PRESS CALL

Media Contact: Jack Cardinal, jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET, Community Catalyst joined Protect our Care and leading civil rights and health advocacy organizations to highlight the future of affordable health care and what’s at stake if the enhanced premium tax credits expire.

The virtual event was hosted by Protect Our Care, with the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Coalition on Human Needs, Community Catalyst, Families USA, NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, National Urban League, and UnidosUS.

Featured Speakers Included:

Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus 
Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04) 
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) 
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05) 
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) 
Shavon Arline-Bradley, President & CEO, National Council of Negro Women 
Joi Chaney, Senior Advisor, Protect Our Care 
Linda Goler Blount, MPH, President & CEO, Community Catalyst 
Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum 
Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League 
Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs 
Anthony Wright, Executive Director, Families USA 
Janet Murguía, President & CEO, UnidosUS 
Victoria Lopez, Floridian teenage health care advocate
Annelys Roque Gardner, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division on Infectious Diseases, Emory University 

Remarks As Prepared for Delivery of Linda Goler Blount, MPH, President & CEO of Community Catalyst

Transcript of Linda Goler Blount’s remarks below.

Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak. 

I’m Linda Goler Blount, President and CEO of Community Catalyst. 

For decades, we’ve worked hand in hand with local and state advocates across this country — in big cities and small towns — to make sure everyone, no matter their zip code, race, or income, has access to quality, affordable care. 

Today, I want to talk about what’s at stake if the enhanced premium tax credits expire. 

For millions of families, this debate isn’t about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about whether they can refill prescriptions or get needed surgery without having to choose between their health and heating their homes. 

We’ve heard from families across the country — people like Karen in Kansas, who told us: 

“I can only afford health insurance because of the ACA tax credits. These tax credits aren’t just financial — they’re what keep me alive.”

Karen’s story isn’t rare. It’s the reality for millions of hardworking families across the country.

These tax credits are doing exactly what they were designed to do: lower costs and expand access for more than 24 million people. If Congress doesn’t act, families’ premiums will double. Over four million people — disproportionately Black, Hispanic, and rural — will lose their coverage.

Imagine standing in the grocery store, calculator in hand, asking: Can I afford milk and medicine this week? That’s not freedom. That’s desperation — and it’s avoidable. When people lose coverage, entire communities suffer. Small businesses lose workers who can’t afford to stay healthy. Local economies lose millions as medical debt drags families down. And health outcomes worsen as hospitals close because they can no longer meet uncompensated care needs.

What kind of country are we choosing to be? Why should a woman die of cervical cancer when vaccines and screenings are within reach? This is an appeal for leadership. The best of us choose to do what’s right, not what’s easy.

Congress should enact a clean, permanent extension of the enhanced premium tax credits — not a patch, but real stability families can depend on. Making these tax credits permanent is the right thing — for families, for fairness, and for our economy. Every person in America deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing — if you get sick, you can get care.

Let’s make these tax credits permanent — and keep health care within reach for the people who make this country work every day.

Thank you.

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Learn more about what’s at stake if Congress doesn’t make enhanced premium tax credits permanent.