Bell Leads Colleagues in Demanding Answers from President Trump on Rising Cost of Living

Washington, D.C.-Today, U.S. Representative Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) led four of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging the administration to present a real plan to address the rising cost of living facing families across the country. The lawmakers warned that working people are being forced into impossible choices while the administration continues to pursue policies that worsen household expenses.

"Across the country, American families are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. Groceries, energy, rent, childcare, and health care have all skyrocketed compared to previous years. Now, following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, paychecks are still struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Working families are being forced to make impossible choices of feeding their children or paying their bills. Millions of American families across the nation are asking the same pressing question: When will the cost of living finally become affordable again?" said the lawmakers.

"Despite repeated promises to deliver a 'Golden Age for America,' your Administration has not presented a serious plan to lower costs for working- and middle-class families. Instead, H.R. 1 imposed the largest health care cuts in U.S. history, reduced food assistance for more than 4 million Americans who rely on nutritional programs each month, and slashed incentives to encourage alternative sources of domestic energy production. These actions increased the cost of living and lowered after-tax income for the bottom 40 percent of earners, while giving the top 20 percent of earners a $6,000 per year average tax cut." continued the lawmakers.

"American families need real solutions: increasing the affordable housing supply, reducing prescription drug and healthcare costs, expanding access to affordable childcare, stabilizing supply chains, and ensuring wages rise in line with inflation. These are the staples of a sustainable working economy. The American people deserve straight answers. We urge you to please answer the following questions by Monday, December 29, 2025… You have an obligation to work to put forth policies that reduce costs, strengthen paychecks, and restore faith that the government can work for ordinary families." concluded the lawmakers.

The letter was also signed by U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Cleo Fields (D-La.), and Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.).

Read the full letter here.

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