Watch: Senator Mark Kelly Urges Republicans to Cut Health Care Costs for Arizonans and Ensure Government Stability

“We’re seeing the same issues in Washington: partisan politics and dysfunction are hurting hardworking families.”

Recently, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spoke on the Senate floor. He called on Republicans to work with Democrats to lower health care costs for Arizonans and to keep the federal government running.

Kelly pointed out that around 380,000 people in Arizona depend on health care tax credits to afford their coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If these credits aren’t extended before they expire next month, families could see their premiums jump by over 55%. This means about 109,000 Arizonans might lose their health insurance entirely.

In his speech, Kelly expressed concern about the impact on families. He stated, “If those tax credits go away, that means higher premiums next year—hundreds of dollars more every month. That hits family budgets hard. It could mean canceled trips and cutting back on activities for kids. Some people might even have to work extra just to manage these costs. For many, it could mean no insurance at all.” He emphasized that in a wealthy country like the U.S., no one should struggle to afford basic health care. “No family should face financial ruin from a surprise illness or injury,” he added.

Kelly didn’t hold back on his criticism of Donald Trump and the Republicans for their lack of cooperation. He noted, “Instead of teaming up to lower costs and prevent a shutdown, Trump waited until just hours before the deadline to talk about it. He’d rather let the government edge toward a shutdown than work on real solutions. And it’s regular Americans who will suffer.”

In closing, Kelly urged leaders to take immediate action: “There’s still time to extend the premium tax credits and protect families from rising costs while keeping the government functioning. We can make this work if we’re willing to sit down and collaborate.”

For more on his remarks, click here.

Recent surveys show a growing concern among Americans about health care accessibility. According to a KFF survey, about 55% of respondents worry about affording medical care. This highlights the urgency of Kelly’s call for action and shows how many families are affected by rising health care costs. In discussions with health experts, the consensus is clear: making health care affordable and accessible is not just a policy issue, but a necessity for people’s well-being.

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