The war in Iran has cost taxpayers an estimated $100 billion in military costs and higher energy and other prices. Gas prices rose 7 percent in the month of May alone as the Strait of Hormuz continues to be restricted by Iran, and the war has seemingly no end in sight. As businesses face higher costs to produce, ship, and transport products, they may pass those costs onto consumers. This would increase prices even more at a time when groceries and housing costs are already high due to the President’s illegal tariffs and when healthcare costs have doubled or tripled after Republicans’ Medicaid cuts and refusal to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. The President should be doing everything possible to lower costs and provide relief. But President Trump refuses to acknowledge the pain Americans are feeling and even just told reporters he “loves the inflation.” Seriously? 

His policies aren’t just hurting Americans right now. A new report from the Social Security Administration revealed that the program is currently on track to become insolvent by 2032, largely due to increased spending from the Big Beautiful Bill and declining immigration meaning fewer workers to pay into the program. Seniors would see an average benefit cut of 22 percent. In California, benefits would be cut by almost $500 a month. That’s what will happen in just six years if we do nothing. But we can still reverse this devastating march toward insolvency. I proposed a Bipartisan Fiscal Commission that would create a committee made up of Democrats, Republicans, and outside experts who would identify practical policies to improve our fiscal future and stabilize our debt-to-GDP ratio. 

No matter how old you are, life is more expensive under President Trump. These increasingly alarming reports should be a wake-up call for Congress. We don't have time to wait for the President to string Americans along on negotiations in Iran. We don’t have time to balloon our deficit even more with unnecessary, exorbitant funding for an agency with a track record of abuse. Americans need us to act now.  

Taxpayer money should be used to make life better for everyone. The federal budget should reflect that value. I’m part of the New Democrat Coalition – the largest ideological caucus in the House. We proposed an Affordability Agenda in February that would address five core costs that are out of control for Americans. Instead of signing the disastrous Secure America Act, the President should work with Congress to actually address the cost-of-living crisis with this proposal and others. Anything less is a disappointing waste of time and an insult to the American people, the majority of whom voted for him after he repeatedly promised that he would lower costs.  

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Thanks, and take care.