Providing for Consideration of H.R. Breaking the Gridlock Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of a 3-year extension of the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits.

Millions of Americans who benefited from these credits are now facing the real prospect of losing their health insurance because they can no longer afford their premiums. We have told their stories for months. These are small business owners, their employees, the self-employed, farmers, restaurateurs, beauticians, landscapers, mediators, chiropractors, on and on.

They are people like Bobby Connor from Brunswick County, Virginia, who is 3 years away from Medicare. Last year, with the tax credit, he paid $34 per month for his insurance. This year, he was set to pay $92 with the tax credit. Now, without it, he is looking at $1,700 a month.

Lester and Yolanda Johnson of Richmond, Virginia, co-owners of Mama J's Restaurant, and their 8-year-old daughter are going from paying about $700 a month with the tax credit last year to over $1,400 this year without it.

We have a chance to give Bobby, Lester, Yolanda, and millions like them the peace of mind that if they get sick or injured, they can get the care they need without losing everything.

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