Rep. Sharice Davids Leads 59 Democrats to Demand House Vote on ACA Health Care Tax Credits

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) led 58 of her Democratic colleagues in urging an immediate House vote — matching the commitment Senate Majority Leader John Thune has made — to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing for hardworking families. Without action from Congress, Kansans are projected to face an average 77 percent increase in monthly premiums, putting health coverage at risk for as many as 4.2 million Americans.

“Up to 24 million ACA enrollees are facing gross premium increases averaging 26 percent and actual monthly cost increases around 114 percent … Ignoring this issue will be catastrophic to millions and runs counter to President Trump’s promise to lower costs for Americans,” wrote Davids and her colleagues. “Majority Leader John Thune has guaranteed a vote on extending these ACA [Enhanced Premium Tax Credits] in the Senate. We respectfully demand you hold this same vote here in the House as soon as possible.”

Even though open enrollment has begun, Congress can still take action to prevent the steep premium increases Kansans face in 2026. Forecasting models show that extending the enhanced ACA tax credits now could still slow or reduce the premium hikes.

Because of the expected price hikes, many healthy people may be forced to drop coverage, leaving the insurance pool made up of individuals with chronic conditions or high-cost medical needs. That would drive 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 over a year, supporting a proposal to extend the tax credits permanently and offering multiple amendments to Republicans’ budget law to prevent these price hikes. She previously urged Congressional leadership to include an extension of these ACA health care tax credits in any government funding bill and hosted multiple press conferences with Kansans, who rely on these savings to afford other everyday necessities.

Read Davids’ full letter here or below:

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,