Medical Bills Are Too High

Floor Speech

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust to urge my colleagues across the aisle to extend the ACA tax credits.

As you know, they are set to expire at the end of the year and will cause monthly health bills to skyrocket for millions of Americans. The rising cost of healthcare goes beyond the individual. It affects Black small business owners.

A small business owner in my district owns several coffee shops and worries about her employees being able to afford healthcare. She feels responsible for her employees, but healthcare is a large expense for a small business. The ACA premium tax credits provide affordable care to her employees, allowing her coffee shop and her employees to thrive.

Another small business owner in my district runs a wine production business that sells nationwide. Despite her success, she has to rely on her husband's job for healthcare. These are two small business owners who have created their own success, and through their businesses created jobs for other people.

Republicans love to say they support our economy. It is time to actually support the healthcare of small business owners, who are the backbone of our economy. Republicans also love to say the best option for healthcare is a job.

My constituents have a job. They also provide jobs for more people, but they all receive affordable healthcare through the ACA. Without the ACA tax credits, their employees may have no other option but to go uninsured or find another job. If they decide to leave, my constituents' businesses won't be able to run.

It is simple: We all do better when we all do better. We are all healthier when we are all healthier. Let's extend the ACA premium tax credits. Let's make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

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