Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Opposing The Continuing Resolution That Fails To Address The Republican-Made Healthcare Crisis

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on his decision to vote against the continuing resolution and promised to continue the fight for better and more affordable healthcare. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

America is in the midst of a Republican-made healthcare crisis, worse than anything the American people have seen in decades.

Republicans have spent the past 10 months dismantling the healthcare system, skyrocketing costs, and making every day harder for American families. Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this healthcare crisis gets worse.

Democrats have been fighting to end this crisis, over and over again. Democrats have wanted to lower costs. But Republicans have fought us every step of the way. We gave Republicans not one, not two, but three chances this year to extend the ACA premium tax credits. Republicans said no every time.

On Friday, we offered Republicans a compromise: a proposal that would extend the ACA tax credits for a year and open up the government at the same time. They once again said no. And when they said no on our compromise they showed they are against any healthcare reform. Instead, they passed the biggest healthcare cuts in our nation's history-just to give tax breaks to billionaires.

And even then, they weren't satisfied with merely closing hospitals and community health clinics, they've callously done nothing to deal with the looming expiration of ACA tax credits. Premiums will spike by thousands of dollars a month. Millions will lose insurance.

Democrats have sounded the alarm. We have demanded for months to meet with the Republican leadership. But Republican leaders refused to even discuss the issue, let alone negotiate it. We've asked to meet in the summer and throughout the shutdown to this day, Republicans still say no. We asked President Trump to step in and meet with us, to deliver lower healthcare for Americans. And instead, Donald Trump has taken the American people hostage: from cutting off food aid to hungry families and vets and seniors and kids to manufacturing flight cancellations to cutting off home heating aid - while he builds a million-dollar ballroom with gold plated toilets.

Therefore, I must vote no.

This healthcare crisis is so severe, so urgent, so devastating for families back home, that I cannot in good faith support this CR that fails to address the healthcare crisis.

But let me be clear: however this vote turns out, this fight will and must continue. Democrats must fight because millions of families will lose healthcare coverage. We must fight because children who are dying of cancer will not get healthcare coverage.

We must fight because a senior citizen cannot afford to pay $25,000 a year just for health insurance. We must fight to keep millions from financial ruin.

And make no mistake about it, the American people know who is inflicting this healthcare trauma on them: Donald Trump and the Republicans. Americans will remember Republican intransigence every time they make a sky-high payment on health insurance.

We are going to fight legislatively, fight back home, fight in the courts, and bring this fight in the elections. Healthcare costs made a major impact on the 2025 election, and they will certainly have an even greater impact on the 2026 election.

So, in conclusion, the contrast between the two parties is clear: Republicans are the party hell-bent on taking people's healthcare away, all to bow to the billionaire elite and special interests. Democrats are united as the party of lower healthcare costs and improving our healthcare system.

We will not give up this fight. We will deliver for the American people.

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