Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ So-Called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Which Will Gut Healthcare Coverage From 16 Million Americans

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the Republicans’ “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which guts healthcare coverage from millions of Americans in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Let me begin this morning with a sobering headline from the New York Times.

The Times headline: “Millions Would Lose Their Obamacare Coverage Under Trump’s Bill.”

That is exactly what Democrats have been warning about for weeks.

What Republicans call their “Big, Beautiful Bill” is really “repeal and replace” by another name. It's really “repeal and replace” by another name. It is a big, beautiful betrayal, not a big, beautiful bill.

And yesterday, we learned that the devastation, potentially, has only worsened.

The nonpartisan CBO has now grown the number of impacted Americans to 16 million – 16 million Americans will lose their Medicaid and ACA coverage.

So, the more you look at this bill, things keep getting worse, because CBO now says not 13.7 million would lose coverage, but 16 million. The number of impacted people grows the more you look at this bill.

And things keep getting even worse.

We learned yesterday the news that Republicans may want to even go after Medicare. Medicare is on the chopping block.

That’s right. At yesterday’s lunch, Republicans raised the possibility of Medicare cuts to pay for their billionaire tax cuts.

The junior Senator from North Dakota reportedly said, “Why don't we go after that? I think we should.”

For Republicans to even suggest Medicare be cut to bankroll billionaire tax breaks is frightening and revolting.

And there is more. The junior Senator from Louisiana said: “I’m not worried about people losing their healthcare.”

You know what happens when people lose their health care? When they can’t afford it?

People die.

But what do Republicans have to say about that?

Well, the junior Senator from Iowa said this: “Well, we’re all going to die.”

That quote tells you everything you need to know about this plan: callous, clueless and careless. That’s right – this plan is callous, clueless and careless.

But that’s the Republican party for you. They don’t get it. Or, more likely, they don’t care, just so long as billionaires can pay less in taxes.

Republicans should forget calling this gargoyle of a bill their “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

They might as well call it the “We’re All Going to Die” Act, after what the Senator from Iowa said.

At least that name is more honest – the “We’re All Going to Die” Act.

Donald Trump may claim his bill won’t cut anyone from coverage. But he is lying.

Sixteen million people will lose coverage. Eleven million will lose affordable food.

Costs will spike. Hospitals will close. People will die.

And why? For a tax break for billionaires.

Now, let me finish with this, on a separate note. In order to make the ultra-rich even richer, their bill, according to CBO, will add over $2.4 trillion to the debt.

Even Elon Musk calls this thing an abomination. His word.

As the old saying goes: a broken clock is right twice a day.

Republicans pride themselves as the supposed party of fiscal responsibility.

But this bill they have belongs on the Mount Rushmore of fiscally irresponsible bills.

So, I close with a warning to Republicans in the Senate: if you proceed with this big ugly bill, this big betrayal of the American people, it won’t be Donald Trump’s soothing words that will be enacted in your states, but rather deep and devastating cuts.

Millions of job losses.

You’ll rip health care from millions, you’ll explode the debt, and you’ll shower billionaires with tax breaks.

That’s what you’ll be doing no matter what Donald Trump tells you on the telephone, I say to our Republican Senate colleagues.

Tread carefully.

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