Evans Welcomes House Vote to Restore Health-Care Tax Credits, Reverse Jan. 1 Cost Spike for 500,000 Pennsylvanians

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

House Democrats forced vote; Philly congressman says ‘sense of urgency’ needed from Senate & Trump

WASHINGTON (Jan. 8, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) celebrated the House of Representatives’ vote to restore health-care tax credits and reverse a Jan. 1 cost spike for 22 million Americans’ health insurance.

“I’m proud that House Democrats forced this vote to undo a cost increase of hundreds or thousands of dollars per month in people’s health-insurance premiums. This affects about 500,000 Pennsylvanians. Now we need the Senate and President Trump to have a sense of urgency about it!” Evans said. 

The bill the House passed would provide a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired Jan. 1.

“Without action to restore these tax credits, an estimated 150,000 Pennsylvanians will have to drop their coverage, and about 350,000 other Pennsylvanians will be making tough choices to pay for a massive increase in their premiums. Republicans in Congress showed a sense of urgency when President Trump pressured them to pass tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans by July 4, six months ago. These 500,000 Pennsylvanians need the Senate and the president to give them that same treatment!” Evans said.

After months of persistent advocacy by Evans and other House Democrats, four Republicans joined them in December in signing a discharge petition to force a House vote on the health-care bill. The same procedure was recently used to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

Evans again addressed two key reasons why some Republicans in Congress have opposed renewing the tax credits:

“These tax credits aren’t about Covid – President Biden proposed them in 2019, several months before the Covid crisis began in the U.S., and more than a year before he took office in January 2021.

“And claims of fraud appear to be overblown, especially in states that run their own health-insurance exchanges like Pennsylvania does with Pennie.com. The Trump administration does need to explain why it reinstated 850 agents and brokers who had been suspended from Affordable Care Act enrollment for suspected fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or plan switches.

“The bottom line is: Congress and President Trump need to renew these health-care tax credits – NOW!” Evans said.

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. During his time in Congress, his office has returned to or saved more than $45.5 million for constituents in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and trade. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on House Passage of FY26 Full-Year Funding for Space, Science, and Exploration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 397-28 to pass H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. Rep Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), who both co-Chair the bipartisan Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, released the following joint statement:

“As Co-Chairs of the Planetary Science Caucus, we were extremely alarmed by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposal to dramatically cut federal funding in FY26 for space because we know these investments are essential to scientific research and discovery, to our national security, to growing our space economy and workforce, and to maintaining the United States’ standing as the global leader in space. That is why we have been working closely with our congressional colleagues of both parties to ensure a robust space budget. Thankfully, with today’s vote, the House has rejected many of the OMB’s cuts to space by advancing sustained funding for NASA, including for its Science Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement, for our other science agencies like the National Science Foundation, and by maintaining many of the critical NASA missions the OMB had proposed to cancel. With today’s passage of this bill, Congress has averted disaster and put the United States back on track to maintaining our preeminence in space. 

While we were proud to vote for these investments, we are nonetheless disappointed that the bill supports the OMB’s plan to cancel the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission to bring samples from the Mars surface back to Earth – samples which have already been collected by the Perseverance rover. This is our nation’s highest-priority planetary science mission according to the 2023 Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey and is critical to paving the way for eventual exploration of the planet. Our nation already lost hundreds of Mars experts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory last year due to shortsighted budget cuts to MSR, and we cannot afford to lose more. However, we are encouraged that today’s bill provides funding for future Mars missions and we look forward to working with NASA, congressional colleagues, and all our partners to finally return these samples and maintain American expertise and leadership on the red planet.”

Rep. Judy Chu’s district includes Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA Center administered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

###

U.S. Rep. McCollum: "I will always fight to protect our pristine Boundary Waters"

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R, MN-08) announced that he is working with President Trump on a questionable scheme to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the current federal ban on toxic sulfide ore mining within the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness. In response, Congresswoman McCollum (D, MN-04) issued the following statement: 

“The Boundary Waters is a national treasure. As our country’s most visited wilderness area, the BWCA protects over one million acres of pristine forests and lakes with some of the cleanest freshwater in the world. The federal mineral withdrawal put in place under the Biden administration prevents toxic sulfide ore mining in the headwaters, and it was the result of years of comprehensive and scientifically-sound environmental analysis. The repeated efforts by the Trump administration and Congressman Stauber to overturn this withdrawal are anti-science and ignore the public input which overwhelmingly supported these protections.

