Bipartisan House Group Urges Senate Leaders to Include the House in Negotiations to Address Rising Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, a bipartisan group of 30 House Republicans and Democrats sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include House members in negotiations ahead of the promised health care vote in December to address the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits.

“Bipartisan engagement across both chambers will be essential to crafting a health care proposal that can pass and be signed into law,” the Members wrote.

Families nationwide who rely on the expiring ACA premium tax credits are facing drastic spikes to their health insurance costs. Millions will lose their health care coverage because they will no longer be able to afford it.

Rep. Kiggans stated, “In 2024, 33,000 residents of Virginia’s Second Congressional District received tax credits to help reduce their monthly insurance premiums. Nationwide, 3.3 million small business owners and those who are self-employed will see their insurance premiums drastically increase without an extension of this subsidy. Recognizing this, I introduced the bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, which would extend this subsidy for a year to give Congress more time to develop a practical and sustainable solution. I am now working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a path forward. Making health care affordable for every American should be the top priority of every lawmaker.” 

The bipartisan letter, led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), is also signed by Adam Gray (CA-13), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2), Susie Lee (NV-3), Don Bacon (NE-2), Ed Case (HI-1), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Darren Soto (FL-9), Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-8), Tom Barrett (MI-7), Debbie Dingell (MI-6), Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), George Whitesides (CA-27), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Donald Davis (NC-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Josh Riley (NY-19), Laura Gillen (NY-4), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Carlos Gimenez (FL-28).

Read the full letter here and excerpts below: 

“If we work together, our hope is that the bill will not only achieve a sixty-vote majority in the Senate, but will also then move to the House for immediate consideration and passage.”

“On November 1, with the start of the open enrollment period, millions of Americans saw just how much their health insurance premium costs will spike next year. Millions will lose their health care coverage because they will no longer be able to afford it.

As you know, those who rely on the expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) are facing drastic premium increases. Allowing these tax credits to lapse without a clear path forward would risk real harm to those we represent.”

Read about my bill, the Premium Tax Credit Extension Act here.

Read about my letter to Speaker Johnson regarding the ACA tax credits here and here.