Ahead of Government Funding Deadline, Warren Calls on Republicans to Reverse Health Care Cuts, Strike a Deal with Democrats

Ahead of Government Funding Deadline, Warren Calls on Republicans to Reverse Health Care Cuts, Strike a Deal with Democrats

Republicans need Democratic votes to advance any funding deal

"[T]his is our chance to restore health care for millions of people in this country. Right now is our small window of opportunity. The Democrats are ready to go. We want to seize this opportunity. It is only the Republicans who stand in the way"

Video of Floor Speech (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. - In a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called for Congress to reverse Republicans' cuts to health care as part of any government funding deal. Congressional Republicans have until the end of the month to strike a deal to continue funding the government.

"[I]f the Republicans want to shut down government so that they can keep increasing costs and cutting health care, then they need to explain that - and not just to us, they need to explain it to the American people," said Senator Warren.

Senator Warren called out President Trump's unwillingness to negotiate with Democrats. Earlier this month, he said "Don't even bother dealing with them." Senate Republicans need Democratic votes to advance any funding deal.

"Ok then: Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. You own the health care crisis. Democrats believe that not a single newborn baby in America should lose health care," Senator Warren continued.

She also highlighted the need to protect funding from a potential Trump power grab.

"Since the week he took office, Donald Trump has been trying to illegally rip money away from programs Congress has already agreed to fund…We need proper safeguards," said Senator Warren.

"[T]his is our chance to restore health care for millions of people in this country. Right now is our small window of opportunity. The Democrats are ready to go. We want to seize this opportunity. It is only the Republicans who stand in the way," Senator Warren concluded.

Transcript: Floor Speech on Upcoming Government Funding Deadline
U.S. Senate Floor
September 18, 2025

Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. President. We are in the middle of a full blown health care crisis.

Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are ripping away health care from 15 million Americans.

And now, thanks to Donald Trump, one in four nursing homes could close.

Community health clinics are on the brink of shutting their doors.

Hospitals, already filled to the brim with patients, are bracing for the biggest cuts in decades.

And kids with cancer are watching as promising research - their only chance at treatment - is shut down.

And health insurance premiums are skyrocketing.

Talk to anyone in the country and they will tell you that the cost of going to the doctor is already way too high.

Because the reality is that health care in America was already failing families, even before Trump and Republicans took a chainsaw to it.

Massachusetts lost two hospitals last year in the biggest health care bankruptcy in decades. Our community health centers were already down to counting their nickels to keep the door open. And now the Republicans have come in and said that they want to take away money that helps cover mamas giving birth and neighbors who need wheelchairs and home health aides, so that they can hand that money over to billionaire CEOs.

Trump's one-two punch of chaotic tariffs and his Big Beautiful Bill is going to push middle-class families in America over a financial cliff.

Before working moms go broke from a cancer diagnosis, Congress must act.

Before community hospitals are forced to shut down, Congress must act.

Before your neighbor with the home health aide loses his care, Congress must act.

That is why Democrats are saying: if Republicans want our votes, they need to restore health care for Americans. We've made it about as clear as we humanly can.

The American people need affordable health care.

No one should go bankrupt because they got sick and needed to see a doctor.

And if the Republicans want to shut down government so that they can keep increasing costs and cutting health care, then they need to explain that - and not just to us, they need to explain it to the American people.

Every senator here is here to work for the American people. And part of that job is coming to the negotiating table and making a plan to fund government.

But Donald Trump flat out said he doesn't want to negotiate with Democrats. He said, and I'm going to quote him here, "Don't even bother dealing with them."

Ok then: Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. You own the health care crisis.

Democrats believe that not a single newborn baby in America should lose health care. Not a single senior should be tossed out of their nursing home and onto the curb. And not a single person should have to drive hours and hours to get to the nearest hospital.

If we're going to pass a budget for the U.S. government, then we need to save health care for millions of Americans. Period.

And make no mistake: every penny of funding needs to be protected from a Trump power grab.

Since the week he took office, Donald Trump has been trying to illegally rip away money from programs Congress has already agreed to fund. His latest ploy? An attempt to zero out funding without even asking for Congress's approval. It is a dirty trick, and it is illegal.

We can't have Democrats and Republicans in Congress agree to a budget that helps people get to the doctor and pay for life saving cancer research, and then turn around and have Donald Trump just halt that money. We need proper safeguards.

So, this is our moment, this is our chance to restore health care for millions of people in this country. Right now is our small window of opportunity. The Democrats are ready to go. We want to seize this opportunity. It is only the Republicans who stand in the way.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

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