PRICES ARE TOO HIGH

On 2026-02-10, Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA-44) delivered a floor speech titled "PRICES ARE TOO HIGH" in the House. The speech addressed the economy and also covered taxes, climate policy.

PRICES ARE TOO HIGH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 28 (Tuesday, February 10, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)] [House] [Page H2104] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PRICES ARE TOO HIGH (Ms. Barragan of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, prices are too high. Under Trump's economy, Americans are paying more. Just the other day, Trump said he is very proud of this economy. Americans cannot afford this Trump economy. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation has said that under the watch of Trump and Republicans, the U.S. has had the largest tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993 because of tariffs. These tariffs are a tax on the U.S. and Americans. They are estimating that U.S. households are paying a thousand dollars more in 2025, and it is going to go up in 2026. Let's talk about electricity prices. Families across the country are opening their electric bills and asking: Why is my bill so high, and is anyone doing anything to bring down these prices? The Trump administration promised Americans they would cut costs, including energy costs. They promised cheaper power. Instead, families are paying more right now. While fossil fuel companies take in record profits, families are afraid to use the air-conditioner during dangerous heat waves because their electricity costs will spike. Seniors are turning off the heat on frigid winter days. Prices jumped sharply last year, far faster than paychecks. Last year, there were 43 different electricity rate hikes across the country, totaling over $11 billion in new costs for ratepayers. Millions of households are saying they cannot afford this. They are already behind on their utility bills, and more and more households have had their electricity shut off by utilities. This is not an accident. This is a choice by Trump and Republicans. Clean energy, like wind and solar paired with battery storage, is the cheapest power we can build. If we build more of it, we can lower electricity prices, which means American families will be able to turn the heat on in the winter or the AC on during dangerous heat waves, but the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are doing everything they can to stop clean energy that will help lower costs for the American taxpayer. They are rolling back programs that help build low-cost power. They are making it harder to build new wind, solar, and transmission projects. Projects that were already planned, financed, and under construction to deliver cheaper electricity are now stalled or scrapped. The result: higher prices for working families. House Democrats are fighting for affordable clean energy. We believe energy policies should make life easier, not harder. {time} 1045 Mr. Speaker, we believe the way to lower prices is to build more clean, affordable power, not less. We believe that no senior should have to choose between heat and medicine and no family should have their power shut off, while fossil fuel companies make more money than they have ever seen in the past. Americans deserve better than broken promises and rising bills. We must deliver lower costs including lower energy costs for American families. ____________________