WATCH: On Senate Floor, Kelly Calls for Bipartisan Action to Prevent Health Care Premium Spikes and End the Government Shutdown

"We need to extend government funding to reopen the government, but we also need to extend these tax credits so millions of Americans can actually afford their health care. So, let's do both."

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly took to the Senate floor to call for bipartisan cooperation to end the government shutdown and prevent health care costs from rising for working families across the country.

In his remarks, Kelly highlighted the stories of Arizonans he has heard from who are already seeing steep premium hikes and are bracing for harder choices in their family budgets.

Sen. Kelly speaks on the Senate floor.

Kelly warned that families in Arizona and across the country are facing devastating consequences if health care tax credits are allowed to expire: "For more than a month, I've been hearing from people I represent about what their health care costs now, and what it will cost if these enhanced tax credits are allowed to expire. People like Leslie from Buckeye, who is a diabetic and whose premium is about to go from $600 per month to $1,000 per month. And people like Jessica from Yuma. Her and her husband pay $560 per month for them and their three kids. That's going to go to $3,100 a month if these tax credits aren't extended."

Kelly pointed out that Trump and Republicans have refused to come to the table while premiums are set to spike and the government remains shut down: "For more than a month, I've been waiting for the president or Republican leadership in the Senate to sit down with us and try to figure this out. Or even show that they care about the millions of Americans in all of our states who are in the same boat. People like Leslie, and like Jessica. Now, that hasn't happened. The president, as far as I can tell, has spent one hour in the Oval Office with congressional leadership on this issue. One hour in 37 days."

Kelly also urged leaders to come together to reopen the government and extend ACA tax credits: "So, let's just lay it out here. We need to extend government funding to reopen the government, but we also need to extend these tax credits so millions of Americans can actually afford their health care. So, let's do both. No gimmicks, no changes. Let's reopen the government. But we can do that knowing that Jessica and Leslie and a whole bunch of other people that we represent can take their kid to a doctor and fill their prescriptions for another year. There is no reason why we can't agree on this. If you want to reopen the government and you want to help keep health insurance premiums from spiking, then let's do it."

Click here to view and download Kelly's remarks.