Durbin Statement On Voting Against Republicans’ CR Proposal That Fails To Address Rising Health Care Costs For Americans

Durbin Statement On Voting Against Republicans' CR Proposal That Fails To Address Rising Health Care Costs For Americans

Durbin then voted in support of Democrats' CR proposal that would reverse Republicans' $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid; extend ACA tax credits; and restore funding for medical research, public broadcasting, and foreign aid

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the Republicans' Continuing Resolution (CR) that fails to extend critical tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. Durbin voted in support of Democrats' CR proposal that would reverse the damaging policies instituted by Republicans under the Trump Administration, including $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid; the freezing of billions of dollars in medical research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and the rescissions package that eliminated funding for local stations through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and foreign aid.

"After slashing $1 trillion from Medicaid and billions more for medical research, public broadcasting, and foreign aid, Republicans have now pushed us to the brink of a government shutdown by proposing a CR that increases health care costs for millions of Americans. Yet again, Republicans have shown that their loyalty is to President Trump and billionaires, not the constituents they represent.

"Because Republicans and President Trump refuse to come to the negotiating table, Democrats put forward a proposal that would both keep the lights on and protect the critical ACA tax credits that help Americans afford their health care coverage. Republicans rejected our proposal, which would have reversed their cruel cuts while allowing us to negotiate full-year appropriations bills on a bipartisan basis.

"I stand ready to negotiate in good faith with my Republican colleagues to keep our government running and to address the rising cost of health care, but I will not rubber-stamp the President's extreme cuts to the essential programs that Americans rely on."

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