House Democrats led an effort to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lower health care costs, but Senate Republicans have refused to vote on the bipartisan bill

Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) held a press conference at the Unicare Community Health Center in San Bernardino to highlight the impact of the Republican health care crisis on the Inland Empire and to call on Donald Trump and Senate Republicans to immediately restore the expired Affordable Care Act tax credits. 

Almost two million Californians have seen their monthly health insurance premiums skyrocket after Donald Trump and Republicans failed to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by December 31, 2025. In California’s 33rd Congressional District, the number of new enrollees in Covered California, California’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, has decreased by 35 percent compared to last year due in part to rising costs. That’s why House Democrats are leading the effort to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lower health care premiums for 21,000 residents of California’s 33rd Congressional District and more than 1.7 million Californians statewide. You can watch the full video of the press conference here.

“Right now, tens of thousands of people in my district have seen their monthly insurance premiums go up and their health care become too expensive because Donald Trump and Republicans let the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’ve heard from countless people in our community who are suffering right now because of skyrocketing costs and are having to decide between paying for rent, groceries and utilities, or their health care. House Democrats delivered a real path forward to restore these vital tax credits and lower health insurance costs for hardworking people, but Senate Republicans have refused to vote on this bipartisan legislation. The American people can’t afford any more delays. It’s time for Trump and Republicans to work with Democrats to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and ensure that working families can get the affordable, quality health care that they need.”

“The Affordable Care Act has been instrumental in helping our patients access consistent, affordable and high-quality health care,” said Kelly Vo, Executive Vice President, Unicare Community Health Center. “However, the recent cuts to the ACA threaten the practice of our community that we have made by putting affordable coverage out of reach for many individuals and families. That is why continued support and advocacy for the ACA are so important.”

“As a physician, I’m seeing families lose their health insurance, not because they don’t work hard, but because they fall into an impossible gap,” said Dr. Cameo Carter, MD, Inland Empire Resident and Covered California Enrollee. “They make too much to qualify for assistance, but far too little to afford the soaring premiums of traditional insurance plans. The ACA premium credits allowed many of these families to stay insured. Without them, they are left with no choice but to go without coverage, living with constant anxiety about what will happen if someone in their family gets seriously ill or needs medication or diagnostic testing they simply can’t afford. I have patients who are delaying or forgoing necessary medical treatments because the cost is prohibitive. These have become daily conversations in my exam rooms, deciding which medication can wait, which test might be postponed. My call to action is simple and urgent: we need Congress to extend the ACA premium credits and protect affordable access to health care, for working families, for small businesses, and for the communities that depend on them.”

“I’m a part-time professor at San Bernardino Valley College,” said Maria Ortiz, Inland Empire Resident and Covered California Enrollee. “As a professor, I need to be healthy for my students. For this reason, I call upon Congress to respond to the needs of your constituents by acting on a solution so that hundreds of teachers can be healthy for their own families and students.”