[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST

  (Mr. Costa of California was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to say thank you to Steny 
Hoyer for an incredible career and for being a role model and my 
friend. He is always a class act.
  I also rise today to speak for the families who are forced to choose 
between groceries, rent, and healthcare because prices keep climbing. 
Affordability is equal to economic stability. Let me repeat that: 
Affordability is equal to economic stability. Americans are struggling 
to pay for groceries, rent, gas, and healthcare. They are drowning 
under rising costs while promises to lower the cost of living have 
remained unfulfilled by this administration.
  On day one, President Trump said he would put America first and lower 
costs. Instead, he pardoned violent insurrectionists, a mob that 
attacked this Capitol to overthrow a fair and free election. It was an 
attack that resulted in the deaths of five law enforcement officers.
  We were promised America First, but what we are seeing is that a 
majority of Americans, who have been polled on whether we are headed on 
the right track or the wrong track, believe that we are on the wrong 
track.
  This administration has prioritized costly foreign entanglements 
without transparency or congressional approval while working families 
pay the price at home.
  Instead of protecting the economic well-being of Americans, we are 
seeing the following: Tariff policies are increasing the costs of 
essential goods. My farmers are struggling, as well as American 
consumers. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing for millions. Critical 
programs that help families stay afloat are under attack. The cuts in 
Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as SNAP and other 
programs, are taking their toll.
  Take healthcare as an example. The enhanced premium tax cuts that 
help millions afford coverage are now expired. In California, new 
enrollments are down 31 percent last year, and nearly 190,000 families 
have canceled coverage because it is no longer affordable. Middle-class 
Americans who are earning more than $62,000 are no longer eligible for 
the Federal premium tax credits, doubling cancellations from 8 percent 
to 16 percent.
  Californians are switching to bronze plans to save on premiums, but 
these plans carry higher deductibles. For pregnancy care or cancer care 
treatment, costs can more than double compared to silver plans.
  In my district, over 65,000 families risk losing Medicaid, and 
another 22,000 families will face higher premiums and out-of-pocket 
costs. Nationwide, nearly 100,000 American families could lose their 
coverage each year if Congress fails to act.
  Last year, Republicans passed a partisan bill that failed to renew 
the essential premium tax credits, forcing millions of Americans to pay 
higher costs this year, even though a bipartisan solution is at hand. 
Families, therefore, unfortunately, are left waiting.
  Americans are also struggling with the rising costs of energy, 
transportation, and other critical services. What we need are 
bipartisan solutions that create jobs, lower costs, and increase 
enhanced premium tax credits so millions of American families can 
afford their healthcare.
  What we need is bipartisan legislation such as my bipartisan Rural 
Homeownership Continuity Act that will reduce financing costs and 
bipartisan legislation on permitting reform to get infrastructure like 
energy, transportation, and housing projects more quickly approved for 
working families.
  Mr. Speaker, we need bipartisan solutions, and they are clear. 
Congress must act now to ease costs, expand access to healthcare, and 
invest in the future of our communities throughout the country.
  The cost of living is not a partisan issue. It is not. It is a matter 
of fairness, security, and justice. From groceries to gas and from rent 
to healthcare, Americans cannot afford to wait any longer.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time that we get together. It is time for Congress 
to act in a bipartisan effort to renew the sense of Congress as the 
people's House that we can work together. It is time, Mr. Speaker, for 
Congress to act. America's people, American citizens, and our 
constituents must come first.

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