<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Americans keep choosing cheap, processed food over healthier options, taxpayers will have to keep footing the bill with higher healthcare costs, Republican Congressman Eric Burlison warned Congress on Friday. Before he took to the House floor, The Daily Wire sat down with Burlison to learn about his health care solutions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Healthcare is not just about insurance, it’s about being healthy,” Burlison told The Daily Wire. “When you look at the amount of money that we spend per capita on food versus other countries, we buy cheap food. Other countries spend more money on food, but they also spend less money on health care. In America, we spend a little money on healthy food but a lot of money on the back end in insurance.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Total United States health spending for 2025 is expected to be </span><a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00545"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$5.6 trillion</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, according to the Health Affairs National Health Expenditure Projections. And over the next decade, America’s medical bills are projected to grow about 1.5% faster every year than GDP. In 2025, Medicare was the largest line item in the United States’ spending budget, accounting for </span><a href="https://www.usaspending.gov/explorer/budget_function"><span style="font-weight: 400;">17.8%</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Burlison believes the solution lies in his Make America Healthy Again Accounts, which he is spearheading alongside Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The accounts are “a supercharged, tax-free health account” and would allow individuals to contribute $25,000 tax-free and $50,000 per family every year. The money in the accounts rolls over each year and never expires. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The unique idea that we have,” Burlison told The Daily Wire, “is we’re going to allow for a particular amount of money out of this account to be spent on healthy food, protein, produce, vitamin supplements, and yes, maybe a gym membership, so that people are encouraged. Don’t go buy junk food, go buy unprocessed healthy food. And if you do buy it, we’re going to give you a tax deduction on that.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Burlison says employers will be able to contribute to the account, allowing them to “help cover premiums or out-of-pocket expenses without wasting money on the current bloated system.” He wants every account to come with a $5,000 interest-free credit line for deductibles or unexpected costs.</span></p>
<p>His pitch to the House comes right as the Senate failed to advance two competing health care proposals authored to replace the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Democrats continue to advocate for an extension of Obamacare that would increase the deficit by <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-09/61734-Health.pdf">$350 billion</a> if made permanent. “The American people made it clear they wanted the ACA tax credits extended,” <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1999516865022808268">said</a> Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.</p>
<p>Burlison, however, compared the extension to throwing money on a sinking ship.</p>
<p>“I think it’s a fool’s errand to throw money down on the sinking ship,” <a href="https://x.com/EricBurlison/status/1998556541977325593">said</a> Burlison. “Instead, we really need to reform healthcare and let people purchase the healthcare that they truly want and need.”</p>
<p>Speaker Mike Johnson <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-struggle-agree-health-care-plan-subsidies-obamcare-rcna248437">says</a> he has plans to hold a floor vote on a GOP plan next week.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Cheap, Unhealthy Food Is Driving Up U.S. Healthcare Spending, Congressman Warns

Democrat Witness ‘Almost Brought To Tears’ After Luke Rosiak’s Medicaid Fraud Testimony

The Treasury Numbers Trump Critics Were Hoping Nobody Would See

Mamdani Pushes One Of The Left’s Favorite Hoaxes

Two Years Into Trump 2.0, Corporate America’s Pride Month Looks Different

Mamdani Says One Month Isn’t Long Enough To Celebrate Queer And Trans New Yorkers

Girl Math: Democrat Gov Says Party Doesn’t Need Any Male Voters

News

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News —

Cheap, Unhealthy Food Is Driving Up U.S. Healthcare Spending, Congressman Warns