McBride Joins House Democratic Leadership to Sound Alarm on Affordability Crisis and Republicans’ Refusal to Extend ACA Tax Credits

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) joined Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-CA), and fellow Democratic freshman Congressman Shomari Figures (D-AL) to spotlight the growing affordability crisis facing American families and to call out Congressional Republicans for refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. A video of her full remarks are available here.

“Across Delaware, families are being hit from every direction — at the grocery store, at the pharmacy, and now in their health care premiums,” McBride said.

She noted that President Trump’s promises to lower costs have not matched reality. “In 2024, Donald Trump promised the American people that he would lower costs on day one. But we all know that whether it was with his business partners, people who’ve worked for him, or the American people, the one through line in Donald Trump’s life is that he’s never met a promise that he wasn’t willing to break. Because one year into the second Trump presidency, all we have are a litany of broken promises and billionaire tax breaks.”

McBride emphasized that the affordability crisis is being driven by deliberate policy choices: “The truth is: Republican policies are pouring fuel on that fire. This affordability crisis is not a hoax, it is a choice by Congressional Republicans and Donald Trump. A choice to impose a tariff tax on small businesses and consumers. A choice to cut food assistance. And a choice to insert a one-trillion dollar bomb into the center of the American health care system.”

She warned the consequences are already unfolding: “And that bomb is already starting to go off. Premiums are skyrocketing. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history is looming. Rural hospitals and doctors offices are already starting to shutter. Trumpcare has arrived – and it is dangerous and deadly.”

McBride also shared the story of a Delaware constituent: “Dave, in New Castle, pays $350 a month for his wife’s Marketplace plan. Next year, without the ACA tax credits, those premiums will jump to $1,200 a month. His wife lives with a disabling spinal condition, diabetes, hypertension, depression — and dozens of daily medications. Without these credits, she will lose the coverage that is keeping her alive.”

“People like Dave are doing everything right, and yet Republicans in Congress continue to fail them,” she said.

McBride called on Republicans to join Democrats in forcing a vote to protect health care. “We only need four with the courage to stand up for their constituents – to sign our discharge petition to force an up or down vote on protecting care.”

But she added, “They won’t – because the only thing that Congressional Republicans are more loyal to than Donald Trump is to cutting people’s health care. Imagine getting all that power and deciding the big thing you want to do is to kick millions off their insurance and jack up the price on everyone else.”

McBride closed by grounding the issue in her own experience: “I ran for office because of my experience as a caregiver to my late husband Andy. And in the wealthiest nation on earth, it is simply unacceptable to let any American go without the care that they need. And so long as there is air in our lungs and breath in our bodies, House Democrats will fight for quality health care for every American, no matter where you live, what family you’re born into, or who you voted for in the last election.” 

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