[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HEALTHCARE
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this month, January 2026, marks a new era
for Medicare. After decades of empty promises about lowering the cost
of prescription drugs, the prices of the 10 most expensive drugs under
Medicare will finally fall.
Starting this year, 2026, seniors who rely on medications to treat
blood clots, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers will see
discounts of up to 79 percent for these essential drugs. There are 9
million American seniors who will save a total of $1.5 billion in
annual out-of-pocket costs, including nearly 300,000 seniors in
Illinois who take 1 of those 10 drugs.
Why did it take so darned long to lower these prices? Politicians
have been talking about it for years. For years, Medicare was blocked
from negotiating the price of drugs by the pharmaceutical companies.
They didn't want to cut into their profits. That changed when Democrats
passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 under the Biden
administration. This law empowered Medicare to bargain for fair prices
for medications used by seniors.
Not one single Republican voted for this bill in 2022. Let me say
that again. Democrats overcame the objections of congressional
Republicans and Big Pharma, who were complaining about how negotiating
drug prices was socialism--socialism. Now seniors will be saving
hundreds of dollars a month because Democrats rolled up our sleeves to
deliver price cuts on prescription drugs.
What has President Trump done to make healthcare more affordable?
Nothing. Instead, he decided to slash Medicaid by $1 trillion with the
passage of the so-called big beautiful budget bill.
Because of this law, many hospitals across Illinois and across the
country, especially in rural areas, may not survive. Rural hospitals
are the backbone of communities in my State and in many others. They
are the anchors of the local economy. Several hospitals that are barely
squeaking by today have told me they will fall into the red because of
the Republican healthcare cuts in this law. Recently, I surveyed all of
the hospitals in Illinois, and 129 responded to my survey. They wrote
to me to say they will struggle greatly with these cuts from the big
beautiful budget bill of the Trump administration. These hospitals will
face longer emergency room wait times. They will be forced to cut
services, including behavioral health and maternity care. They will
have to lay off doctors and nurses, which is exactly the opposite of
what we need in rural America.
My Republican colleagues know exactly how devastating these Medicaid
cuts will be. That is why they attempted to remedy the situation by
including a $50 billion rural health transformation grant in their Big
Beautiful Bill. Let's do some math here. They are cutting $1 trillion
out of Medicaid, and they are trying to fill that gap with $50 billion.
I am a liberal arts major, but I think I can do basic math. What they
are talking about doing is restoring 5 percent of the $1 trillion they
are cutting from Medicaid--5 percent.
In addition to cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid, congressional
Republicans refused to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium
tax credits under Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. Last year, 22 million
Americans relied on these credits to afford their healthcare, but now
they have expired. Despite pressure from patients, physicians, and
providers, congressional Republicans refused to extend them.
What is the impact of refusing to extend this program that makes
health insurance more affordable? I am afraid it is obvious. During the
2026 open enrollment period, millions of people decided to drop their
health insurance coverage. Others are being forced to make impossible
choices between food, car payments, and housing costs. If we fail to
immediately solve these problems, millions of people will become
uninsured in this country, and those who will retain coverage will pay
double or triple for their healthcare plans.
It is not too late to do something even though we are hopelessly
divided on most of the issues facing us. Let's hope that health
insurance will be the exception. Congress can extend the tax credits
and reopen the signup period before the worst impact is felt.
At least some of my Republican colleagues recognize the pain their
refusal to negotiate has caused. Last month, four Senate Republicans--
four--broke ranks to vote with Democrats to extend the enhanced premium
tax credits and help people pay for their health insurance--four
Republicans. In the House, four House Republicans signed a discharge
petition to force a vote later this week to extend the tax credits. We
must be ready to act when the bill arrives in the Senate.
Americans do not have time for Congress to litigate the entirety of
the U.S. healthcare system, but we do need to triage now. Let's do
something to help these people keep their health insurance. I have
spoken with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and have made it
clear we want to help Americans pay for these bills. I want to join
them. It should be done on a bipartisan basis, and we should waste no
time.
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