Dear Health Advocates,
Congress is quickly approaching its end-of-year deadline to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. Over the last few days, proposals around the tax credits have been floated from the White House and a bipartisan group of House members—Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Jeff Hurd (R-CO)—who introduced a bill in hopes of moving negotiations and a two-year extension on the tax credits forward with an income cap. The White House's framework for a deal also included a two-year extension, a higher income cap, but coupled with many alternate health care proposals and poison pills.
Based on recent reporting, the White House's proposal faced steep skepticism from members of Congress and a formal announcement will be delayed. You can click here to read our statement on said proposal from Families USA's Executive Director, Anthony Wright.
Finally, Leader Thune promised Senate Democrats a vote on a bill of their choosing related to the tax credits by December 12. The details of such legislation are still being debated and finalized.
As the Senate and House continue to work toward a bill that satisfies a majority of members, Families USA and our partners continue the drumbeat: Congress must act quickly to pass a clean extension of these ACA tax credits. This is the only way to ensure that millions of Americans can continue to access affordable care this January.
Webinar Next Week on Extending the Enhanced Tax Credits
Join Families USA, Coalition on Human Needs, Community Catalyst, National Health Law Program, and other national cosponsors for a state and national partner call on Thursday, December 4 at 1 pm ET focused on the final push in the coming weeks to extend the enhanced health care tax credits.
With a deadline looming for Congress to act before people's health care premiums skyrocket, Congress and the White House are floating a variety of proposals, most of which would make things worse than if they just enacted a clean extension. Our collective advocacy is critical to let policymakers know that a clean and timely extension is the only way to ensure that millions of Americans can access affordable health care come January.
This call will bring together national partners to provide an update from DC, discuss key policy details and consumer messages to know right now, share engagement opportunities for state and national organizations, and provide a call to action to mobilize members and constituents across the country. Let's stand together in a final push! Register here.
We will be in touch with updates as they come, and we wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and weekend.
