Bipartisan House Vote Revives Affordable Care Act Tax Credits Despite Trump Opposition [Video]

A bipartisan crack surfaced in the House this week as lawmakers moved to revive Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions of Americans afford health insurance, despite vocal opposition from Donald Trump and Republican leadership.

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On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed legislation restoring tax credits that lower monthly premiums for ACA marketplace plans. The measure cleared the chamber by a 230 to 196 vote, with every Democrat supporting it alongside 17 Republicans. The credits, first enacted under Joe Biden, expired at the end of last year after negotiations collapsed.

Moderate Republicans who crossed party lines said the alternative would have meant sharp premium increases back home. Still, they acknowledged the bill is unlikely to become law without changes from the Republican controlled Senate.

“I am voting in favor of this discharge and of this legislation to send it to the Senate, so that the Senate will have the opportunity to put forth a reform package that can pass Congress and become law,” Republican congressman Mike Lawler said during a preliminary vote on Wednesday.

Trump has publicly opposed extending the subsidies, and Senate Republicans last month blocked a similar Democratic proposal. Health policy analysts warn that without the credits, premiums for many ACA enrollees could nearly double.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has criticized the subsidies, claiming they invite fraud and deriding the law passed under Barack Obama as the “Unaffordable Care Act.” After leadership declined to advance a compromise, four Republicans triggered a rarely used discharge petition that forced the vote.

“All of those options were rejected, unfortunately, by House leadership, so it left us with two options – either expiration or clean extension. And clean extension is a far better option, in my view, and that’s why I proceeded down the path that I did,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.

Democrats framed the vote as a response to rising household costs.

“The affordability crisis is not a hoax, it is very real, despite what Donald Trump had to say,” House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer added, “Democrats going to make healthcare and other high costs, the high cost of living, the No 1 issue for all of 2026.”