Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after signing a discharge petition that will force a vote in the House of Representatives to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits if the petition reaches 218 signatories:
“Health care should be affordable and accessible for all. 26,000 people I represent depend on these critical ACA tax credits to afford medical care. If Republicans in Congress allow them to expire at the end of the year, 80,000 people in Washington state will be forced to go without health care.
“More uninsured people means higher health care costs for everyone and sicker family members, friends and neighbors. Because my Republican colleagues are refusing to hold a vote, too many hardworking people are facing the reality of choosing between going to the doctor, paying rent and feeding their kids.
“I will keep working alongside House Democrats to extend the ACA tax credits and make health care accessible and affordable.”
Rep. Larsen also joined Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03) and 57 of their Democratic colleagues in urging Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately hold a vote to extend ACA tax credits and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing for hardworking families.
The full letter to Speaker Johnson is available here and below.
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Speaker Johnson,
We write to you once again about the urgent matter of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums and the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) set to expire at the end of this year. For the past 50-plus days, you had kept the House of Representatives out of session while millions of Americans worry over how they’ll be able to pay their health care bills in 2026. Up to 24 million ACA enrollees are facing gross premium increases averaging 26 percent and actual monthly cost increases around 114 percent; some constituents have shared with us anticipated premium increases as high as 3,000 percent.
Many of the Americans that will be hit by these exorbitant costs live in congressional districts represented by Republicans. And a majority of members of the House – Democrats and Republicans – have made clear that these expiring EPTCs need to be addressed immediately. Ignoring this issue will be catastrophic to millions and runs counter to President Trump’s promise to lower costs for Americans.
In voting to reopen the federal government, Majority Leader John Thune has guaranteed a vote on extending these ACA EPTCs in the Senate. We respectfully demand you hold this same vote here in the House as soon as possible.
Families across this country – on both sides of the political spectrum – are counting on us to do something to mitigate rising health care costs. Inaction here will decimate millions of Americans’ budgets and force impossible decisions between receiving necessary care and other basic needs.
Please respond to us immediately with a date on which you will hold a vote on extending the ACA EPTCs. We look forward to working together to ensure Americans are protected from these disastrous cost increases.
Sincerely,
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