[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 25, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1225-H1226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VOTERS SENT US TO CONGRESS TO LOWER COSTS

  (Mr. Olszewski of Maryland was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)

[[Page H1226]]

  

  Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, in November, the American people sent us 
all here to Congress with one clear mandate: to lower costs, to make 
life easier for working families, and to ensure that no one in this 
country has to choose between putting food on the table and keeping the 
lights on.
  I came to this floor 49 days ago with a similar poster. Now, here we 
are again, 81 days into this session of Congress, and I return with the 
exact same message. Nearly 3 months in, and what do we have to show for 
our work? Not one vote, not one serious effort from the Republican 
leadership of this House to tackle rising costs for struggling 
families, nothing to lower grocery prices, bring down the cost of gas 
or prescription drugs, help parents afford childcare, or support 
seniors who are worried about their retirement.
  President Trump promised to lower costs on day one. He has now failed 
to deliver on his day-one promise for 64 consecutive days. Making 
matters worse, costs are anything but lower. Instead, the reality is 
grocery prices are rising, inflation is up, and the stock market is 
unstable. In fact, rather than lowering costs, the Trump administration 
is actively promoting policies that are poised to drive up costs even 
higher.
  The Trump tariffs alone will increase costs for the average family by 
as much as $2,000 per year, simply to buy essentials like gas and 
groceries. God forbid your family needs a new car or a home renovation 
in the near future.
  Making matters even worse, as prices go up, safety nets for our most 
vulnerable families are poised to be slashed under this reckless 
Republican budget. I voted ``no'' because it cuts hundreds of billions 
of dollars in funding for SNAP and Medicaid, which means children will 
go hungry, seniors will lose care, and people with disabilities will be 
left behind, period.
  You don't have to take my word for it. The Congressional Budget 
Office issued a letter on March 5 where they reinforced that the math 
is conclusive: Major cuts are the only way to meet the requirements of 
the Republican House budget resolution.
  The American people are tired of the political theater. They are 
simply asking for solutions. However, this administration and extreme 
Republicans have offered no real plans, no real solutions, just more 
empty promises with painful cuts and a whopping Federal deficit 
increase looming on the horizon.
  That is why I have been tracking congressional inaction day after day 
after day on my social media, because families in Maryland and across 
the country cannot afford to waste any more time.
  Here we are, on the House floor once again, calling on House 
leadership to bring real legislation to this floor that will start 
delivering results for our constituents.
  The good news is, there is no shortage of legislative proposals that 
will help accomplish this. For example, I am proud to have cosponsored 
bills that will provide immediate relief by strengthening and 
modernizing the child and earned income tax credits, expanding paid 
leave, providing penalty-free retirement withdrawals, and giving 
Americans more financial flexibility in these tough times.
  These aren't partisan bills. These are commonsense solutions. Yet, 
House leadership refuses to bring a single one forward for a vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I will not stop calling for action. Families in Maryland 
and across the country demand it, and they deserve it. I will not stop 
until we do what we were sent here to do: lower costs and build a 
better future for every American.

                          ____________________