“I will continue to fight against any efforts by the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress to overturn protections for the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.”
 

Congressman Cleaver Votes to Extend ACA Tax Credits to Lower Health Care Costs for Missouri Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, will now head to the U.S. Senate for consideration

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of legislation to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that help lower health care premiums for more than 20 million Americans across the country, including more than 46,000 Missourians in the Fifth Congressional District. Following an intense effort from the Speaker of the House and the vast majority of congressional Republicans to prevent an extension, the enhanced tax credits lapsed on January 1st, immediately driving up costs on millions of Americans. However, House Democrats successfully forced a vote on legislation to revive the credits for three years through the discharge petition process with the support of 4 House Republicans. The legislation passed today by a vote of 230-196.

“For months now, as American families plead for bipartisan solutions that will address the cost-of-living crisis, I have been working with lawmakers to extend ACA tax credits that help more than 46,000 of my constituents afford quality health care,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Thanks to every Democratic lawmaker and a handful of my Republican colleagues, we have successfully passed legislation that would extend this lifeline and provide immediate relief to working-class families across the country. It is my hope that the Senate will put partisanship aside and pass this legislation so that no family is forced to choose between keeping their health care or keeping food on the table.”

According to the House Budget Committee, the failure to extend ACA tax credits will send premiums skyrocketing. For example:

  • A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 a year in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District would see their annual premiums rise by 333%.
  • A family of four earning $66,000 a year in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District would see their annual premiums rise by 254%.
  • A family of four earning $133,750 a year in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District would see their annual premiums rise by 121%.

The legislation will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration. 

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Moolenaar Votes Against COVID Credit Extension

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

Headline: Moolenaar Votes Against COVID Credit Extension

Congressman John Moolenaar voted against legislation to extend pandemic-era enhanced premium tax credits. The original Affordable Care Act tax credits are permanently funded. These tax credits have existed since 2014 and were originally only available to people making 400% of the federal poverty level. The American Rescue Plan Act, enacted by Democrats in 2021, eliminated the income cap for two years creating the enhanced premium tax credits. The enhanced credits were further extended in 2022 by Democrats in the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation that passed the House of Representatives today would continue the tax credits for the highest income earners. 

“Extending a COVID-era subsidy for those making more than 400 percent of the poverty level is wrong and will only increase health care costs. Families deserve a lower cost of care, but this failed policy is not the answer,” said Moolenaar. “I am focusing on real reforms that increase competition, improve transparency, and protect taxpayers.”  

On December 17, Moolenaar voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. This legislation would reform the health care system to lower costs, expand choice, and increase transparency for Michigan families and seniors. 

Rep. Adams Votes for Bipartisan ACA Tax Credit Renewal, Lowering Healthcare Costs for Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement following her vote to restore the bipartisan Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. This follows Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s successful discharge petition to bring the tax credit bill to the House floor after Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to let the House vote on the extension in 2025.

“I was proud to vote to restore the ACA tax credits today and lower healthcare premium costs for the people of Charlotte-Mecklenburg,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Affordable, accessible healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing my constituents but Republican policies—including $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid and $500 billion cuts to Medicare—have only served to raise costs, kick people off their insurance, and eliminate healthcare services across North Carolina. America is suffering from a Republican healthcare crisis that Congress cannot ignore. We must see the ACA tax credit restoration signed into law so we can lower premium costs and finally make life more affordable for everyday Americans.”

88,000 NC-12 residents used the ACA tax credits to afford health insurance and without them, an estimated 157,000 North Carolinians are expected to lose coverage entirely. At the same time, due to Medicaid and Medicare cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, at least five North Carolina rural hospitals are already at risk of closing, threatening healthcare access for thousands of residents. The increase in uninsured patients due to the expiration of these tax credits will only worsen the financial burden on hospitals and emergency rooms that are struggling to stay open.

