Reed, Amo Met with Rhode Island Small Business Owners Worried About Trump and Republicans’ Looming Health Cost Hikes

Warren, RI – TODAY, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) joined small business owners in Warren to discuss their fears about Republicans' refusal to lower health costs and reopen the federal government. Approximately 7,000 small business owners in Rhode Island rely on the ACA for health insurance. Republicans are letting Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which make ACA health insurance plans through HealthSourceRI affordable for countless small business owners, expire. 

The group of business owners shared that without these tax credits, they will have to make impossible choices, and some may forgo purchasing health insurance altogether. 

“Costs are what matters to Rhode Islanders, and it’s time President Trump finally joins Democrats in preventing a huge jump in health care costs,” said Senator Jack Reed (D-RI).  “The Trump policy of raising tariffs, slashing investments in our future, and ignoring the everyday problems of families must end.  Democrats have a plan to reopen the government and prevent small businesses and families from losing health care.  This situation only ends when the Trump Administration makes it a priority.”

“Access to affordable health care means Rhode Islanders can operate the small businesses that are the heartbeat of our main streets,” said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). “Republicans’ refusal to lower costs will leave many small business owners unable to afford health insurance. No Rhode Islander should have to make the impossible choice between health coverage and other essential expenses like food and housing. Republicans must step up and negotiate to stop the cuts, lower costs, and save health care.”

“As a small business owner living with cancer, I know firsthand how critical having health insurance is,” said Uriah Donnelly, co-owner of arc{hive}, a used bookstore and cafe in Warren. “It was great to host Senator Reed, Congressman Amo, and other small business owners for a conversation about how important extending health care tax credits are for us and our employees.” 

Background

Senator Reed has voted seven times to fund the federal government and protect Americans’ health care, but Senate Republicans have blocked those efforts, even as some Senate Republicans begin to acknowledge they must act “sooner rather than later” before open enrollment begins November 1.

Congressman Amo has voted to protect Rhode Islanders health care since being sworn in to Congress in 2023. Hevoted against Republicans’ Big, Ugly Law, which stripped $1 trillion from America's health care system in July after speaking against the bill at 3 am not once but twice. But Republicans remain intent on stealing from Rhode Islanders’ pockets. Without action, health care premium costs will increase by as much as 200% or more for many Rhode Islanders. Since the Republicans shut down the government rather than help Americans afford their health insurance, Amo has met with impacted Rhode Islanders across the First Congressional District. 

After the event, Senator Reed flew back to Washington, DC where Senate Republicans have declared they will no longer allow Democrats to keep calling up their own stopgap spending bill funding the government, instead forcing votes only on the Republican-led alternative which lacks strong bipartisan support.  

Congressman Amo also returned to Washington to continue fighting for a deal that opens the government, stops the cuts, lowers costs, and saves health care. 

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to keep the House out of session this week. He is preventing the newest member of Congress, Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), from being sworn in and preventing her from becoming the 218th signature on the petition to allow a vote on the release of the Epstein files.

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