[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3001-S3002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Healthcare

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yesterday the majority leader announced 
that the Senate would remain in session during much of the planned 
August recess. President Trump tweeted: ``Great. Maybe the Democrats 
will finally get something done other than their acceptance of high 
crime and high taxes.'' As usual, the President's tweet makes little 
sense given that Republicans control both Houses of Congress. But I 
agree with the President on one thing: Canceling the recess is a great 
opportunity to get something done. In fact, I have a suggestion for 
what Congress should do. How about this, Mr. President? Why don't we 
get something done on the issue that numerous polls say is the No. 1 
priority of Americans--healthcare.
  We Democrats--our entire caucus--believe this previously unscheduled 
session time could be put to good use to finally help Americans secure 
affordable healthcare that the President and congressional Republicans 
have thus far failed to deliver. Before being sworn in, President Trump 
promised to deliver healthcare that was ``far less expensive and far 
better.'' Those are his words. But since he has taken office, President 
Trump has completely dropped the ball on healthcare. Instead of shoring 
up our healthcare system and driving down costs, President Trump and 
Republicans have sabotaged our healthcare system and driven up costs.
  Yesterday, Maine and Pennsylvania joined a growing list of States 
that will see higher healthcare rates thanks to the policies of the 
Trump administration and congressional Republicans. In States such as 
Virginia, Maryland, New York, and Washington, rate increases are in 
double digits. One PPO plan in Maryland requested a rate increase of 91 
percent. And when you ask these CEOs of companies why their rates are 
going up, many of them cite Trump administration policies and 
congressional Republican policies.
  Again, the No. 1 issue affecting Americans is the high cost of 
healthcare. My Republican colleagues are busy touting tax breaks. If 
you are very wealthy, you got a big break. If you are a middle-class 
person, far too often, your increase in your premiums exceeds your tax 
break.
  Let's do something to put more money--net more money--in the pockets 
of working class people. Let's spend

[[Page S3002]]

August working on healthcare. Folks were already paying too much for 
healthcare in the form of premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, and the 
eye-popping costs of so many prescription drugs. Now all of those costs 
are going up because ``the unified Republican government'' has done 
little to bring down the high cost of healthcare, and what it has done 
has made the situation worse.
  Again, President Trump has dropped the ball on healthcare, and the 
August recess is a time to recover and do something good. President 
Trump deliberately sowed uncertainty in the healthcare marketplace as a 
way to make a political point against ObamaCare, and then congressional 
Republicans repealed the coverage requirement in their tax bill. Health 
insurers from coast to coast cite the repeal of the coverage 
requirement as one of the major reasons they are increasing rates next 
year.
  Just last night, a report issued by the Trump administration itself 
showed that Medicare is going insolvent faster than expected. What 
caused it? In part it is the Republican tax bill and ``the repeal of 
the individual mandate, which increased the estimate of the number of 
uninsured, in turn leading to a large increase in uncompensated care 
payments.'' Again, the tax bill led to Medicare being less solvent and 
running out of money sooner.
  In short order, the Trump administration will make things worse. They 
will be offering junk insurance plans that will bring back the dark 
days when Americans with preexisting conditions faced higher premiums, 
denied care, and medical bankruptcy.
  We now have a few extra weeks in August. What will be No. 1 on the 
American people's list? It is not the things Leader McConnell 
mentioned, falsely blaming Democrats when appropriations aren't moving 
along well, and he brags about how many appointments he has made to the 
bench. No, the No. 1 thing Americans want is healthcare, and we 
Democrats will spend the August recess focusing on that issue and 
forcing our Republicans to either cast votes or deny votes on those 
important issues. It is a great opportunity not just for Democrats, not 
just for Republicans, but for America. We are going to do it. We 
already have an agenda ready to go, and we are going to push for votes 
on these measures in August.
  One, we want to expand access to Medicare. Many of us Democrats in 
this caucus believe 55 should be the age when you can buy in. Loads of 
Americans support that.
  Two, we want to increase tax breaks to help families afford the cost 
of healthcare.
  Three, we want to create a national reinsurance program to lower 
premiums.
  Four, we want to ensure that people with preexisting conditions don't 
get denied and priced out of insurance due to an expansion of junk 
insurance.
  Five, we want to lower the skyrocketing costs of drugs.
  President Trump should stay in Washington.
  No Mar-a-Lago, Mr. President, no golf all the time. You have taken so 
many vacations, while you criticize others.
  It is typical--the double standard that he seems to exhibit every 10 
minutes. President Trump should stay in Washington with us, roll up his 
sleeves, and get to work on making healthcare great again.