MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE

MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2589-H2591] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1810 MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Rivas of California was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.) General Leave Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the subject of my Special Order hour. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California? There was no objection. Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today because we have yet to see a bill offered on the floor during my time in Congress that would make life more affordable for working families. In fact, since the last time my freshmen colleagues and I were on this floor talking about the Republicans' affordability crisis, Donald Trump unconstitutionally started a war with Iran. So far there has been no meaningful plan or strategy to ensure that America's national security interests or our servicemembers are protected. We mourn for the families and loved ones of the 13 servicemembers who have already lost their lives in this war, and we hope that another life is not lost. After just over 2 weeks, Donald Trump's war in Iran has cost the American people $11 billion. Donald Trump would rather pour billions of dollars to start a war with another country than address the affordability crisis that he and Republicans have created. I recently conducted a survey of nearly 70,000 constituents in my district and asked them a simple yes-or-no question: Instead of the war in Iran, should Trump focus on making the cost of living more affordable? Over 90 percent of those who responded said ``yes.'' This sentiment is reflected across the Nation. Donald Trump's war in Iran has the worst-ever support for a war at its start. Trump's reckless and illegal war with Iran is yet another example of how this administration has been out of touch with the priorities of American families since he has been back in office. The American people do not want our country to get sucked into another forever war. The American people want the Epstein files released. The American people want ICE to be reined in. The American people want to pay less at the grocery store, at the gas station, and at the doctor's office. Since the war in Iran started, prices for gas, food, and other essentials have spiked. Gas prices shot up 50 cents in just one week, and oil prices hit $100 a barrel. Experts believe that Trump's war in Iran could push the average cost of gas to above $4 a gallon within weeks. Gas stations in Los Angeles have hit over $8 per gallon. But Trump says he doesn't have any concern about skyrocketing gas prices. He even called anyone who is worried about the rising cost of gas a fool. When asked whether Americans should feel scared about retaliatory attacks on U.S. soil, Trump replied: ``When you go to war, some people will die.'' It is not enough to say that Donald Trump is completely out of touch with the needs of the American people. He does not care about everyday Americans. He is more concerned about lining the pockets of his billionaire donors and starting wars to deflect from the issues people actually care about. My House Democratic Caucus freshmen colleagues and I refuse to let Trump's distractions deter us from fighting for our constituents. We remain focused on lowering costs for our constituents and holding Trump accountable. We all voted against Trump's war in Iran, to stop him from abusing his power. It is clear that the American public and Congress do not influence Trump's decisions, and he would rather be influenced by his impulses and emotion. Our constituents sent us to Washington to make life more affordable for them, not to rubberstamp Trump and Republicans' agenda that actively makes their lives worse for them. Tonight, we will hear from some of the freshmen Democratic Caucus members and the work that they are doing to make life more affordable for their constituents. I will start with the Congresswoman from Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson), my colleague and friend. Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Congresswoman Rivas for hosting this Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, millions of American families are struggling with the skyrocketing cost of living. They can't afford gas, groceries, or their bills. Republicans in the White House week after week are gaslighting the American people. Now, we are seeing Donald Trump make reckless foreign policy decisions which are increasing the costs for American families as we speak. Over the past few weeks, the news out of the Middle East has been alarming. Trump has significantly escalated military involvement in Iran, a war that puts American lives at risk. Now, let's talk about what this means for working families. Wars aren't just fought overseas, but they are paid for right here in the United States. Every increase in military spending and every escalation of conflict has a ripple effect that touches grocery bills, utility costs, and most immediately the price at the pump. Gas prices are rising with an average gallon in Texas now between $3.26 and almost $3.50, while diesel approaches $5 a gallon, a jump of 25 cents just this past week. It is families who are paying the price: parents who are driving their kids to school, commuters trying to get to work, and seniors who are trying to make their Social Security stretch just a bit further. All of this is happening while Trump and Republicans continue to ignore the affordability crisis facing everyday Americans every day of every week and every hour. We are talking about real families deciding whether to fill their car with gas or put food on the table. We are talking about the anxiety that comes from not knowing how to cover the next bill when our leaders gamble with the lives and the money of American taxpayers abroad. The billion dollars that we are spending each day on this war could be spent on supporting families, tax relief, the child tax credit, healthcare, the Affordable Care Act--everything. How many times have we heard from Republicans coming to this floor clutching their pearls saying: Oh, we don't have the money to spend to make healthcare accessible for so many people. There are so many things that Republicans come down here to say that we don't have the funding for, yet they are willing to let this President spend [[Page H2590]] their hard-earned tax money on a war overseas instead of the needs of the people right here at home. While families are tightening their belts, Republicans in Washington are going on a spending spree. They are continuing to try to fund a foreign war with no end in sight, which the American people do not want. All without addressing concerns right here on affordability right now, at kitchen tables at home right now, for people in this country. The picture could not be clearer. While Republicans prioritize reckless wars over the well-being of the American people, Democrats are laser focused on protecting working families and making sure they can afford what they need to survive. I urge Republicans to remember the people behind the numbers. Remember the families struggling to fill their tanks, to buy their groceries, and to pay their rent. Remember that every dollar spent on this never-ending war is a dollar taken from American families already stretched too thin. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today not just to call attention to the human cost of war but to call on all of us to act to protect the families of this country, act to prioritize affordability and lower the costs for those who need it, and act to ensure that the promise of the American Dream is not priced out of reach for the millions of people who sent us here to fight for them. Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva), my colleague and friend. Mrs. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of southern Arizonans who are being squeezed to the brink, families who cannot keep up with rising healthcare costs, soaring gas prices, and a future that feels further and further out of reach. Working families are struggling to get by. Instead of relief, they are being ignored, all while Trump and House Republicans continue to serve their billionaire friends and special interests. Nearly 60 percent of families in this country are living paycheck to paycheck. Yet, there is always money for war but never enough money for the urgent needs of everyday people here at home. The American people want healthcare, not warfare. This war alone has cost us $22.8 billion. Think about that. That kind of investment could have provided Medicaid to over 6 million children, funded head start for 1.3 million families, canceled $20,000 in student debt for 1 million borrowers, or funded the ACA premium assistance that Republicans refused to extend. {time} 1820 These are investments southern Arizonans and Americans across the country want to see. Working people are not interested in funding another endless war while they struggle to fill their gas tanks and pay their bills. Instead of putting billionaires first, Congress should focus on policies that make people's lives better. It is time to start putting the American people first. Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Menefee). Mr. MENEFEE. Mr. Speaker, when I was 5 years old, Tupac Shakur said: ``You know, it's funny when it rains it pours. They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor.'' Those words hit differently today. Mr. President, nobody wants this war, and the American people cannot afford it. I am not an econ