House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) ripped into the Big Beautiful Bill provisions targeting the Affordable Care Act during debate on the Trump and GOP-backed legislation.
00:00This budget also represents an attack on the Affordable Care Act.
00:08For some reason, Republicans have been obsessed, Mr. Speaker, with attacking the Affordable Care Act.
00:26Gave it a nickname, Obamacare.
00:36But the great Jim Clyburn flipped the script and said, yes, it's Obamacare because President Barack Obama cares about the American people, just like we do as House Democrats.
00:50That's not what is being reflected right now on the other side of the aisle.
00:54We care about the American people.
00:56We care about their health.
00:58We care about their safety.
01:00We care about their well-being.
01:02And so I'm proud to stand here on the floor saying, yeah, we're going to continue to defend Obamacare until the very end, no matter what it takes.
01:16So President Obama spoke to this Congress as well.
01:24Talked about presidential leadership.
01:30We've seen it year after year, decade after decade, century after century.
01:44And President Lincoln, President Roosevelt, President Truman, President Johnson, President Clinton, President Obama lifting up the American people on the health care issue.
02:02So I think it's important that these words as well continue to echo out throughout America.
02:21President Obama said that there's still tremendous hardship all across the country.
02:32But there is a sense that we are making progress because of you.
02:40But even before this crisis, he, of course, speaks about the Great Recession.
02:50Even before this crisis, each and every one of us knew that there were millions of Americans across America, millions of people across America,
03:03who were living their own quiet crises, maybe because they had a child who had a preexisting condition.
03:19And no matter how desperate they were, no matter what insurance company they called, they couldn't get coverage for that child.
03:30Maybe it was somebody who had been forced into early retirement in their 50s, not yet eligible for Medicare.
03:45And they couldn't find a job.
03:49And they couldn't find health insurance.
03:53Despite the fact that they had some sort of chronic condition that had to be tended to.
04:04And now we're on the threshold of doing something about it, he said to the United States Congress.
04:14Speaker Nancy Delessandro Pelosi and others who were great partners in this effort.
04:21He said, and now we're on the threshold of doing something about it.
04:24We're a day away.
04:27This is aspirational leadership.
04:30After a year of debate.
04:33After every argument has been made.
04:37By just about everybody.
04:39We're 24 hours away.
04:44But it may also be possible, referring to his critics that existed at the time, who sat on the other side of the aisle.
05:02He said, but it may also be possible that they realize after health reform passes and I signed that legislation into law.
05:11That it's going to be a little harder to mischaracterize what this effort has been all about.
05:21Because this year, small businesses will start getting tax credits so that they can offer health insurance to employees who currently don't have it.
05:34Because this year, those same parents who are worried about getting coverage for their children with pre-existing conditions,
05:40now are assured that insurance companies have to give them coverage this year.
05:49Because this year, insurance companies won't suddenly be able to drop your coverage when you get sick.
05:58Or impose lifetime limits or restrictive limits on the coverage that you have.
06:05President Obama went on to say, maybe they know that this year, for the first time, young people will be able to stay on their parents' health insurance.
06:17Until they're 26 years old.
06:22The Affordable Care Act was a tremendous step in the right direction.
06:31It's aspirational leadership.
06:34Tens of millions of Americans now have health insurance coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
06:46But this reckless Republican budget, this one big, ugly bill that President Donald Trump has directed my Republican colleagues to sign off on.
07:05To recklessly rubber stamp.
07:09And to bend the knee to, even though this bill and its assault on health care, on Medicaid, on the Children's Health Insurance Program, on Medicare, and on Obamacare,
07:24will rip away health care coverage from the people my Republican colleagues are here in Washington to represent.
07:36It's extraordinary to me that as a result of this one big, ugly bill, this all-out assault on health care,
07:51going to lose coverage, thrown off of health care, set in motion a chain of events where hospitals will close,
08:08nursing homes will shut down, people unable to get the care that they need to live a life of dignity and respect.
08:18And that as a result of the all-out Republican assault on health care in the United States of America, people will die.
08:35I'm sad.
08:36I'm sad.
08:37I'm sad.
08:38I never thought that I'd be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene.
08:56And House Democrats want no part of it.
09:02No part of it.
09:04It's a crime scene.
09:06Going after the health and the safety and the well-being of the American people.
09:11And Mr. Speaker, we want no part of it.
09:14Which is why we're fighting so hard to stop it.
09:22Serving in the United States Congress on this glorious floor, having to be part of a crime scene.
09:33Shameful.
09:34Shameful.
09:35Shame.
09:36Shame.
09:37All-out assault on the American people.
09:47President Biden worked hard with many of the people in this Congress who still serve to try to build upon this great legacy.
10:02This journey that we've been on.
