Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-01-08

PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST

HealthcareTaxesTradeHousingCrime & JusticeInfrastructureAgriculture

Context

On 2026-01-08, Representative Jim Costa (D-CA-21) delivered a floor speech titled "PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered taxes, trade policy.

Full Text

PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H144] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST (Mr. Costa of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to say thank you to Steny Hoyer for an incredible career and for being a role model and my friend. He is always a class act. I also rise today to speak for the families who are forced to choose between groceries, rent, and healthcare because prices keep climbing. Affordability is equal to economic stability. Let me repeat that: Affordability is equal to economic stability. Americans are struggling to pay for groceries, rent, gas, and healthcare. They are drowning under rising costs while promises to lower the cost of living have remained unfulfilled by this administration. On day one, President Trump said he would put America first and lower costs. Instead, he pardoned violent insurrectionists, a mob that attacked this Capitol to overthrow a fair and free election. It was an attack that resulted in the deaths of five law enforcement officers. We were promised America First, but what we are seeing is that a majority of Americans, who have been polled on whether we are headed on the right track or the wrong track, believe that we are on the wrong track. This administration has prioritized costly foreign entanglements without transparency or congressional approval while working families pay the price at home. Instead of protecting the economic well-being of Americans, we are seeing the following: Tariff policies are increasing the costs of essential goods. My farmers are struggling, as well as American consumers. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing for millions. Critical programs that help families stay afloat are under attack. The cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as SNAP and other programs, are taking their toll. Take healthcare as an example. The enhanced premium tax cuts that help millions afford coverage are now expired. In California, new enrollments are down 31 percent last year, and nearly 190,000 families have canceled coverage because it is no longer affordable. Middle-class Americans who are earning more than $62,000 are no longer eligible for the Federal premium tax credits, doubling cancellations from 8 percent to 16 percent. Californians are switching to bronze plans to save on premiums, but these plans carry higher deductibles. For pregnancy care or cancer care treatment, costs can more than double compared to silver plans. In my district, over 65,000 families risk losing Medicaid, and another 22,000 families will face higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Nationwide, nearly 100,000 American families could lose their coverage each year if Congress fails to act. Last year, Republicans passed a partisan bill that failed to renew the essential premium tax credits, forcing millions of Americans to pay higher costs this year, even though a bipartisan solution is at hand. Families, therefore, unfortunately, are left waiting. Americans are also struggling with the rising costs of energy, transportation, and other critical services. What we need are bipartisan solutions that create jobs, lower costs, and increase enhanced premium tax credits so millions of American families can afford their healthcare. What we need is bipartisan legislation such as my bipartisan Rural Homeownership Continuity Act that will reduce financing costs and bipartisan legislation on permitting reform to get infrastructure like energy, transportation, and housing projects more quickly approved for working families. Mr. Speaker, we need bipartisan solutions, and they are clear. Congress must act now to ease costs, expand access to healthcare, and invest in the future of our communities throughout the country. The cost of living is not a partisan issue. It is not. It is a matter of fairness, security, and justice. From groceries to gas and from rent to healthcare, Americans cannot afford to wait any longer. Mr. Speaker, it is time that we get together. It is time for Congress to act in a bipartisan effort to renew the sense of Congress as the people's House that we can work together. It is time, Mr. Speaker, for Congress to act. America's people, American citizens, and our constituents must come first. ____________________

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PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H144] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST (Mr. Costa of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to say thank you to Steny Hoyer for an incredible career and for being a role model and my friend. He is always a class act. I also rise today to speak for the families who are forced to choose between groceries, rent, and healthcare because prices keep climbing. Affordability is equal to economic stability. Let me repeat that: Affordability is equal to economic stability. Americans are struggling to pay for groceries, rent, gas, and healthcare. They are drowning under rising costs while promises to lower the cost of living have remained unfulfilled by this administration. On day one, President Trump said he would put America first and lower costs. Instead, he pardoned violent insurrectionists, a mob that attacked this Capitol to overthrow a fair and free election. It was an attack that resulted in the deaths of five law enforcement officers. We were promised America First, but what we are seeing is that a majority of Americans, who have been polled on whether we are headed on the right track or the wrong track, believe that we are on the wrong track. This administration has prioritized costly foreign entanglements without transparency or congressional approval while working families pay the price at home. Instead of protecting the economic well-being of Americans, we are seeing the following: Tariff policies are increasing the costs of essential goods. My farmers are struggling, as well as American consumers. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing for millions. Critical programs that help families stay afloat are under attack. The cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as SNAP and other programs, are taking their toll. Take healthcare as an example. The enhanced premium tax cuts that help millions afford coverage are now expired. In California, new enrollments are down 31 percent last year, and nearly 190,000 families have canceled coverage because it is no longer affordable. Middle-class Americans who are earning more than $62,000 are no longer eligible for the Federal premium tax credits, doubling cancellations from 8 percent to 16 percent. Californians are switching to bronze plans to save on premiums, but these plans carry higher deductibles. For pregnancy care or cancer care treatment, costs can more than double compared to silver plans. In my district, over 65,000 families risk losing Medicaid, and another 22,000 families will face higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Nationwide, nearly 100,000 American families could lose their coverage each year if Congress fails to act. Last year, Republicans passed a partisan bill that failed to renew the essential premium tax credits, forcing millions of Americans to pay higher costs this year, even though a bipartisan solution is at hand. Families, therefore, unfortunately, are left waiting. Americans are also struggling with the rising costs of energy, transportation, and other critical services. What we need are bipartisan solutions that create jobs, lower costs, and increase enhanced premium tax credits so millions of American families can afford their healthcare. What we need is bipartisan legislation such as my bipartisan Rural Homeownership Continuity Act that will reduce financing costs and bipartisan legislation on permitting reform to get infrastructure like energy, transportation, and housing projects more quickly approved for working families. Mr. Speaker, we need bipartisan solutions, and they are clear. Congress must act now to ease costs, expand access to healthcare, and invest in the future of our communities throughout the country. The cost of living is not a partisan issue. It is not. It is a matter of fairness, security, and justice. From groceries to gas and from rent to healthcare, Americans cannot afford to wait any longer. Mr. Speaker, it is time that we get together. It is time for Congress to act in a bipartisan effort to renew the sense of Congress as the people's House that we can work together. It is time, Mr. Speaker, for Congress to act. America's people, American citizens, and our constituents must come first. ____________________