Duckworth, Durbin Join Warren, Schumer, Wyden, Senate Democrats in Slamming Trump Administration for Rising Health Care Costs, Affordability Crisis for American Families

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 23 Senate Democrats in slamming the Trump Administration for its failure to address rising health care costs for American families. In a new letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the lawmakers highlighted the worsening affordability crisis, especially for health care—the crux of the fight surrounding Donald Trump and Republicans’ ongoing government shutdown.
“Over 90 percent of American voters say it is important for Congress and the President to lower health care costs,”wrote the lawmakers.“We urge the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans to join us to lower Americans’ health care costs and reopen the government.”
In the letter, the Senators explained that Donald Trump has raised health care costs for Americans in the following ways:
Along with Duckworth, Durbin, Warren, Schumer and Wyden, the letter was also co-signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Peter Welch (D-VT).
Full text of the letter is available onSenator Duckworth’s websiteand below:
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
We write regarding your failures to address the health care affordability crisis that is unfolding across the country and the Trump administration’s refusal to join Democrats in lowering health care costs and reopening the government.
Donald Trump vowed to lower costs on day one of his presidency. But under his leadership, health care costs are spiking.
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