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By Gabe Whisnant
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In a rare rebuke of Republican leadership, the House voted 230-196 Thursday to advance legislation extending expired Affordable Care Act subsidies. The measure passed after several GOP lawmakers joined Democrats by signing a discharge petition to force the vote, bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson.
President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to send money directly to Americans through health savings accounts, allowing them to bypass the federal government and manage insurance themselves. Democrats dismiss the idea as inadequate to cover soaring health care costs.
House Approves Extension of ACA Subsidies: What to Know
Seventeen Republicans joined all 213 Democrats to renew the subsidies. Nine Republicans voted with Democrats on Wednesday to force the vote.
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The bill now heads to the Senate, where bipartisan talks are underway to resolve the standoff over tax credits that lapsed after last year’s shutdown. The subsidies, first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, have helped millions afford coverage and remain a flashpoint in the health care debate.
The 17 Republicans were: Robert Bresnahan, Pennsylvania; Mike Carey, Ohio; Monica De La Cruz, Texas; Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania; Andrew Garbarino, New York; Jeff Hurd, Colorado; Dave Joyce, Ohio; Tom Kean Jr., New Jersey; Nick LaLota, New York; Mike Lawler, New York; Ryan Mackenzie, Pennsylvania; Carol Miller, West Virginia; Zach Nunn, Iowa; María Elvira Salazar, Florida; David Valadao, California; Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin; Rob Wittman, Virginia.
What are ACA Tax Credits?
Affordable Care Act tax credits are subsidies designed to lower the cost of health insurance for people who buy coverage through the federal or state marketplaces. The credits reduce monthly premiums based on income and family size, making plans more affordable for millions of Americans. They were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic but expired last year, sparking a fight in Congress over whether to renew them.
How was a discharge petition used to Vote on ACA Subsidies?
A discharge petition is a procedural tool that allows lawmakers to bypass leadership and force a vote on a bill if it gets 218 signatures. In this case, Democrats launched the petition after GOP leaders blocked debate on renewing ACA subsidies. Nine Republicans signed on, pushing the petition over the threshold and triggering Thursday’s vote.
What People Are Saying
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said, “The affordability crisis is not a ‘hoax,’ it is very real — despite what Donald Trump has had to say. Democrats made clear before the government was shut down that we were in this affordability fight until we win this affordability fight. Today we have an opportunity to take a meaningful step forward.”
Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said, “Only 7% of the population relies on Obamacare marketplace plans. This chamber should be about helping 100% of Americans."
Updates: 1/8/26, 7:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Correction: 1/8/26, 6:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to correct that Dave Joyce of Ohio voted for the ACA extension, not John Joyce of Pennsylvania.
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