Floor Statements

I announce that the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal), the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Duckworth), the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego), the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Alsobrooks), the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Alsobrooks), the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, let me begin by joining the Senator from Alabama expressing my concern with her with what happened in Texas Hill Country, the flooding over the weekend. It was a sad chapter in our Nation's history and a tragic chapter in the history of these families. Our hearts and prayers are with them.

Mr. President, on a different topic, July 4 was the signing of the Big Beautiful Bill. That is what President Trump called it. Congressional Republicans celebrated. I did not. I opposed this legislation because what it did, I think, is going to hurt a lot of families.

Taking health insurance away from 17 million Americans, taking food assistance away from millions, as well, is no way for the United States to act when it comes to needy families.

Have you ever been without health insurance? Ever been to a point you went to a hospital and you didn't have health insurance? I have. I was a law student here in Washington. In my second year, God sent my wife and myself a beautiful baby girl who had a serious health condition. I ended up at Children's Hospital in DC here in the waiting room, not knowing who was going to walk through that door, what doctor will come into that room and treat my child.

I didn't have anything to say about it. I had no health insurance. I was at their mercy. Good people responded, but it is a time in my life I will never, ever forget.

For the President to sign a bill on the 4th of July that takes health insurance away from 17 million people is just plain wrong. Obamacare-- the medical program that was initiated under President Obama--extended health insurance coverage to more than 20 million families, giving peace of mind knowing they were covered if something serious occurred; a cancer diagnosis, a serious trauma--they were covered.

This President celebrates taking away health insurance from 17 million people. To cut Medicaid like that is to cause terrible personal consequences to a family, but it is more than that.

Make no mistake, a family without health insurance in a desperate situation is going do two things: Postpone medical care that is needed because they can't afford it or show up in an emergency situation at a hospital and beg for coverage and care. That is going to happen. So what happens to the hospital that provides that care?

For most places in America, the hospital will do its best to help the family, but the net result is the hospital is not going to be paid because there is no health insurance plan. And if they are not paid, what do they do with the expenses of that treated patient? They pass them along to other families.

So this Big Beautiful Bill the President signed takes health insurance away from 17 million families in Medicaid and raises the cost of healthcare for the rest of us. How can that be a good idea? And why would we do such a thing?

Well, the reasoning was very simple and direct: The President wanted to renew tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America--the wealthiest people.

Oh, Durbin, you are making that up. You are a Democrat. You are going to say that whether it is true or not.

Here is what it boils down to. Elon Musk got a $346,000 tax break by President Trump signing this bill into law. Do you think he noticed, a man who is a multibillionaire? He probably didn't. It didn't change his life one bit. But to the family without health insurance, you changed their life a lot.

I announce that the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, summer camp is a great memory for so many of us. You think about the good times we had, at the right moment in life, with a lot of friends, learning the basics of swimming, archery, target shooting, and other things, like camping out--memories you carry for a lifetime, wonderful memories, a rite of passage for many individuals and families, a family tradition passed on to younger siblings and, ultimately, to our own children and grandchildren.

There are so many images in our minds, over the last several days, as to the tragedy that occurred in Central Texas. I know I speak for millions of Americans when I say we are heartbroken over the flash floods that devastated Central Texas this past weekend.

Early Friday morning, while most were fast asleep, a foot of rain fell onto Texas Hill Country. This deluge floated to the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise by 26 feet in 45 minutes--26 feet in 45 minutes.

Near the Guadalupe, a girls sleep away camp, Camp Mystic, which had been there for 99 years, was all but destroyed by the floods. Already, that camp has confirmed that 27 of their campers and counselors died in that flood--27.

I send my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those campers and counselors.

Tragically, the flooding in Texas continues to take lives. More than 100 people have perished. That number is expected to grow, sadly, in the coming days.

In the midst of this disaster, I am heartened by the kindness and courage shown by the first responders and volunteers. Twenty separate agencies, at every level of government, have come together to help save lives. At Camp Mystic, the counselors, many of whom had just graduated from high school, risked their own lives to save younger campers. We will never forget that bravery.

This disaster has impacted people of both political faiths-- Republicans and Democrats--and Independents as well.

I want to say this, and I say this on reflection of my career in the House and the Senate: I have never, to my knowledge--never--voted against disaster assistance for people in other States than my home State of Illinois. There, but for the grace of God, go my people that I represent. And I would hope that the Senate and the House would stand together, Democrats and Republicans, and say we are going to be there for the victims of this disaster.

I pray that we find the missing loved ones and that we take the necessary steps to stop another tragedy like this from occurring.

