> At a Glance
> – House passes bill 230-196 to restore expired ACA subsidies for 3 years
> – Bipartisan discharge petition forced vote over Speaker Johnson’s objections
> – CBO: $80.6B added to deficit, up to 4M more insured by 2028
> – Why it matters: Monthly premiums jumped after COVID-era aid lapsed Jan 1
A handful of Republican rebels joined nearly every Democrat Thursday to push through a three-year extension of the pandemic health-insurance subsidies that expired New Year’s Day, delivering a rare public defeat to House GOP leadership.
How the Vote Happened
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Robert Bresnahan (Pa.), Ryan Mackenzie (Pa.) and Mike Lawler (N.Y.)-all from swing districts-signed the Democratic discharge petition, unlocking the bill for a floor vote and bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson’s blockade.
Johnson had spent months trying to keep the measure off the floor, arguing the credits are rife with fraud. His office cited a Minnesota investigation and urged a “no” vote.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered:
> “The affordability crisis is not a ‘hoax,’ it is very real-despite what Donald Trump has had to say.”
What the Bill Does
The Congressional Budget Office says the extension would:
- Add $80.6 billion to the deficit over a decade
- Increase coverage by 100,000 in 2025, 3 million in 2027, 4 million in 2028 and 1.1 million in 2029
- Help about 22 million marketplace enrollees who saw premium spikes Jan 1
Senate Path Uncertain
The House bill now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wants:
- Income caps so aid flows only to those who need it
- Nominal premium payments from recipients
- Expanded health-savings accounts
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), negotiating the compromise, said both parties agree fraud protections are needed:
> “We recognize that we have millions of people in this country who are going to lose-are losing, have lost-their health insurance because they can’t afford the premiums.”
Key Takeaways
- Discharge petition succeeded with only four GOP signatures, showing narrow but decisive bipartisan support
- Johnson’s loss of floor control underscores GOP divisions ahead of November
- Senate negotiations center on income limits and HSAs, not the subsidy length
- Democrats plan to campaign on rising premiums if Congress fails to act
The vote sets up a sprint to merge House and Senate approaches before more Americans lose coverage.
