Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I will be voting for this measure today because the policy is good, but let's be realistic. It is extremely modest, and it has no chance of becoming law because it was hastily thrown together without, apparently, any bipartisan input, when bipartisan support is necessary to pass any measure like this.

However, worst of all, the bill does not address the immediate urgent problem in front of us, which is that 22 million people are about to pay a lot more for health insurance. These are independent contractors, freelancers, gig workers, and Uber drivers. It is small business owners and their employees, and retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare who are going to pay thousands of dollars more in many cases. Some people won't be able to afford health insurance at all.

What are we supposed to tell these folks? ``Oh, don't worry, it is Obama's fault.'' Or, ``Oh, no, don't worry, we did a show vote on this Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.'' Is that going to be any consolation?

Now, I have been extremely critical of the House Speaker for refusing to put any measure to extend these tax credits on the floor, and I think that criticism right now is more well deserved than ever.

We have in the past seen measures come to the floor that divided the Republican Conference but that were able to pass with bipartisan support on continuing resolutions or on foreign aid bills. There is no reason that cannot be done here, and let the House work its will. That, after all, is the best expression of the will of the people.

What about the minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries? He has had every opportunity to endorse a compromise measure that has a temporary extension with reforms. There are three bills that have numerous bipartisan coauthors, but instead of supporting any of those, he has directed his Members to only support an uncompromising measure that has zero bipartisan cosponsors. That has already been rejected by the Senate and so has no chance of becoming law.

This whole issue encapsulates what is wrong with this institution, where party leaders focus most of their time and energy on trying to blame problems on the other side rather than trying to solve those problems, but it is not too late for action now. I am calling on the Speaker or the minority leader or both to get a bill to the floor. That is what this institution needs. It is what America needs.

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