House passes bill to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies; two local congressmen vote with Democrats
WASHINGTON, USA — The House passed a bill on Thursday to extend the expiring health care subsidies for those who get coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
The bill passed 230-196, with 17 House Republicans joining Democratic lawmakers in voting for the measure.
Of the 17 Republicans who voted for the bill, two are from our area: Rob Bresnahan (R-8th District) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-7th District). Both are first-term Congressmen who won narrow victories in November 2024.
Rob Bresnahan released a statement on the vote saying the following:
"I came to Congress to fight for an economy that works for the people, and I consider health insurance a part of those dialogues, just as must as the cost to fill your gas tank or put food on the table. Obamacare has failed to deliver on its promise of lowering insurance costs, and families in NEPA are paying the price. But the only thing worse than a three-year extension of these credits is to let them expire with no solution or off-ramp. I voted for this because, as of right now, it is the only path forward that keeps discussions alive to protect the 28,000 people in my district from immediate premium spikes."
"While we continue working toward meaningful reforms to fix what is broken, I will not sit idly by and let my constituents bear the brunt of a failure caused by both parties. It is time to put politics aside, fight for our people, and come together around a pragmatic, sustainable, and bipartisan solution. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to come to a result that can be signed into law and make a positive difference in people's lives."...
The bill will now head to the Senate, where supporters of the act are hoping for a similar cross-party compromise.