Canty Condemns Trump Administration Measures Driving Up the Cost of Living for Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, is standing up to Washington’s affordability crisis by voting to formally condemn the illegal Trump tariffs that have raised the price of everything from groceries to winter clothing, demanding reinstatement of Affordable Care Act subsidies that make healthcare more affordable, and rejecting unconstitutional efforts to freeze funding for affordable child care.

“With partisan funding cuts and out-of-control tariffs driving up a cost of living that is already too high, Donald Trump has quickly proved that his presidency will again be a disaster for working people across the country,” Canty said. “Without an immediate return to normal trade policies, the price of consumer goods will continue to spiral out-of-control. Without restoration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, healthcare premiums will rise out of reach of working families. Without the unfreezing of child care funds, thousands of Illinois families will face daunting new costs they may not be able to pay. The Trump Administration and Congress need to reverse course now to prevent more hardship.”

Illinoisans are facing skyrocketing expenses of medical care due to Trump and Republican leaders allowing Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire on Jan. 1 of this year, and tariff-motivated price increases on a broad swath of consumer goods—from groceries to warm winter clothing. Additionally, the Trump Administration recently froze $10 billion in funding for affordable child care, making one of the greatest expenses facing working families even more daunting and jeopardizing care for 100,000 Illinois children.

Canty is fighting back by advancing House resolutions formally condemning the causes of the Trump affordability crisis, and demanding solutions:

• House Resolution 620 calls on Congress and the Trump Administration to immediately reinstate the 2022 healthcare subsidies. Because these subsidies were allowed to lapse in January, families are now facing nearly $1,000 in annual premium increases–with rural and downstate communities facing average increases as high as $2,000.
• House Resolution 621 condemns Donald Trump’s effort to freeze funds for affordable child care and calls for the immediate release of all congressionally approved child care funds.
• House Resolution 623 calls on Donald Trump to stop his unconstitutional tariff scheme that cost families upwards of $1,200, and robs people of opportunities to save for the future. The resolution demands the United States Treasury issue $2,000 payments to every middle-class and modest-income household as a way of refunding families’ lost wages and savings, apologizing for Trump’s illegal tax increases.

“I’ve taken a lead role advancing the cause of child care in our state, and we’ve seen major improvements in recent years. However, freezing a billion dollars in funding is going to claw back the progress we’ve worked so hard for,” Canty said. “Illinois parents deserve affordable care for their kids that they can count on.”