House Republicans Break Party Lines to Extend Affordable Care Act Subsidies

A bipartisan effort to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies is gaining significant momentum in the House, with 16 Republican lawmakers now co-sponsoring the initiative.

The legislation, drafted by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), aims for a one-year extension of the boosted premium tax credits introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These subsidies are scheduled to expire on December 31, triggering sharp divisions within the House Republican conference—particularly among moderates who argue that leadership has not provided a credible alternative for Americans facing rising insurance costs.

In a recent closed-door meeting, centrist Republicans expressed frustration that the House GOP’s upcoming healthcare bill fails to address the expiring tax credits. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces mounting pressure as moderate Republicans consider joining Democrats in filing a discharge petition—a rare procedural move that would bypass congressional leadership and force an immediate vote on extending subsidies.

The Kiggans-Gottheimer proposal has garnered 38 co-sponsors, including the 16 Republicans who have openly defected from the party’s right wing to support the extension. These lawmakers include Reps. Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota of New York; Rob Bresnahan, Ryan Mackenzie, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania; María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez of Florida; Jeff Van Drew and Tom Kean of New Jersey; David Valadao and Kevin Kiley of California; Juan Ciscomani of Arizona; Jeff Hurd of Colorado; Don Bacon of Nebraska; and Monica De La Cruz of Texas.

In addition to extending the tax credits, the bill introduces income caps and fraud prevention measures. It also mandates a congressional vote by July 2026 on additional reforms designed to lower insurance premiums. The legislation includes a unique procedural component: fast-tracking future bills related to enhanced premium tax credits under a five-day review window for both chambers if at least 10 lawmakers from each party sign on.

Meanwhile, House GOP leaders are preparing to unveil their own healthcare package next week that explicitly does not extend the tax credits. Johnson has argued that Democrats’ approach merely continues “COVID-era subsidies” and is “devoid of reforms to clamp down on rampant waste, fraud, and abuse.”

In the Senate, Republican committee chairs Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are advancing an alternative proposal that would allow health coverage subsidies to expire and redirect federal funds into consumer-controlled health savings accounts. The lawmakers claim their plan would reduce premiums by 11% by 2027 through “cost-sharing reduction payments.”

President Donald Trump endorsed the Senate Republican strategy, stating aboard Air Force One: “I don’t want to give the insurance companies any money.”