S. 3012

Floor Speech

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Mr. OSSOFF. Mr. President, the Senate remains at an impasse over the renewal of soon-to-expire health insurance premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Americans' health insurance premiums will skyrocket in 2026 unless the Congress acts to renew these subsidies. Time is running out to solve this problem. The enrollment period for next year's insurance plans opens in just 9 days. The Trump administration's intransigent refusal to work across the aisle to negotiate a solution has resulted in the ongoing government shutdown.

During this shutdown, military servicemembers, air traffic controllers, and TSA employees are among those who simply must come to work despite the lapse in congressional appropriations. They should be paid for that work. That is why today I voted to proceed to consideration of S. 3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act, sponsored by the Senator from Wisconsin. Senators from both parties should work together to ensure payment of military servicemembers and others in critical roles, including controllers, TSA workers, and those working at Georgia's CDC. Debate of this bill should include an amendment process to improve the bill, including by limiting the President's unilateral authority to determine which Federal workers are paid and which are not. Such authority could be abused by an executive determined to pay favored Federal workers and deny disfavored Federal workers pay without regard for congressional appropriations.

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