Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Democrats’ Efforts To Lower Grocery And Housing Costs For American Families

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor on the ROAD to Housing Act and new legislation to lower food costs. While Donald Trump calls affordability a "hoax" and focuses on costly wars abroad, Democrats are fighting to lower costs for American families. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

While this administration debates which justification to use for war, American families are debating which bill to pay.

Gas prices are rising again. Electricity bills are through the roof. Groceries are still too high. Housing costs are crushing middle-class families. Health insurance premiums are rising.

The President should be focused on lowering costs. Instead of mission creep abroad, we need cost relief at home. Instead of shifting rationales for war, we need a clear strategy for affordability. That is what Americans are asking for. And that is what Senate Democrats are fighting for.

That's why this week, the Senate is moving long-overdue housing legislation - the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act - and I want to thank Senator Warren for her incredible work bringing this package to fruition.

The ROAD to Housing Act is a good step. But Democrats know it is only the first step. We have much more work to do to fix the housing crisis, to restore the promise of homeownership and bring rents down. Democrats will continue to develop and push additional housing policies that build on the good work of this bill, including the ideas we laid out in our housing rollout and in our report on the housing crisis in January.

But Democrats are not stopping at housing. Later this week, I will join my colleagues to roll out our food-prices legislation. Our bill will go straight to one of the core problems of the food industry: too much consolidation in America's food system, especially in meat and agriculture, where a handful of dominant players squeeze farmers on one end and squeeze consumers on the other.

Donald Trump acts like affordability is some kind of hoax. But Democrats understand it's the number one thing people think about when they're paying rent, filling up the tank, and especially when pushing a cart down the grocery aisle. We will keep fighting on this issue because Americans want us to bring their costs down.

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