Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging Republicans To Grant Unanimous Consent For Senate Passage Of The House-Passed ACA Premium Tax Credits Extension

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today spoke on the Senate floor announcing he will call for passage of a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that passed the House last week to deliver relief to the millions of Americans who lost their health care when the subsidies expired. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

When it comes to lowering costs, Americans don't want nice-sounding statements-they want action. Today, the Senate has a chance to take action to lower the cost of health care.

In a few hours, I'll come to the floor to seek unanimous passage of legislation passed by the House last week to extend ACA premium tax credits for three years.

Senate Democrats unanimously supported extending these credits last year. Some Republicans even joined us, but Leader Thune led the way to block this legislation, and it ensured that people's premiums are now skyrocketing.

Well, we have another chance to deliver relief for the American people, Republicans, by passing the very same bill that the House approved last week with bipartisan support.

Time is of the essence. The New York Times reported that nearly 1.5 million Americans have already lost coverage. Americans are in the middle of a health care emergency all because the tax credits are not being extended

The best, quickest, simplest thing Congress can do to lower premiums is to pass a clean restoration of the tax credits that expired last year.

So, to my Republican colleagues: do not block this legislation. Do not get in the way. The American people demand relief, and today you have a chance to deliver it.

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