Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Regarding Trump’s “Do-Nothing” Response To The Nation’s Healthcare Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor calling out Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans for their refusal to extend ACA tax credits and warning how their inaction will cause healthcare costs to soar for millions of Americans. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

The holiday season is upon us, and this year, people are wondering how the hell they’re going to afford health insurance.

The ACA tax credits that Republicans have refused to extend will expire, and as many as 20 million Americans will see their healthcare costs skyrocket. Many more than 20 million will, even if they have private insurance, see their costs skyrocket as well.

What are Donald Trump and Republicans doing to solve America’s healthcare crisis? Absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing. Donald Trump and Republicans seem to be in no hurry at all to prevent tens of millions of people’s premiums from skyrocketing.

After waiting until the last minute to even talk about healthcare, Republicans are now in utter disarray. First, Trump said he would finally release his grand plan to fix healthcare. Then, Republican leaders in Congress threw a tantrum and bullied the president into backing down. Now, Republicans in the House and Senate can't seem to get on the same page about how they will fix this crisis that's been brewing under their watch.

So, while Republicans are in complete disarray about healthcare, Democrats remain united to lower people's premiums and to bring their costs down.

Until Donald Trump and Republicans show that they are serious about working with us to solve the healthcare crisis, Americans will continue to see their healthcare costs skyrocket. And they will know it’s Donald Trump and Republicans who are to blame.

###