10:07Set in motion in modern American presidential history by FDR.
10:14Inspired by the great vision of President Truman.
10:22Enhanced in years that were cut short far too early by President Kennedy.
10:34And then powered in such an extraordinary way by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
10:45Built upon aspirationally by President Jimmy Carter.
10:51And then advanced the children's health insurance program by President Bill Clinton.
11:04Furthered in such an extraordinary way by President Barack Obama.
11:12And then built upon and enhanced by President Biden.
11:18None of us are perfect but that's part of our march toward a more perfect union.
11:30That's part of the charge that we have as public servants.
11:36Given that sacred charge in the preamble of the United States Constitution.
11:43We the people in order to form a more perfect union.
11:50Leadership that tries to perfect.
11:55The American journey.
12:00President Biden.
12:01President Biden.
12:05Spoke to this.
12:08In August of 2022.
12:14Talked about the challenges.
12:19Pushing back against special interests that.
12:21That are often the forces.
12:27Trying to stop progress on behalf of the American people.
12:34This one big.
12:36Ugly bill is.
12:38Filled with giveaways to special interests.
12:41Here in Washington, D.C.
12:46I'm disgusted by that.
12:48It's not what lawmaking should be about.
12:52President Biden reflecting upon.
12:57Challenges of making progress on behalf of the American people.
13:02Says in August of 2022.
13:09And yet.
13:10We've not wavered.
13:12We've not flinched.
13:15We've not given in.
13:19Instead we're delivering results for the American people.
13:23We didn't tear down.
13:30We built up.
13:34We didn't look back.
13:35We looked forward.
13:40This law.
13:43This law that I'm about to sign finally delivers on a promise that Washington has made.
13:48For decades.
13:53To the American people.
13:58Guess what?
13:59We're giving Medicare the power to negotiate.
14:04The power to negotiate lower prices on behalf of the American people.
14:11This means seniors.
14:12President Biden goes on to say are going to pay less.
14:17For their prescription drugs.
14:18While we're changing circumstances for people on Medicare.
14:21By putting a cap.
14:26A cap of a maximum of $2,000 per year.
14:32On their prescription drug costs.
14:36No matter what the reason.
14:38For those prescriptions are.
14:42That means if you're on Medicare.
14:43You'll never have to pay more than $2,000 a year.
14:47No matter how many prescriptions you have.
14:50Whether it's for cancer or any other disease.
14:52No more than $2,000 a year.
14:56I don't care who in this town is trying to take credit.
15:00For something accomplished by others.
15:04President Joseph Robinette Biden did that.
15:09He did that.
15:13He did that.
15:15As part of our effort.
15:18To lower costs.
15:20On behalf of the American people.
15:25None of us are perfect.
15:27There's still work to do.
15:30But the 46th president of the United States of America did that.
15:36Inflation Reduction Act.
15:41He went on to say locks in lower health care premiums.
15:45For millions of families.
15:48Who get their coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
15:52Last year a family of four.
15:56Saved on average $2,400.
16:00Through the American Rescue Plan.
16:02That I signed into law.
16:04That Congress voted.
16:06In place.
16:08President Biden is talking about.
16:11The continuation.
16:13Of our march toward a more perfect union.
16:15The work that.
16:16We in this Congress.
16:18Many of us who had the privilege to serve.
16:21Over the last few years did to try to.
16:24Expand and strengthen.
16:27The Affordable Care Act.
16:30Obamacare by enhancing.
16:32The premium tax credits available.
16:37So that millions.
16:41Of additional Americans.
16:43Would actually have the ability.
16:45To get access to health care.
16:47And in this.
16:49One big ugly bill.
16:53Republicans.
16:56Are setting in motion.
16:58The explosion.
17:00Of those tax credits.
17:03That are designed to provide.
17:06Affordable health care coverage.
17:09To the American people.
17:13Leadership requires.
17:17Courage.
17:18Conviction.
17:19Compassion.
17:21And yet what we've seen.
17:25From this administration.
17:29And its co-conspirators.
17:34On the Republican side of the aisle.
17:36Mr. Speaker.
17:38Cruelty.
17:39Chaos.
17:40And corruption.
17:42And corruption.
17:43And it's all.
17:45Been morphed into a toxic mix.
17:57Now contained.
17:59In Donald Trump's one big ugly bill.
18:01An extraordinary.
18:04An extraordinary.
18:05Assault.
18:06On the health care.
18:11Of the American people.
18:13I mentioned earlier.
18:16Mr. Speaker that.
18:18I've taken to the House floor.
18:25To share stories.
18:28From the American people.
18:31Stories.
18:33Available to us.
18:35In connection.
18:36With debating.
18:38This bill.
18:40But I'm going to do my best.
