This week, President Biden, Vice President Harris and former President Obama proposed new measures to build on the Affordable Care Act and close the “family glitch,” which could help nearly 1 million Americans, driving local headlines about how Democrats are working to make health care coverage more affordable. At the same time, Republicans have promised to deliver an agenda of hiking taxes and higher health insurance premiums if they take power.

• In Minnesota: Star Tribune: Minnesota families to save on health insurance as Biden administration closes ‘family glitch’
• In Minnesota: Fox 9: Rep. Angie Craig leads effort to fix ‘family glitch’ in Obamacare
• In Florida: Florida Politics: Joe Biden administration vows to fix “family glitch” in Affordable Care Act
• In Pennsylvania: Digital Pennsylvania News: Biden, Harris Call For Expanding ObamaCare, Making Boosted Subsidies Permanent
• In Massachusetts: Fall River Reporter: Feds’ “family glitch” plan could ease Massachusetts health care costs

And while Democrats were working to lower health care costs, local headlines highlighted the 193 House Republican votes against the Affordable Insulin Now Act last week, which would cap the cost of insulin for many Americans at $35 per month. 

• In Wisconsin: WPKG: No Wisconsin Republicans Support Bill to Cap Insurance Co-Pays for Insulin
• In North Carolina: Cardinal & Pine: 7 NC Republicans Voted Against House Bill to Cap Monthly Insulin Costs
• In Pennsylvania: The Keystone: Only Two Republican US House Members from PA Voted to Keep Insulin Costs Down
• In Florida: Mother Jones: Rep. Matt Gaetz Votes Against Capping Insulin Prices, Says People Should Just Lose Weight
• In Utah: Fox 13: Every one of Utah’s representatives voted against the $35 insulin price cap passed by the House
• In Iowa: Iowa Starting Line: Hinson, Feenstra Vote Against Insulin Price Cap, Axne and Miller-Meeks Support

Americans across the country saw gas prices begin to drop after President Biden announced the largest release of U.S. oil reserves in history to help American families who are paying more at the pump due to Putin’s Price Hike. 

• In Louisiana: KADN: The Biden Administration and Congress are making moves to try and make gas more affordable for Americans
• In California: KTLA: L.A.-area gas prices drop as Biden taps into petroleum reserve
• In Arkansas: KNOE: Arkansas gas prices fall upon Biden announcement
• In Texas: ABC13: Houston drivers hope to feel relief as President Biden releases plan to combat high gas prices
• In North Carolina: WBTV: Gas prices in the Carolinas trending downward over past week

President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, which passed with no Republican support, made more headlines this week as its investments continued to bolster communities across the country, which will help make everything from housing to child care more affordable. 

• In Florida: TC Palm: Coronavirus-relief money helps Indian River County residents become homeowners
• In Iowa: Des Moines Register: Polk County commits COVID-19 relief money to adding 600 affordable housing units
• In Minnesota: KARE 11: St. Paul lead water lines to be fixed with federal dollars
• In North Carolina: Yes! Weekly: $4.5 Million Awarded to Arts Council From American Rescue Plan Act Funding
• In Tennessee: Main Street Nashville: Council OKs $7.5M in covid relief for childcare access
• In Michigan: South Haven Tribune: Reliable broadband internet coming to rural areas of Van Buren County
• In Kansas: WIBW: $51 million COVID-19 bonus headed to Kansas health care workers
• In Indiana: WANE: Indiana homeowners get a helping hand

And Republican governors (looking at you DeSantis and Reynolds) keep taking credit for American Rescue Plan dollars, even after calling the bill, “Washington at its worst.” 

• In Florida: WTXL: City of Monticello, Hamilton County awarded funding for projects
  • “‘Ron DeSantis is once again trying to take credit for the success of the American Rescue Plan by announcing infrastructure investments in Florida that were made possible only thanks to President Biden and Democrats,’ Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Travis Reuther said in a statement. ‘To be clear, DeSantis has previously referred to the American Rescue Plan as ‘Washington at its worst,’ and he joined every Republican in Congress in staunchly opposing it.’”
• In Iowa: KCRG: Iowa to receive $100 million investment to improve quality of life and tourism through federal American Rescue Plan Act
  • “The state of Iowa is receiving $100 million dollars through the federal American Rescue Plan act in order to bolster Iowa’s community and attract visitors and new residents to the state.”

Not to be outdone, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made news everywhere from North Carolina to New Mexico for investments that will save Americans time and money by helping to boost public transit, improve energy efficiency, and more. 

• In Wisconsin: Cap Times: $115 million in federal transit funding headed to Wisconsin this year
• In North Carolina: CBS17: NC getting $176M for public transit, here’s how much your area is getting
• In South Carolina: Count on 2 News: SC receiving over $71M in transit funding, part of Biden’s Infrastructure Law
• In New Mexico: Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico gets $22 million in Biden infrastructure bill to improve home energy efficiency
• In Virginia: WDBJ: Virginia to receive $232 million in federal infrastructure money for Virginia transit
• In Nebraska: WOWT: Nebraska receives $37M from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Metro Transit
• In New York: WGRZ: NFTA receiving nearly $31 million as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• In Missouri: Northeast News: Congressman Cleaver announces $27 million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Kansas City transit
• In Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada gets $89M from feds for public transit upgrades