Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement after Republicans blocked a bill that would lower health care costs for millions of Americans:

“Since the beginning of this year, President Trump and Republicans have launched an all-out assault on Americans’ health care that has led to spiking prices and a health care affordability crisis. They slashed $900 billion from Medicaid, kicked 17 million people off their health insurance, and turned their backs on the science that saves lives. Today, my Republican colleagues had the chance to lower health care costs, and instead they voted to more than double premiums costs for over 20 million Americans.

“These votes have also exposed how Republicans have no real plan to address Americans’ skyrocketing health care bills: their proposal fails to extend the ACA tax credits and would do nothing to help people afford the thousands of dollars in premium increases they will start seeing in January. On top of that, it would increase deductibles by thousands of dollars, leaving families across the country one medical emergency away from bankruptcy.

“Republicans’ failure to extend the ACA tax credits will deliver a devastating blow to the millions of Americans who rely on them to afford their health care. I’ve heard stories from families across New Jersey who don’t know how they will choose between affording high-quality health care for their kids and making other ends meet in an economy that’s already squeezing them dry.

“I will continue fighting to ensure that we have a health care system that people can afford. The American people deserve leaders who are working for their best interests, and not afraid to stand up to President Trump. It’s past time for my Republican colleagues to remember who they work for.”