Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans Allowing The ACA Tax Credits To Expire And Being Responsible For Skyrocketing Health Care Costs

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming Republicans and their choice to allow the ACA tax credits to expire, causing Americans' premiums to skyrocket. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

There is breaking news this morning, good news, that the discharge petition in the House got the necessary 218 signatures to move forward. It shows that demand by the American people for Congress-the House and the Senate- to extend the ACA premium tax credits is undeniable.

Yet Republican leaders inside both the House and Senate are making it clear as day that they are opposed and will be responsible for health care premiums rising through the roof. Yesterday, Leader Thune admitted "we're not going to pass anything by the end of this week." That is a clear admission of failure-a failure to govern, a failure to lower costs for the American people.

The damage has now been done, no matter what happens, because at this point Republicans have made it impossible to prevent many Americans from paying more on their monthly premiums on January 1st. And Republicans can't even say they tried to stop it.

House Republicans, meanwhile, are on a warpath to vote on a right-wing health care sham bill-one that doesn't extend the ACA tax credits a day, doesn't lower premiums, and does absolutely nothing to help people afford coverage.

So, let's be very clear: there's only one reason, one reason, Americans' premiums are going to go through the roof starting in just 14 days-it's because Republicans, Trump, the Republican Senate, the Republican House chose for it to happen.

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