U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced he will bring two Rochester residents as his personal guests to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, saying their experiences reflect how rising costs, tariffs, and health care policy changes are affecting families and small businesses in Upstate New York.
Schumer said Ben Pearson, a small business owner, and Eva Wood, a mother of seven, will attend the address to spotlight what he described as the financial strain caused by tariffs and the expiration of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.
Pearson is the founder and CEO of ENALAS, a Rochester-based startup that manufactures science kits and classroom products. He said tariffs have added nearly $1 million a year in unexpected costs since August, forcing the company to cut its workforce by about 20 percent and raise prices to stay afloat. Pearson also said the company’s health insurance costs have risen 19 percent, making it harder to fully cover employee premiums.
Wood said her family relied on ACA premium tax credits to afford health insurance. After those credits expired, she said her family’s monthly premium increased sharply, adding thousands of dollars in annual expenses and forcing difficult budget choices.
Schumer said the guests’ stories underscore the broader affordability challenges facing Upstate residents and said Senate Democrats will continue pushing policies aimed at lowering costs for working families and small businesses.
