Amy Klobuchar: “I come to the floor today on behalf of 9 million Americans who directly benefited from very important health insurance…”

“I come to the floor today on behalf of 9 million Americans who directly benefited from very important health insurance credits in the American Rescue Plan--credits that are set to expire at the end of the year if Congress doesn't act. I don't believe enough attention has been focused on this issue. Last year, in March of 2021, we came to this very Chamber and passed the American Rescue Plan, which provided a crucial lifeline for so many families. We eliminated health insurance premiums for low-wage workers making less than 150 percent of the Federal poverty level, expanded eligibility for health insurance tax credits to middle-class families, and guaranteed that health coverage would not cost more than 8.5 percent of a person's income. The American Rescue Plan also increased the size of the tax credit for all eligible income brackets, putting more money in workers' pockets. As a result, ACA health insurance premiums were brought down by an average of $50 per person per month, and people in both New Mexico and in Minnesota took great advantage of that. As a result, a record number of Americans--14.5 million Americans--are enrolled in the Affordable Care Act health insurance plans. That is 2.5 million more people who signed up in a single year than ever before. In my home State, that translated to a record-low uninsured rate of just 4 percent. That means 96 percent of Minnesotans have health insurance, which is a great improvement over where it was.…”