18:43To make sure.
18:46That we have a representative sample.
18:50Of why so many Americans.
18:53All across this.
18:55Country.
18:56Went to bed.
18:59In fear.
19:00And are now.
19:01Waking up.
19:02In horror.
19:05Because Republicans.
19:06Are trying to jam.
19:07This one big ugly bill.
19:08Down the throats.
19:12Of the American people.
19:15An assault.
19:18On health care.
19:19An assault.
19:22On nutritional assistance.
19:25An assault.
19:26On children.
19:27An assault.
19:28On veterans.
19:29An assault.
19:30On farmers.
19:31An assault.
19:32On everyday.
19:33Americans.
19:39Crystal.
19:40Who's also from.
19:43The great state.
19:44Of.
19:47Alaska.
19:49Said that.
19:52After my husband.
19:53Passed.
19:54Away.
19:55Suddenly.
19:56I was.
19:57Unprepared.
19:59To pay.
20:00All the bills.
20:02As a part-time.
20:03Stay at home.
20:05Mom.
20:08And working part-time.
20:09While my young girls.
20:10Were in school.
20:14I applied.
20:16For snap benefits.
20:17And was so thankful.
20:19I received them.
20:20For what helped me.
20:21So much.
20:22And I was so thankful.
20:23I received them.
20:24For what helped me.
20:25So much.
20:28And I was so thankful.
20:31It put food.
20:32On our table.
20:35I didn't have to worry.
20:36About how I was going.
20:37To buy groceries.
20:38While paying.
20:40The other bills.
20:41The other bills.
20:42I had to take care of.
20:46Snap program.
20:47Has helped me many times.
20:48And through those times.
20:49I was struggling.
20:50Financially.
20:53And so.
20:54I'm so thankful.
20:55It was there.
20:56When I needed it.
20:57Most.
20:58I am no longer.
21:01On the program.
21:04But it was one of the biggest blessings.
21:06In my life.
21:08During those hard years.
21:12After my loss.
21:15Thank you to the government.
21:19For helping me.
21:20For helping me.
21:23We all need help.
21:24At times.
21:25In life.
21:28And I think.
21:29This program.
21:30Should remain available.
21:31To those.
21:32Who really need it.
21:34Who are struggling.
21:36Crystal.
21:38For sharing your story.
21:41With us.
21:44Mr. Speaker.
21:45Talese wrote to us.
21:50Lives in Alabama's.
21:55Fifth.
21:56Congressional District.
21:59A district currently represented.
22:00By Dale Strong.
22:01So thankful for.
22:03The representation.
22:04Of my good friends.
22:05Terry Sewell.
22:06And Shamari Figures.
22:09In the great state of Alabama.
22:14Talese writes to us.
22:15I'm a single mom.
22:19Doing everything.
22:21With my one.
22:23Income.
22:26My ex-husband.
22:27Refuses to pay.
22:28Child support.
22:29Or split the cost of anything.
22:33Related to my daughter.
22:37If it wasn't.
22:40For snap.
22:43We'd probably have very little.
22:45In terms of food.
22:46Food.
22:48Because I am always.
22:49Running.
22:51On E.
22:55I'm so beyond grateful.
23:00For the assistance.
23:05Curtis.
23:06For so many Americans.
23:07That is what snap.
23:09Has been.
23:10A godsend.
23:11A godsend.
23:12In a time of need.
23:13And now.
23:14The nutritional assistance.
23:15Benefits.
23:16Will be ripped away.
23:17For millions of years.
23:18In a time of need.
23:19In a time of need.
23:20In a time of need.
23:21nutritional status, if not mostly for the SNAP nutritional assistance, a godsend.
23:29For so many Americans, that is what SNAP has been, a godsend in a time of need.
23:40And now the nutritional assistance benefits will be ripped away for millions of Americans
23:46in Donald Trump's one big ugly bill.
23:52A bill that Republicans are prepared to recklessly rubber stamp.
24:02You also heard from Diana, great state of California.
24:23Diana writes, SNAP has helped my family tremendously during this difficult time.
24:33We really appreciate all the help.
24:38My husband was diagnosed with cancer.
24:46And we have a little one at home.
24:50It's been difficult taking care of everything.
24:54Please keep this benefit to help people get on their feet.
25:04Diana lives in the Inland Empire, California's 33rd congressional district,
25:14represented by the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Pete Aguilar.
25:21Diana, Pete Aguilar is fighting hard for you.
25:25Just like every single House Democrat are fighting hard for the American people
25:32to protect you as best we can from this cruel assault
25:36on nutritional assistance.
25:40We're going to continue to fight hard for you.
25:50We're going to continue to fight hard for you.
25:52We're going to continue to fight hard for you.