Mr. President, this weekend, across the country, we observed our Nation's 249th Independence Day, a day intended to celebrate a government of, by, and for the people, in Lincoln's words. But this Independence Day was anything but a celebration in one respect, and that is because, this Fourth of July, the President and congressional Republicans decided to sign their so-called Big Beautiful Bill, and in so doing, they retreated from the values that our Founders etched in the Declaration, ``that all Men are created equal,'' not just the wealthy and well-connected.

Americans across this Nation overwhelmingly oppose this bill--and for good reason. You see, this bill signed by the President on the Fourth of July is the largest cut in healthcare and the largest cut in nutrition assistance in history, slashing more than $1 trillion from healthcare programs like Medicaid and $200 billion from the SNAP program.

Seventeen million Americans will lose their health insurance. Health insurance premiums will rise for another 20 million Americans. Three million people will have food taken off the table, including kids, seniors, and veterans.

I can't understand the celebration of the facts that I have just read.

I have heard misstatements. One misstatement was: Don't worry. The people we take off Medicaid will be the illegal immigrants.

They are not eligible for Medicaid, and they are certainly not in that calculation of 17 million Americans.

Why do we do these things? Why would any government do these things to so many innocent people?

In this case, very simply, it is to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations. The richest Americans will be seeing $400,000 more in tax cuts in their pockets every year because of this legislation. I don't know how their lifestyle--if you are a millionaire or something like that and you get a tax break of $400,000, what does that money do to change your life?

Well, I can tell you this: One thing that will change your life forever is to face a dramatic medical challenge in your family and not have health insurance to cover you. I have been there, and I have lived through that. It is something you never wish on anyone. And yet 17 million Americans, unfortunately, will lose their health insurance under this bill, the Big Beautiful Bill, signed by President Trump.

Despite a last-ditch effort--there was a failing attempt at buying votes and pretending to care about rural areas, like my area of Downstate Illinois--more than 300 rural hospitals and 500 nursing homes may be forced to close because of these cutbacks in Medicaid. That is because this Big Beautiful Bill cripples the Medicaid Program that keeps our rural hospitals and communities afloat. That includes HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, IL, where Medicaid pays for 53 percent of the hospitalization; St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia, IL, where Medicaid pays for 42 percent of hospitalizations; and OSF St. Clare Hospital in Princeton, IL, where Medicaid covers 45 percent of the hospitalizations.

The administrators in these hospitals have warned us that this could be the breaking point. Many of these hospitals barely survive, barely keep their doors open. Now, all of these hospitals--already operating on the margins--may face impossible decisions to scale back services. For what? To pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest people in this country.

Aside from hospitals, there is also going to be a major consequence on American energy. I commend to my colleagues and those who are following this debate, in today's New York Times, an article by Thomas Friedman. He talks about the impact on energy from the decisions made by the signing of this bill.

This bill kills solar, wind, and EV tax credits enjoyed by companies and consumers alike, all but ceding the future of electricity to China and risking billions of dollars of investments in renewable energy-- ironically, mostly in Republican States.

While working families grapple with the consequences of these cuts, they are going to see the family home expenses increase by $1,000 a year. Utility bills are going up because of this bill--this bill signed by the President, the Big Beautiful Bill.

The Chicago Tribune recently shared a story of Isaiah Rogers, a 61- year-old man who lives in the West Pullman neighborhood in Chicago. Several years ago, Isaiah was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As a result of this diagnosis, he has not been able to return to his job, trimming trees, and has been working small side jobs. Medicaid pays for Isaiah's doctor visits and his insulin.

A single father without a high school degree, Isaiah is concerned that the bill's cuts and changes to Medicaid will result in his losing his health coverage. And if Isaiah loses Medicaid, he will no longer be able to afford his insulin and other medications. He may face a diabetic complication or coma or even suffer a stroke. What will that mean to his 12-year-old son?

It is unconscionable to think that the other party would pull the plug on lifesaving health coverage and deny food to our most needy children, but that is exactly what they voted for and celebrated on July 4.

As Republicans moved this megabill through Congress, Democrats did our best, in the minority, to push back. Over the course of 27 hours, Senate Democrats forced votes on many amendments to put Republicans on notice and show their constituents what their real positions are on issues. It was the longest vote-arama in the history of the Senate. It included putting Republicans on the record, voting against nursing home care, home healthcare, food assistance for children of veterans, protections for Medicaid, clean energy jobs--and the list goes on. And an expansion of the child tax credit, an idea that has proven successful--all that was sacrificed to give billionaires tax cuts instead.