Congressman Bishop Secures Over $14 Million for Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and Clean Water in Middle & Southwest Georgia

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

Bipartisan Funding Bill Will Keep the Federal Government Open & Working for the People

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, secured over $14 million in funding for nine crucial projects in Middle and Southwest Georgia that help hardworking families have access to affordable, clean water. These projects also help communities update equipment for local law enforcement, fight child abuse as well as domestic violence, and continue improvements to Lake Seminole. The funds were included as part of a bipartisan appropriations bill, H.R. 6938, for Fiscal Year 2026 which funded the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Energy as well as related federal science, energy, and environmental programs.

The bill passed the U.S. House by a vote of 397-28 and now proceeds to the U.S. Senate for approval before being signed into law by the president.

“Georgians work hard and Congress should be matching that effort to ensure that they can afford to live in safe communities with clean water,” said Congressman Bishop. “The funding that I secured supports our counties, towns, schools, and community organizations. It improves the quality of life for families throughout Georgia’s Second Congressional District, whether they live in urban or rural areas.”

The nine projects in Georgia’s Second Congressional District for which Congressman Bishop secured funding include:

  • $9,747,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage invasive aquatic vegetation, restore access on Lake Seminole, and restore the local ecosystem;
  • $1,092,000 to the Lee County Board of Commissioners for a 1.0 million gallon per day well and treatment facility to provide safe, reliable, and potable drinking water to their residents;
  • $960,000 to the City of Blakely for a major water transmission line that would improve service to areas of the city that have very poor water pressure, including the Early County School System;
  • $739,000 to the Southwest Georgia Children’s Alliance, Inc., to expand prevention programs, informed care practices, and justice system response to child abuse and domestic violence across 17 counties in Georgia’s Second Congressional District;
  • $629,000 to the Early County Board of Commissioners to upgrade its regional 911 emergency services equipment;
  • $478,420 to the City of Attapulgus for the first phase of a multi-phase plan to replace existing asbestos cement water mains within its drinking water distribution system;
  • $313,000 to Columbus State University for its campus police force purchase two new police cruisers, mobile data terminals, and security cameras to help its efficiency and operational capabilities as well as improve campus safety;
  • $306,000 to the City of Buena Vista’s Police Department to replace old patrol vehicles and other obsolete equipment so that it will improve patrol effectiveness as well as officer and community safety; and
  • $120,000 to the City of Newton to upgrade its existing emergency services vehicles.

H.R. 6938 is the product of ongoing negotiations between Democratic and Republican Appropriators in the U.S. House and Senate as well as Congressional leaders in both chambers. Notably, the overall bill prevented more than $163 billion in Trump Administration cuts that would have gutted public services, law enforcement, and other crucial infrastructure programs. The bill was also stripped of partisan “poison pill” amendments.

Today, Congressman Bishop also voted on separate bipartisan legislation to restore the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits which expired at the beginning of January. The tax credits were eliminated as part of H.R. 1 in July of 2025 as part of the “big, ugly bill” to help pay for tax breaks that predominantly benefited billionaires. With the loss of the ACA enhanced tax credits, thousands of Middle and Southwest Georgians have seen their healthcare premium costs skyrocket.

###

Congressman Bishop Votes to Make Healthcare More Affordable Again, Restore ACA Tax Credits for Millions of Hardworking Americans

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-02) supported H.R. 1834, a bill restoring Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced tax credits through the end of 2028. These tax credits, which expired at the end of last year, help as many as 92,000 Georgians in the Second Congressional District and millions of Americans lower their monthly health insurance premiums. The premiums have already increased and are expected to spike by at least 114% in 2026 if the tax credits are not extended. The bill was approved with a bipartisan vote of 230-196.

“Today, I, along with a bipartisan group of U.S. House members, passed a bill to restore the ACA enhanced tax credits and make good quality health care affordable again. The U.S. Senate must quickly pass this bill, and the President should sign this into law,” said Congressman Bishop.

“The ACA enhanced tax credits were allowed to expire to help pay for billionaire tax breaks in the ‘big, ugly bill’ passed last July,” added Congressman Bishop. “Instead of making good quality care more affordable, Congressional Republican leaders are asking Americans to accept less coverage, less quality, and take on more of the cost for their health care treatment.”

