(The Center Square) – A Democratic Illinois congresswoman says Republicans have caused a health care crisis by not extending Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Illinois U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood spoke at a news conference in Chicago on Monday, marking the 16th anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the legislation.
Underwood said it was her ACA expansion that President Joe Biden signed in 2021.
“My legislation expanded the tax credits available to working families who enrolled in ACA plans. We made them more generous and available to more Americans,” Underwood said.
Underwood said the current administration’s failure to address the tax credits last year caused a health care crisis.
“Donald Trump has ignored this crisis, telling Republicans to, quote, not waste time on extending them,” Underwood said.
Underwood blasted the Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump on July 4.
“When you take a trillion dollars out of Medicaid, $500 billion out of Medicare, and you refuse to extend the ACA tax credits, rural hospitals close,” Underwood said.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined Underwood by criticizing the Trump administration.
“Local government should not have to backfill for federal disinvestment. Health care is a right, and the federal government has a responsibility to uphold it,” Preckwinkle said.
Citing data from the Office of Management and Budget, the Tax Foundation said the federal government spent $1.98 trillion on health care in 2024, amounting to 29.4 percent of the federal budget and 6.9 percent of GDP.
The Tax Foundation said the federal government spent $2.3 billion for health programs in 1962, representing about 2.1 percent of the budget and about 0.4 percent of GDP.
Anusha Thotakura, executive director of Citizen Action Illinois, said the event in Chicago was one of six held across the state on Monday, marking the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act’s signing in 2010.
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