Durbin Calls For Extension Of ACA Tax Credits To Protect Americans’ Access To Health Care As Government Funding Deadline Looms

Durbin Calls For Extension Of ACA Tax Credits To Protect Americans' Access To Health Care As Government Funding Deadline Looms

The expiration of enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits at the year's end would cause four million Americans to lose health care coverage and millions more to see steep monthly premium increases

WASHINGTON - Last night, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits as part of any bipartisan compromise to fund the government beyond September 30, 2025.

During his remarks, Durbin warned of the implications of allowing these tax credits to expire, which would result in more than four million Americans losing their health insurance coverage and 20 million more facing higher premium costs. As Republicans refuse to negotiate with Democrats to keep the government open, Durbin called out President Trump and congressional Republicans for igniting a health care crisis with the passage of his One Big Beautifull Bill Act, which cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy-resulting in more than 10 million Americans losing health coverage.

"Take Leighanne Safford and her husband, Lorry," said Durbin. "Right now, Leighanne and Lorry pay $278 a month for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. But, starting January 1, their monthly premiums jump from $278 a month to $1,800-a 550 percent increase. [That's] $1500 more coming out of the paychecks of Lorry and Leighanne."

Durbin continued: "Why is this happening? Because we had a system that provided subsidies and tax credits to working families so that they could afford their health insurance. However, in the 'big, beautiful' budget bill of Donald Trump's-passed with every Republican voting for it, every Democrat voting against it-these subsidies and credits started to disappear. Thanks to President Biden and a Democratic Congress, those credits were there for families, and they could count on them. Because of the Republicans' decision, with President Trump, to give tax breaks to the wealthiest people in America, they cut back on the premium assistance available to the Safford family."

Premium tax credits are federal subsidies that lower the cost of health insurance purchased through the ACA individual marketplace. Premium tax credits were enhanced by Democrats with the passage of the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and extended in the Inflation Reduction Act through 2025, allowing about four million previously uninsured people to access coverage. This year alone, Democrats have attempted to move legislation to extend the enhanced premium tax credits four times but have been blocked by Republicans at each instance.

Durbin then warned of the compounding negative effects on working families and their ability to access care thanks to President Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' which passed on a party-line vote earlier this year.

"This 'big, beautiful' Republican budget bill cuts nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid and $300 billion from the food stamp program, now known as SNAP. As a result of their bill, the Republican bill, more than 10 million Americans will lose their health coverage," Durbin said.

Durbin continued: "This is separate from the four million others who stand to lose their health coverage if the Republicans continue to block our efforts with the ACA's tax credits. It seems Republicans in Congress are fine adding more than $3 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years to pay for those tax cuts, but they draw the line at extending health care to millions of hardworking Americans."

Durbin concluded by urging Republicans to come to the table and negotiate with Democrats to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, saying, "The only reason we are staring at this shutdown is because Republicans have refused to come to the table. There was a meeting at the White House today. Don't let it be the last one. Let's come together and fix this health care problem for America's working families. The President on Fox News last week said 'don't even bother dealing with' the Democrats. Well, the President's wrong. We're in this together, and we need to solve this problem together. If the government shuts down, it will be because of President Trump walking away from a major challenge facing working families."

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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