The US House of Representatives has passed legislation to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for three years, with 17 Republicans breaking ranks to support the measure. The 230-196 vote defies President Donald Trump, who opposes the subsidies, and marks a significant bipartisan move on healthcare ahead of the November midterm elections.
The credits, first created under Joe Biden, expired at the end of last year. Without them, experts estimate premiums for ACA enrollees could roughly double. The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate, where a similar measure was rejected last month. Republican congressman Mike Lawler said he voted to send it to the Senate so it could craft a reform package.
Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed the credits, calling the ACA the 'Unaffordable Care Act' and arguing they enable fraud. However, four Republicans signed a discharge petition to force a vote, rebuking Johnson. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, one of the signatories, said a clean extension was the best option after leadership rejected other deals.
Democrats have made the affordability crisis a key campaign issue. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said the crisis is 'very real', while Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer pledged to make healthcare the top issue for 2026. Trump has dismissed affordability concerns as a 'hoax', but Johnson said Republicans will outline their own healthcare cost proposals soon.
