CONGRESS MUST ACT ON

HEALTH INSURANCE TAX CREDITS

We support the discharge petition to advance a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits and call on both the House and the Senate to move this legislation immediately. House Democrats are right to force a vote after months of delay, and the presence of centrist Republican support confirms that Congress already has the votes needed to act. With the credits set to expire and families making coverage decisions right now, further delay — whether driven by procedure or the holiday calendar — is unacceptable and harms millions who rely on affordable health care.

House Democrats initiated the discharge petition on November 12, 2025, employing a rarely used procedural mechanism to bypass the Rules Committee and compel a floor vote on legislation extending the enhanced premium tax credits for three years. Party leaders gathered signatures through late November and early December, bringing the petition to the brink of success before it reached the required 218 signatures on December 17. That final threshold was crossed when four centrist Republicans — Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan, Ryan Mackenzie, and Mike Lawler broke with party leadership and signed on, giving the measure a House majority and making passage likely once procedural requirements are met.

Despite securing that majority, the House concluded its anticipated legislative business for 2025 on December 18 without holding a vote. Under House rules, a discharge petition must wait seven legislative days after reaching 218 signatures before becoming eligible for floor consideration, and such votes are typically limited to designated Mondays. As the House enters a district work period from December 22 through December 31, action is now deferred until lawmakers return on January 6, 2026 — leaving a fully supported measure stalled by timing rather than substance.

This delay reflects a broader failure to address a known, time-sensitive issue earlier in the year. The enhanced premium tax credits are scheduled to expire on December 31, even as open enrollment for 2026 is already underway. By allowing the extension to slip into the holiday recess unresolved, Congress has created uncertainty for families choosing coverage, insurers setting premiums, and state and federal marketplaces attempting to plan. Once the House reconvenes, it must bring the bill to the floor without hesitation, and the Senate must be prepared to pass it swiftly. With a three-year extension already backed by a House majority, any further delay would be a choice — not a necessity — with real consequences for coverage and affordability.

Motion to Discharge a Committee from the Consideration of a Resolution

As GOP blows past ObamaCare deadline, is it too late for a deal? (The Hill, 12-19-25)

4 Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies (AP News, 12-17-25)

House won't vote on health care tax credit extension, angering GOP moderates (CBS News, 12-16-25)

House Speaker Johnson Rebuffs Efforts to Extend Health Care Subsidies, Pushing Ahead With GOP Plan (US News, 12-16-25)