Congressman Gonzalez Takes Action to Extend ACA Tax Credits for Nearly 130,000 South Texans
Washington, D.C.—As Republicans continue their self-created health care crisis that will raise costs on thousands of South Texas families, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) is supporting a discharge petition to force a vote in the House of Representatives that would extend Affordable Care Act tax credits for three more years. The petition currently has signatures from 212 of the required 218-congressional member threshold.
In a video, Congressman Gonzalez details how Republicans “One Big, Ugly Bill” as well as their refusal to include an extension of ACA tax credits in the deal to reopen the federal government will kick 15 million Americans off affordable health coverage while spiking insurance premiums for nearly 130,000 South Texans in the 34th Congressional District of Texas.
To download the video in high-quality resolution, click here.
Transcript of Congressman Gonzalez’s remarks:
Hi, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez here.
We need to talk about health care because this administration has created a crisis for hundreds of thousands of South Texans and aren’t doing a damn thing to fix it.
After they passed the “One Big, Ugly Bill” that will kick 15 million Americans off low-cost health care plans, I made it clear that I would fight to extend the ACA tax credit that makes American health care more affordable for almost 130,000 people in our district.
What did Republicans do?
They shut down the government for 43 days.
And when a deal finally came to the House for a vote, it did nothing to address the Republican health care crisis or renew the ACA tax credits.
Chaotic policies are already making everything more expensive, from groceries and clothing to furniture and electronics.
Now, they want to break the bank for lifesaving care.
South Texans shouldn’t be forced to delay doctor visits, ration necessary medications, or in the worst-case scenario, forgo health care altogether because of skyrocketing costs.
I’m glad that the government has reopened so workers can get their paychecks, families can get the help they need to put food on their table, and air travel can return to normal.
However, we can’t just ignore the looming health care crisis.
So, where do we go from here?
The Senate already agreed to vote on an ACA tax credit in December, but to no one’s surprise, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed to do the same.
That’s why, just last week, I signed a discharge petition to force the House to vote to extend the ACA tax credit subsidies for three more years.
We need 218 signatures, and I’m hopeful we get there soon.
I refuse to abandon South Texas families, like the 60-year-old couple who earns [$82,800] a year and now has a health insurance cost increase of [$16,639].
Or Alix, from Brownsville, who relies on ACA coverage to manage a chronic health condition he’s had for over three decades. And without it, he’ll pay nearly $1,000 more out of pocket for medications.
Health care is not a partisan issue. Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, it affects us all.
From South Texas to the halls of Congress, I won’t stop fighting to make sure we have affordable coverage.
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