Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans Manufacturing A Healthcare Crisis By Refusing To Extend Enhanced ACA Tax Credits

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming Republicans for the rising cost of healthcare because of their refusal to negotiate with Democrats and extend the premium ACA tax credits. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

When it comes to paying for things that Americans need, healthcare is way at the top of the list. Every American knows they want to have healthcare. God forbid they, their spouse, their loved one, their kids, or their parents become ill or sick. They want to know there is some type of safety net there for them.

But Trump and the Republicans don’t seem to realize that in just 28 days, the ACA tax credits are set to expire. Next year, tens of millions of Americans will see their healthcare premiums skyrocket by an average of 114%. Those on ACA need those credits. And millions more—even on private insurance—are gonna pay a whole lot more too. I just had a friend I know who works for a big company and the company told him you’re going to have to pay $450 more a month for your health insurance because the insurers are charging the health company more—all because of the expiration of the ACA credits. This is not theoretical—higher premiums mean real pain, real suffering, for real people, most of them, in fact, in red states.

Yesterday, the American Cancer Society found that virtually every single cancer patient who relies on ACA tax credits—96%—said they’ll struggle to get the care they need if tax credits expire. Republicans are literally telling cancer patients: you’re on your own. Telling someone with cancer they are on their own because Republicans want to give tax breaks to billionaires, how un-American is that? How against what Americans need, want, desire, is that? Republicans have clearly sent America barreling toward a healthcare cliff.

And the Republicans are divided. Democrats, we’re united on healthcare.

One House Republican, though, said that the Republicans are “nowhere on health care.” That's right, on healthcare, Republicans are divided and Democrats are united. And the divisions on the Republican side are severe: one day, the White House says they’ll release some grand plan to address the problem. The next day, Congressional Republicans say hell no and shoot the White House’s plan down and Trump backs off. Republicans can’t agree on whether to dismantle the ACA, or privatize the whole system. or just keep attacking women’s health because it plays well with their hard-right, anti-choice base. Forget not being on the same page on healthcare—Republicans aren’t even reading from the same book. And while Republicans continue fighting with each other, the American people are left holding the bill.

So, I’ve said and have said it many times before: when it comes to healthcare, Republicans are divided, divided among themselves, and divided from what the American people overwhelmingly want. Fifty-five percent of Trump voters—Trump voters—want to restore the ACA credits.

Democrats are united on lowering premiums. We are united on lowering costs. We are united on helping Americans pay for the things they need. Republicans, meanwhile, they’re paralyzed. Paralyzed by their divisions. Paralyzed by their own extremism. And it will be Americans who will pay the price when their premiums go up. They know who to blame. They know why.

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