Dr. Ruiz Votes to Lower Costs for Seniors & Families, Sending Historic Legislation to President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) voted to send H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act, to President Biden's desk. The historic legislation will lower families' kitchen table costs, create millions of good-paying jobs delivering the most significant climate action in history, and dramatically reduce the deficit. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare will be able to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time, seniors' out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped to $2,000 a year, health care premiums will be reduced, the deficit will be lowered, and families will save money on home energy. Additionally, the legislation includes $4 billion to address drought – particularly targeting the Salton Sea – and investments in critical mineral development like lithium extraction at the Salton Sea.

"Today, I voted to send the Inflation Reduction Act to President Biden's desk to lower costs for seniors and families in our communities and across the country," said Dr. Ruiz."The rising cost of living is weighing heavily on local families, and they are in urgent need of relief. The Inflation Reduction Act delivers the bold action we need to lower prescription drug costs for seniors, health care costs for working families, and energy costs for our communities."

"I am also thrilled that this historic legislation will help us address the environmental and public health crisis at the Salton Sea and invest in renewable energy development in our region," continued Dr. Ruiz."With transformative investments in drought mitigation and critical mineral development, the Inflation Reduction Act will protect the health of frontline communities, bring crucial resources to Imperial County, and increase America's energy independence with the lithium at the Salton Sea."

The Salton Sea provisions in the bill were championed by Dr. Ruiz in the House and supported by the Salton Sea Authority and Imperial Irrigation District.

"Our Congressional delegation for years has steadfastly worked with us to secure federal funding to address the crisis at the Salton Sea," commented Salton Sea Authority Executive Director G. Patrick O'Dowd.

"I commend Congressman Ruiz for including this absolutely essential funding in the bill so that the impacts on the Salton Sea and surrounding disadvantaged and tribal communities of any future Colorado River water cuts from our region are fully mitigated by the federal government," O'Dowd added.

"The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) enthusiastically supports the Inflation Reduction Act for its forward-thinking investments into Colorado River drought relief and a more sustainable and resilient electric grid," said Imperial Irrigation District Board President James C. Hanks."The legislation includes $4 billion in funding necessary to address the severe drought conditions on the Colorado River head-on, including investments in water conservation projects and environmental restoration at the Salton Sea. The act provides for energy infrastructure upgrades to better serve our customers, spurs additional renewable energy generation, and further supports domestic lithium development. We are thankful for the efforts to adopt this legislation that will directly serve the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, and look forward to aiding in prompt implementation of the legislation for the betterment of our water and energy customers and the communities IID serves overall."

BACKGROUND

H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act, does the following:

• Lowers the cost of health care: reduces the cost of health care for millions by extending ACA enhanced subsidies for three more years, locking in lower health care premiums that save 13 million people an average of $800 a year, and lowering drug prices.
• Slashes prescription drug costs: For the first time ever empowers Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs; requires drug companies to pay Medicare rebates if they raise prices faster than the rate of inflation starting in October 2022; and creates a new out-of-pocket cap for Part D drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries of $2,000 a year, starting in 2025.
• Lowers the deficit and reduces inflation: makes a historic down payment on deficit reduction of approximately $300 billion to fight inflation.
• Lowers energy costs: saving California families an average of $1,000 per year on their energy bills.
• Lowers the deficit and helps fight inflation: making a historic down payment on deficit reduction of approximately $300 billion.
• Delivers America's largest-ever climate investment: supporting domestic energy production, creating nine million good-paying union jobs, and reducing carbon pollution by roughly 40 percent this decade.

Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act extends key tax credits for wind, geothermal, solar, and other clean energy producers, which would benefit geothermal producers near the Salton Sea. The legislation extends tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs) while also bolstering the domestic supply chain for renewable energy and critical mineral development such as lithium extraction at the Salton Sea.

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