Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Republican Affordability Crisis And Trump’s Refusal To Address Skyrocketing Costs

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the Republican affordability crisis and Democrats’ relentless fight to lower costs and protect access to healthcare. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Two weeks ago, the American people—not only in New Jersey and Virginia, but across the country—sent their loudest message yet that they’re fed up, just fed up with the high cost of living.

Nearly six in ten Americans say Donald Trump’s top priority right now should be lowering prices and no other issue comes close. A Marist poll released this morning shows the American people know precisely who is fighting for them and who is making life more difficult. Because the most important issue keeping Americans up at night right now can be summed up in one word: costs. Or three words: cost of living. And that’s exactly the issue Donald Trump and Republicans have ignored and even made worse.

Now, just yesterday, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he will never sign an extension of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits. And we know if they expire, people’s costs for their healthcare—so vital to American families—is going to go up by as much as $500 a month, $1,000 a month, $20,000 a year. How are families going to pay for that? They will be faced with the Hobson's choice of cutting back on everything else dramatically or having no healthcare for their families. Americans will hate that choice, and that's why we are fighting so hard for them.

Donald Trump says to the American people: drop dead. That is his message in the middle of the most stressful open enrollment period perhaps ever. Just incredibly out of touch. So, Republicans can ignore high costs at not just their own political peril but also to the immense detriment of American families—that is who they are hurting.

That is why Democrats will keep the fight going. It’s why we Democrats have fought for months—and continue to fight every day—to do something about people’s healthcare costs. It’s why Democrats have fought relentlessly—and continue to fight relentlessly—against Donald Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill.” It’s why Democrats have demanded that Republicans work with us to extend premium tax credits. We will fight to lower people’s healthcare costs. We will fight to bring down rent, bring down people’s electric bill, and make groceries more affordable.

Donald Trump may think affordability is some kind of Democratic “con job,” as he recently called it, but the opposite is true. Americans are fed up with high costs and they need a lifeline, while Donald Trump is tossing them an anchor.

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