House Republicans Stage Last-Minute Push to Extend ACA Subsidies Before Midterms

By Sam Barron
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 7:12 p.m. EST

House Republicans have rallied a critical group of members to force an emergency vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at month’s end.

The proposed legislation, championed by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), would extend enhanced subsidies for two years with revised income thresholds and anti-fraud provisions—features mirroring similar bills introduced in both the House and Senate.

Key Republican supporters include Don Bacon of Nebraska, Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, and Nicole Malliotakis of New York. Additional signatories joining Fitzpatrick are Reps. Kevin Kiley (Calif.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.) and Ryan Mackenzie (Penn.). Rep. Nick Lalota (R-N.Y.) indicated he would follow suit.

Fitzpatrick emphasized the urgency: “It’s a time-sensitive matter, and it’s an existential one.” He noted that after exhausting all standard legislative pathways, “you’ve got to go this route.”

House Republicans have raised alarms over GOP leadership’s apparent desire to let tax credits lapse without replacement, warning of electoral consequences next year. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) stated: “If we fumble this healthcare ball, nothing else is going to matter.” He added that losing the majority in midterms would render all efforts moot.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) warned that lapsing tax credits could cost his colleagues their seats: “There are a lot of good people who were elected by one, two, three, or four votes.” When asked if the issue matters for elections, Van Drew affirmed: “Yes.”

While all House Democrats would need to sign the discharge petition to trigger a vote, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is advancing a bill that would extend subsidies for three years.

The discharge petition requires 218 signatures to activate—but with ACA subsidies expiring on December 31, the race to secure votes appears urgent.