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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Jeremy Schumacher of Carbondale, Illinois, will be her personal guest to President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address. Schumacher’s story is all too common across our state and country: this year his family’s health insurance costs jumped 288%—an $11,000 increase for deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs—after Trump and Republicans refused to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits tax credits. He has been forced to forgo his own health needs and choose which medications and treatments his family can afford to continue coverage for his wife’s medical costs. While Duckworth has invited Schumacher as her guest, she will be boycotting Trump’s address to Congress.
“I first met Jeremy at one of my town halls last year and his story stuck with me,” Duckworth said. “No one should have to pick and choose who gets health coverage, but that’s what Republicans made sure of when they sold out the American people to give tax breaks to billionaires. I’m proud to have Jeremy join me in Washington to share his story and the reality of life for so many middle-class families as Donald Trump spouts his lies about all he’s done to bring prices down while Americans can see them continuing to skyrocket. That’s why I won’t be attending the President’s State of the Union Address—I’m not interested in hearing another campaign rally full of lies.”
Schumacher is a consulting forester who works with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the federal government to protect natural areas and teach people about reptiles and amphibians. A proud Southern Illinois University of Carbondale graduate, Jeremy was already struggling to afford health insurance while helping cover medical costs for his wife as she continues her fight for disability coverage. In 2026, their insurance costs jumped 288% when ACA tax credits weren’t extended. He has been forced to forgo his own health needs and choose which medications and treatments his family can afford.
