House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) addressed the House floor in support of H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. Arrington criticized Democratic efforts to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which were first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his remarks, Arrington stated: "Mr. Speaker, let me simplify the debate today for the American people. Republicans are bringing forward reforms that will actually lower the cost of care. According to CBO, which is the gold standard for my Democrat colleagues, it says [our proposal] will reduce premiums by 11%."
Arrington noted that reductions in health insurance premiums have occurred only when Republican-led reforms were enacted. He referenced previous legislative actions targeting waste and fraud as factors contributing to lower costs: "Now, the only other time premiums have gone down since Obamacare was enacted is when Republicans actually advanced reforms in the Big Beautiful Bill — namely, rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse that lowered the cost of care."
He also highlighted issues with current subsidies: "The Democrats are trying to put forward an extension of a COVID-era, fraud-ridden subsidy that has proven time and again — GAO, CBO, all the watchdogs say — it is fraught with tens of billions of fraud. Tens of thousands of Social Security numbers from dead people have been used to siphon money away from this program. Millions of people, according to CBO, are ineligible on the program."
Arrington concluded by urging members to support Republican proposals and questioned continued government involvement: "As Ronald Reagan said so beautifully—so aptly for this moment—I can’t think of any better words: government is not the solution here. You all have proven that government is the problem, and we've got the solution that actually delivers the affordability to the American people. I urge my colleagues to support it."
