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U.S. House members launch Lowering Costs Caucus

U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Derek Tran (CA-45) launch the Lowering Costs Caucus.
U.S. House of Representatives - Scholten Press
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U.S. House of Representatives - Scholten Press
U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Derek Tran (CA-45) launch the Lowering Costs Caucus.

U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten assembled a coalition of Democratic colleagues Thursday in Washington D.C. addressing what they’re calling “an affordability crisis.”

The Lowering Costs Caucus took aim at policies it says are making life more expensive for American families. U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten said President Trump’s Tariffs:

“Amount to the largest middle class tax increases in modern history.”

The Grand Rapids Democrat was joined by Democrats Greg Landsman of Ohio and California’s Derek Tran who say the rising costs of childcare, food, clothing, utilities, mortgage payments and everyday essentials are financially overwhelming households.

The caucus calls it an “affordability crisis” that will be exacerbated if Republicans pass the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Representative Scholten says its tax breaks provide a windfall for the wealthiest Americans while making cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid.

“I can tell you from the hundreds of West Michiganders I have heard who have no idea how they’re going to afford their life if their Medicaid is ripped away from them, they’re not just going to get over it. That’s why we’re doing something about it. We’re banding together to start this caucus and commit to lowering cost for families across the United States.”

The Lowering Costs Caucus says it wants to draft legislation addressing affordable childcare, housing, cost of living and tariffs.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.