Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republican Infighting And Inaction On The Healthcare Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming Republicans for fighting with each other instead of joining Democrats to extend ACA tax credits and solve the GOP healthcare crisis. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Let me start with a shockingly candid quote from a senior House Republican on their plan to fix healthcare: “We’re nowhere on healthcare.”

That is a grim thing to say. But it’s the truth.

There has never been a clearer divide on what Democrats want on healthcare and what Republicans want on healthcare. Democrats want to lower healthcare costs for families. We want to make healthcare cheaper, more effective, more accessible. We’re united on that issue, from one end of the party to the other.

Republicans, meanwhile, are a total mess when it comes to healthcare. Republicans don’t know what to do. One day, Trump floats a so-called “healthcare plan.” The next day, Speaker Johnson forces him to shoot it down. Some Republicans say they want to dismantle the ACA, probably a majority of them in the House and a large number in the Senate want to just dismantle it altogether. Other Republicans seem to be more focused on eradicating reproductive care in every state than helping people afford healthcare. The bottom line is that Republicans are in total disarray on healthcare.

And while Republicans continue the infighting, who is paying the price? The American people. The people whose premiums are going up by $500 to $1,000 a month. These people know that Trump and Republicans are to blame.

America, we all know, is in a healthcare crisis, and Republicans are only adding fuel to the fire.

Democrats have been clear from the start: the first step, the first step, to solving this crisis is extending the ACA tax credits. Democrats are ready to do so. We are united. And we are committed to lowering the cost of healthcare.

Republicans, however, by their own admission are “nowhere on healthcare.” And that is a disastrous message to send the American people, who are suffering from skyrocketing healthcare costs.

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