In the end, three sensible Senate Republicans looked at this ugly betrayal of a bill and agreed they couldn't be part of the process. I commend them. But, sadly, three votes on the other side of the aisle wasn't enough. We needed one more.

And who swooped in to cast his vote--the decisive vote? Vice President Vance. He showed up at the last minute and cast a tie- breaking vote in the Senate to push the bill across the finish line.

A few short years ago, then-Vice President Harris broke a tie in this very Chamber to pass the largest climate investment bill in history and to lower prescription drug prices for millions of Americans--what a sharp contrast. This Vice President cast a deciding vote that will be painful for so many families across America, and he could have done so much more and so much better for the people of this Nation. That is the difference in priorities. In politics, it basically boils down to: Whose side are you on?

As the effects of this bill take shape and slither their way through our communities, our Republican colleagues will have to look their constituents in the eyes and explain their votes. They will have to explain to a farmer who now must drive an additional 50 miles to the nearest hospital why they had to shut the community hospital doors. They will have to explain to the grandmother at a nursing home why her care is being slimmed down or eliminated because of cutbacks to Medicaid. They will have to explain to the young mother preparing to have a baby why there is no longer a maternity ward in her county.

This bill flies in the face of American values that we celebrate on the Fourth of July and everything we stand for. The other party has a lot of explaining to do, and the American people are going to face the consequences.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons), the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich), the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray), the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen), and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Warnock), are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich), the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray), the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Rosen), and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Warnock) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, we are here today debating a clumsily assembled package--still a work in progress--that would rip away healthcare from 16 million American families, give tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires, and the largest corporations.

Think about that for a moment.

Republicans have decided that the best avenue to generate revenue that they can then give in tax breaks to wealthy people is to eliminate health insurance coverage for 16 million Americans. That is going to have a dramatic impact on their lives. If you have ever been a young father with a baby with a serious medical problem, and you had no health insurance, you will never forget it as long as you live. I know; I have been there.

The notion of losing your health insurance leaves you as vulnerable as possible in some of the most important moments of your life. The day we consider this provision to eliminate health insurance coverage for 16 million families is unimaginable and cruel.

Let's not act like there is a unified Republican front on this issue. Even some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't want to be here at this moment, jamming this unpopular bill through this Chamber under arbitrary deadlines.

One of my colleagues took a look at tax breaks. You will hear them say over and over again: If we don't act, the average family has to pay more in taxes. There is a way around that. If we limit any tax breaks in this bill in this effort to people making $400,000 a year or less-- $400,000 a year or less--it virtually eliminates two-thirds of the cost of this undertaking, and it means you don't have to take away the health insurance of 16 million families. So there are ways to do tax breaks which make sense.

Count this Democrat in with the Republicans for helping working families who are struggling to get by, and a lot of them are living paycheck to paycheck. The notion that we would say to them: We are going to take away your health insurance; we are going to raise the cost of health insurance for you, that is no answer to their problems.

Behind closed doors, my Republican colleagues continue to be consumed with infighting, bickering over the bill's substance, and for good reason.

We have a process here which is almost impossible to explain to an ordinary person of how we reach reconciliation. The Parliamentarian's office--she is sitting here--and God bless you for what you have been through the last several months and all your staff--have to make decisions on a daily basis, over and over again, as to whether or not provisions in this bill are eligible under the law that governs the U.S. Senate.

We are in the process of debating this on the Senate floor. I see our ranking member on the Budget Committee--the Senate Budget Committee-- the Senator from Oregon. We are in the process of still appealing to the Parliamentarian's office on provisions in the bill. This is truly a work in progress.

I think what they do know is troubling, and it should be. This bill would be a disaster for hospitals. The Senate Republican bill, unfortunately, is going to endanger hospitals all over the United States. But if you happen to live in a small town, rural area--and I

represent a lot of them in the State of Illinois--you are the most vulnerable. You are the target. When they cut back on Medicaid Programs, these are the hospitals that will close their doors.

What is the impact of a hospital closing its door in a downstate community in Illinois? Devastating. Hospitals are not only the center for emergency medical care, good doctors, nurses, and such, they are also a major economic force in smalltown America. Take away a hospital and then try to attract a new business to your community--good luck.

This Senate bill cripples one of the main ways the States fund their Medicaid Programs and keep hospitals afloat, especially rural and low- income areas. It is called the provider tax. Earlier this week, a Republican Senator--a Republican Senator--circulated a flyer to his fellow caucus Members so they are all on notice detailing just how much each State will lose in Medicaid provider tax funding under the proposal.

Let's take a look at my neck of the woods, the Midwest. Iowa would lose $4.1 billion; Missouri, $6.1 billion; Kentucky, $12 million; Louisiana would lose $20 billion; North Carolina, $38.9 billion.

