Statement by Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs: 

As millions struggle with the costs of basic needs, the Coalition on Human Needs thanks the 230 members of the House of Representatives who voted to restore the now-expired enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance. They are rightly responding to the urgent needs of millions of their constituents in every state, who are facing skyrocketing health insurance premiums, so high that 4-5 million people are expected to be unable to afford health insurance if the enhanced subsidies are not restored, and many millions more will face a much harsher struggle to pay for other necessities because their insurance premiums will at least double.

CHN’s member organizations, representing millions of people of faith, human service providers, labor, civil rights, policy experts, and other advocates, celebrate the success of Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his caucus in assembling the 218 members necessary for a discharge petition, and Republicans Fitzpatrick, Lawler, Bresnahan, and Mackenzie for joining on a bipartisan basis to bring the restoration of the enhanced tax credits to the floor. In the final vote, 17 Republicans joined with 213 Democrats to respond to the needs of their constituents. We applaud this necessary bipartisan step.

Now the Senate must act. We understand many would prefer to abandon their constituents, making empty promises instead of meeting their needs, or lose precious time crafting a new health package. We call upon Senators to follow the House’s bipartisan example – they should vote for the House bill immediately to help millions facing rising health costs. 

In recent months, we have heard from many people from all across the country. One couple was “terrified” because they knew they could not afford the premium increase from $300 to $1,300 a month they were facing. A senior in Ohio with a low income was facing an unaffordable premium increase from $10.07 to $293.57. A family in Arizona with a small child with severe medical needs is facing inability to get coverage for their child’s care and wondering how they will possibly pay the $100,000 that care will cost this year. The father asked his member of Congress to “Step out of your own bubble. See the needs of your constituents. See the needs of other Arizonans. People are struggling.” 

To the Senate, we echo that father: “Step out of your own bubble.” Prevent the life-threatening loss of health care. The end of the open enrollment period is January 15 – restore the ACA enhanced premium tax credits now, and extend the open enrollment period so those who discontinued their insurance have the time to restore it. There is no time to waste.