[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 214 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            LOWER HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS FOR ALL AMERICANS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 18, 2025

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my opposition to H.R. 
6703, the so-called Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. 
This bill does nothing to address the health care affordability crisis 
and is full of tired, failed ideas from previous GOP efforts to repeal 
the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
  Donald Trump and House Republicans have never had a health care plan 
for the American people. Despite having fifteen years to plan and come 
up with ways to improve or replace the ACA, they've only tried to 
repeal it--over 50 times. Republicans' failure to extend the ACA tax 
credits means that more than 20 million Americans will be paying twice 
as much on average to buy the same health care plan they have today. 
President Trump had no problem extending tax cuts for millionaires, 
billionaires, and large corporations in his Big Ugly Bill--yet he and 
his GOP cronies won't even extend temporary tax credits to help 
Americans afford their health care.
  This did not need to happen. We're here because Republicans refused 
to work with Democrats and allowed for the longest government shutdown 
in U.S. history rather than come to the table and negotiate. The clock 
is ticking, and while I'm pleased that a few Republicans joined 
Democrats in an effort to extend the tax credits, this effort came too 
late. Americans are receiving notices about their premiums doubling and 
are making decisions right now to either pay exorbitantly higher rates, 
opt for a plan that offers less coverage, or go without health coverage 
altogether.
  President Trump has put forward a fake alternative--junk health care 
plans and a $1,000 HSA that will keep folks paying more for less. Do 
not be misled. This proposal will put millions of Americans health 
coverage at risk and will leave as many as 4 million Americans 
uninsured.
  Mr. Speaker, Democrats have been sounding the alarm about the ACA tax 
credits for months, yet Republicans spent their time cutting a trillion 
dollars from the health care system instead. It is insulting to the 
American people that they waited until two weeks before the tax credits 
expire to introduce a half-baked plan that doesn't help anyone afford 
the skyrocketing prices and that they knew Democrats would not support. 
I oppose this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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