As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families

As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families

President Trump previously referred to the affordability crisis that Americans are feeling as a "hoax"

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans' concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a "hoax."

"Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has not learned that lesson. On President Trump's watch, prices are up, and Americans are feeling the pain of his misguided policies," said Durbin.

More than half of all Americans say President Trump has made the economy worse. In February, the economy lost 92,000 jobs.

Durbin continued, "Through chaotic tariffs, mass firings of federal employees, and cuts to federal energy grants, the President has left the economy in a weaker state than when he first came to office."

On Monday, the price of oil rose to its highest point in years because of President Trump's war with Iran. Yesterday, the average price at the pump was $3.50 a gallon-60 cents higher than the days leading up to the President's strikes on Iran.

"It's even worse for diesel, which saw prices skyrocket by more than a dollar a gallon this month. That means higher costs for farmers who grow food, and higher costs for shipping it. In less than two weeks, the President's war wiped out a year of stable fuel prices, without any clear or coherent endgame. In fact, just yesterday the President lifted some sanctions on Russian oil in an ill-conceived attempt to lower gas prices. His sanctions relief will fund Putin's war in Ukraine while at the same time Russia reportedly shares intelligence with Iran [that could harm] U.S. forces," said Durbin. "This dizzying mess in the Middle East comes on the heels of one of the largest rises in utility rates ever recorded."

Last year, electric and gas utility companies requested to raise their rates by nearly $31 billion- more than double the increase in 2024.

"Next to groceries, American people complain [electric bills are] their toughest bills to pay each month. What caused this large increase? The policies of the Trump Administration. The Trump Administration cut $8 billion in low-cost energy, clean energy, and grid enhancement grants. We had appropriated the money, we had it ready for distribution to lower the cost of energy into the grid in America, to reduce the utility bills, and the President stopped it. Why? Because one of his closest friends and supporters, a man named Harold Hamm, announced that he would give the President a billion dollars for his campaign if the President would stop the regulation of oil and gas," Durbin continued.

The Trump Administration is making it harder to generate electricity. They also are allowing AI data centers to proliferate, with no consideration of their impact on energy demand. By the year 2030, the electricity demand of data centers is expected to increase by 350 percent. One estimate predicts we will need 100 gigawatts of new power generation to accommodate this growth. That is enough electricity to power 75 million homes.

"The President is weakening our electricity supply when demand is spiking-a recipe to make Americans pay more for their energy," Durbin said. "Americans will not find any relief at the supermarket either. The prices of many groceries are at record highs."

The cost of a pound of ground beef is up more than 20 percent from last year, orange juice is up 28 percent, coffee is up 33 percent, and prices on baby items have increased by an average of 24 percent.

Durbin said, "The President promised Republicans would be the party of working families. But instead, American parents have seen the cost of raising a family increase under this Administration. These higher costs are explained by President Trump's tariffs, which made it harder for businesses in America to import food we cannot grow at home. And despite the Supreme Court striking down Trump's tariffs as illegal-this Administration is doubling down... So, the next time you shop at the grocery store and see the prices even higher than when you shopped last week, remember that President Trump said, 'affordability is a hoax.'"

Durbin concluded, "This Administration is becoming increasingly detached from the economic reality that American families face. Illinois families are telling me that they are afraid-afraid they may not be able to pay for those groceries, their power bills, or their rent. And for residents like those in incorporated McLean County, Illinois-some cannot even afford clean water. We must give them relief, and that requires ending the President's disastrous economic policies."

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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