Rep. Aguilar Announces Dr. Cameo Carter, M.D. as 2026 State of the Union Guest

Dr. Cameo Carter is a pediatrician who owns her practice in Redlands, California. Dr. Carter saw both her own health insurance premiums skyrocket, in addition to those of her patients, after Trump and Republicans let the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that Dr. Cameo Carter, M.D., will be his guest to President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address on February 24, 2026. A year into the Republican health care crisis, Dr. Carter's attendance at the State of the Union Address serves as a reminder of the urgent need for Trump and Republicans to act now to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and address the Republican health care crisis.

"As millions of people around the country and tens of thousands of Inland Empire residents see their health care costs increase, it's important to hear directly from people hurt by the Republican health care crisis," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "Dr. Cameo Carter knows the real pain of rising health care costs. As a physician, she regularly hears from her patients who cannot afford their insurance after the Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. As a small business owner, she has also seen her own health insurance premiums increase. No matter what lies the President tells us about the Republican health care crisis during his State of the Union, Dr. Carter and the American people know the truth. I look forward to working with her as House Democrats fight back against Republican attacks on Americans' health care."

"I'm honored to join Congressman Aguilar as his guest to the 2026 State of the Union," said Dr. Cameo Carter. "As a physician, I hear from my patients every single day about the financial strain they face due to rising health care costs. I've seen firsthand how the loss of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits harms our communities. Many of the people I treat now have to delay medical care or forgo it altogether because they simply can't afford it. The American people need Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and protect access to affordable health care. I hope my presence at this year's State of the Union serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address our country's health care crisis."

House Democrats recently led an effort to restore the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and stop health care costs from soaring, but Senate Republicans have been delaying voting on this bipartisan legislation. By restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits, health care premiums will return to affordable levels for 24,000 people in California's 33rd Congressional District and more than 1.7 million Californians.