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By Andrew Stanton
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Four House Republicans are backing Democrats’ plan to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits.
Why It Matters
The expiration of the ACA tax credits would affect millions of Americans. About 22 million people could see increased premium payments in 2026 if the tax credits are not extended, according to a KFF report, while others may lose the subsidy entirely. The tax credits were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to help more Americans access insurance.
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Congressional Republicans have been divided over whether to extend the credits. A handful of Republicans, mostly from swing districts who are set to face competitive reelections next year, have supported an extension.
What To Know
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, on Tuesday said he would not hold a vote on the ACA subsidies despite the push from GOP moderates. His decision against the vote dimmed the likelihood that Congress will extend the subsidies by the end of the year.
On Wednesday, the following House Republicans signed on to a discharge petition introduced by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, that would force a vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies:
- Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania
- Representative Mike Lawler of New York
- Representative Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania
- Representative Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania
All four Republicans represent seats either won by former Vice President Kamala Harris (New York) or narrowly won by President Donald Trump (Pennsylvania) last November and could be in for competitive reelections in the 2026 midterms.
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Fitzpatrick became the first Republican to join the effort to defy Johnson and force a vote on the tax credits. He said in a statement reported by NBC News that he has worked with both parties for months to “offer a responsible bridge that successfully threaded the needle,” but that House leadership rejected amendments filed by him and his colleagues.
“As I’ve stated many times before, the only policy that is worse than a clean three-year extension without any reforms, is a policy of complete expiration without any bridge,” he said in the statement. “Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.”
Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he has "not lost control of the House."
"We have the smallest majority in U.S. history," he said. "These are not normal times. There are processes and procedures that are less frequently used when there are larger majorities."
Jeffries responded to their support in a post on X: "Urgent update. Our bipartisan petition to force a vote on a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits now has 218 signatures. Mike Johnson should bring the bill to the floor immediately."
In addition to Jeffries’ petition, Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, introduced a petition that would compel a vote on a single-year extension. His petition has support from more Republicans, but not all Democrats have joined it.
Health care is likely to be an issue looming over the midterms.
A KFF poll released earlier in December found that 84 percent of enrollees support their extension. Of that 84 percent, 35 percent would blame Republicans in Congress, and 41 percent would blame Trump for that expiration. The poll surveyed 1,350 adults who have a health insurance plan covered by the ACA Marketplace from November 7-15. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
Representative Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, in a statement: “This procedural step is not an endorsement of the bill written. I continue to believe any extension should be targeted, fiscally responsible, and include income eligibility limits and safeguards against fraud, similar to the bipartisan discussions underway in the Senate. But when leadership blocks action entirely, Congress has a responsibility to act. My priority is ensuring Hudson Valley families aren’t caught in the gridlock.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, on Tuesday: “There’s about a dozen members in the conference in these swing districts that are fighting hard to make sure that they reduce costs for all of their constituents. Many of them did want a vote on this Obamacare COVID-era subsidy that the Democrats created. We looked for a way to try to allow for that pressure release valve, and it just was not to be.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, last week: “There are only five legislative days left before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. And we have yet to see a Republican plan to prevent tens of millions of Americans from experiencing dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. We know that premium increases in some cases will be $1,000 or $2,000 per month. This is going to make health care unaffordable for millions of working-class Americans, middle-class Americans and everyday Americans.”
What Happens Next
The petition has 218 signatures, meaning a vote will be held. If every member signing the petition votes in favor of the extension, it will pass the House. It may face tougher odds in the Senate, which already rejected a bill to extend the subsidies by three years.
Update 12/17/25, 11:50 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 12/17/25, 1:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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