Last month, Congressman Bishop joined House Democrats and a handful of House Republicans to support a discharge petition that would bring legislation directly to the U.S. House floor that would renew the ACA enhanced tax credits. This was because even though extending the ACA enhanced tax credits had the bipartisan support of a majority of U.S. House members, House Republican leaders had refused to allow a vote on the bill.

In October 2025, Congressman Bishop visited Columbus, Albany, and Macon where he heard from physicians and patients living in Georgia’s Second Congressional District about how the loss of the ACA enhanced tax credits would harm healthcare. He also highlighted the higher health care costs that Americans face because of H.R. 1, the “big, ugly bill,” which made largest cuts in history to Medicaid, a program that helps low-income and elderly Americans afford care.

###

STATEMENT FROM CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS ON PASSAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDIT EXTENSION

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

Today’s victory proves a simple truth: when Democrats stay unified, listen to the people, and remain focused on results, we win. A people united will never be defeated. Democrats are on a roll, and this vote shows exactly why. We are fighting for ordinary, everyday Americans—not billionaires and trillionaires who already have more than enough power over our economy and our democracy.

I commend House Democratic leadership—Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar—for leading the successful effort, alongside 17 Republicans, to pass legislation restoring Affordable Care Act tax credits and preventing millions of Americans from losing their healthcare. This was a necessary and overdue action to protect working families and seniors from skyrocketing healthcare costs.

Let’s be clear: while Donald Trump and far-right Republicans talk about lowering the cost of living, their actions repeatedly undermine healthcare access for working- and middle-class Americans. House Democrats are doing the opposite—lowering costs, fixing what is broken, and standing up for the fundamental right to affordable healthcare.

Now the Senate must act. The American people cannot afford delay or political gamesmanship. We will take the House back this year, put America back on track, and ensure that decisions in Washington are made by and for the people—not a wealthy few at the top.

Davids Votes for Bipartisan Bill to Extend Health Care Tax Credits, Saving Kansans Hundreds of Dollars

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids voted to extend the lifesaving Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that reduced health care costs for more than 160,000 Kansans by an average of $700 a year. House Republican leadership had previously blocked action, allowing these tax credits to expire — driving premiums up by an average of 77 percent nationwide and pushing an estimated 4.2 million Americans off their health insurance. After four Republicans previously joined every Democrat to force a vote on the package, it successfully passed the House today with 213 Democrats and 17 Republicans voting in support.

“Families from both parties are seeing their health care costs go up because Washington failed to act. That’s unacceptable,” said Davids. “Extending these tax credits is about keeping care affordable for families, seniors, and small business owners who are already stretching every dollar — and making sure no one must choose between paying their mortgage and seeing a doctor. I’ll keep pushing until Congress delivers the certainty and affordability Kansans deserve.”

Davids previously spoke to Kansans who will pay exponentially more for their health care due to the tax credit expiration. One person faces a staggering increase of more than 3,000 percent, while another will pay more than $17,000 next year.

  • Nancy Mays, Mission Woods
    • 2025: $560 per month
    • 2026: $2,030 per month
    • Increase: $17,640 per year (263 percent increase)
  • Stephanie Barr, Prairie Village
    • 2025: $20 per month
    • 2026: $646 per month
    • Increase: $7,752 per year (3,130 percent increase)
  • Dawn Wheeler, Edwardsville
    • 2025: $69 per month
    • 2026: $248 per month
    • Increase: $2,148 per year (259 percent increase)

Even though the tax credits have expired, Congress can still take action to prevent future premium increases. Forecasting models show that extending the enhanced ACA tax credits now could still slow or reduce the premium hikes.

Due to the price hikes, many healthy people will be forced to drop coverage, leaving the insurance pool made up of individuals with chronic conditions or high-cost medical needs. That will make premiums even higher for those who remain on ACA plans, compounding the financial burden on families who can least afford it.

Davids has sounded the alarm on this issue for more than a year, supporting a proposal to extend the tax credits permanently and a two-party compromise solution that would extend the tax credits through 2027. She also urged Congressional leadership to include an extension of these health care tax credits in a government funding bill, demanded a vote in the U.S. House, and hosted multiple press conferences with Kansans who rely on these savings to afford other everyday necessities.