Senator Tillis and I were in a conversation yesterday, and he used that very same figure. His analysis says if we go forward with this bill, it cuts Medicaid reimbursement in his home State of North Carolina by a whopping $38.9 billion.

This list of States and what they will lose was passed around by a Republican Senator to his own caucus. They know what they are up against here. If Republicans have their way and pass this bill, hospitals will be forced to shrink or eliminate services. In Decatur, IL, one of the hospitals facing a crunch time had to make a decision whether to keep their doors open. They did, but they eliminated OB-GYN delivering babies and all mental health and addiction counseling--two critical areas for the hospitals.

So this bill will force hospitals to shrink or eliminate services. Doctors and nurses will leave and, in some cases, the hospital will close. Imagine in a rural area or remote area, an extra 45 minutes, an extra hour in the car with somebody in the front seat you love very much who is in a desperate situation. As it stands today, half of the rural hospitals around the country already operate in the danger zone, and it is the same thing for children's hospitals. If you have one in your community you use--I do. These children's hospitals have warned us they can't keep their doors open if Medicaid is cut as dramatically as the Republicans want to cut it.

If Republicans have their way, we are going to see massive layoffs, fewer nurses, technicians, and doctors, along with decreasing quality of care.

The American Hospital Association has estimated how these cuts to Medicaid could impact not just jobs in red State hospitals but across the entire economy. Here is what they found. If the Republican provision goes through that cuts Medicaid reimbursement in order to provide tax breaks for wealthy people--Maine is an example of one State. They would lose 5,000 jobs; Kansas, 6,200 jobs; Iowa, 11,000 jobs; Missouri, 26,600 jobs. I have talked to the administrator of BJC in St. Louis, MO. The reason is, it is not just a Missouri hospital. They have facilities on the Illinois side of the river. In fact, one- third of their patients are from Illinois, and one-third of their patients, overall, use Medicaid to run their hospital. He has told me what is going to happen if the Republican measure goes through and cutbacks to these hospitals.

They came up with, incidentally, the rescue fund to solve the political problem. I want to check and make sure Senator Murray can back me up on this. Our overall cut in Medicaid now is about $1 trillion?

One trillion dollars, imagine. This is Washington we are talking: cutting Medicaid nationwide $1 trillion and the rescue plan for the small hospitals that are in danger--the ones that I talked about--$1 trillion cut. How big is the rescue plan? It is $25 billion. Do the math. It is a joke. It is a joke.

If Republican leaders think this is an adequate amount to alleviate pain, all of our Nation, through our hospitals, are going to feel like that is trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. This simply won't work.

I want to conclude by saying this. We passed the Affordable Care Act 15 years ago. Of all the things that I worked on in Congress, I think it had more positive impact to help the families across America than anything. We found a way to make health insurance more affordable for families 15 years ago. And to do it, we held hearings, 100 hearings on the Affordable Care Act--ObamaCare is what they called it--roundtables, walk-throughs. Two committees spent a combined 21 days holding markups so everyone could offer an amendment.

Do you know how many amendments were made to the ObamaCare program? Four hundred. There were 400 votes in committee and on the floor on amendments. One hundred forty-seven Republican amendments were included, though not a single Republican Senator ended up supporting ObamaCare when it was all over.

What do we have here with this measure, at the end of the day? That legislation, ObamaCare, allowed more than 40 million Americans to gain health insurance. Today, how many hearings have we had on the bill that is before us, this dramatic multitrillion-dollar bill? None. Zero. Not a single one. There are zero markups for Senators offering amendments. There were 400 amendments on ObamaCare--none on this one until it has come to the floor today with zero bipartisan input.

Our friends on the Republican side have said, basically, it is a big deal. Take it or leave it.

Should this bill become law, do you know what we will have done? Thrown 16 million Americans off health insurance and closed many vulnerable small hospitals--all to pay for tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. Maybe some of my Republican friends are OK with that. I don't think the American people are.

I am hoping that sanity and commonsense prevail. We need four. We need four Senators to step up and say: Stop this train. We have got to sit down and do our homework. We cannot expose the American families and the American economy and do this in the name of preserving tax breaks for the wealthiest people. Elon Musk seems to be doing OK in life, right? He is the wealthiest man in the world. Do you know what the tax break will be for Elon Musk on the bill that is before us on the floor? It will be $346,000--a lot of money. To him, he won't even notice it. They are giving him a tax break he won't notice and taking away health insurance from families who will be devastated--16 million around the country. It is an important choice, and we should make the right one.

I yield the floor.