press should tell people about this fight.”

“The farm bill is stuck because Democrats and Republicans disagree on work rules. Republicans want people to work or volunteer 20 hours a week unless their children are under 15 or disabled. Democrats want to excuse parents who have 16- and 17-year-olds at home. I want reporters to cover this difference.”

“Mr. Speaker, there are all sorts of things going on behind the scenes in this building, and I want to highlight one difference between the parties right now. One of the benefits of the big, beautiful bill or the Working Families Tax Cut Act is we told people that if you have the ability to work, you have to work at least 20 hours a week or volunteer for 20 hours a week. We also said that there is an exception if you have kids at home, but those kids must be under 15 years of age. Right now, one of the reasons the farm bill has not passed is that the Democrats don't like that change. They feel that you should be allowed to stay at home if you have a 16-year-old or 17-year-old child. The Republicans have an exemption in there for children who are disabled, handicapped, and that sort of thing. The stark difference between the parties is that the Democratic Party right now, as they negotiate, are saying that we cannot expect someone to work 20 hours a week if they have a 17-year-old child at home, and the Republicans are saying that you only get that exemption if your children are under the age of 14. Mr. Speaker, I hope the Press Corps does a good job of covering that debate.”