House to vote on renewing ACA subsidies as a potential deal takes shape in the Senate

"Against the wishes of House Speaker Mike Johnson, the House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on a measure that would renew enhanced health insurance subsidies that expired at the end of last year. The three-year extension is expected to pass the House, but it may not go far in the Senate, where a similar measure failed in December. A bipartisan group of senators, however, say they are close to a deal on a compromise bill for the Affordable Care Act subsidies."

"An end-run around the speaker on subsidies Republican leadership for weeks refused to allow a vote on extending the subsidies. Then just before the holiday recess, four swing-district Republicans joined with Democrats to force a vote on extending the subsidies for three years through what's known as a discharge petition. The once rare legislative tool allows 218 or more rank-and-file members to sidestep the speaker and force a vote. A procedural motion Wednesday to set up that final House vote won support from nine Republicans."

"While the debate over health care costs absorbed much of the oxygen in Congress in the final weeks of 2025, the rush to take action on the lapsed subsidies is now happening as members find themselves grappling with questions about the direction of U.S. foreign policy following President Trump's actions in Venezuela. That includes an expected vote in the Senate on Thursday on a resolution to block U.S. forces from further engaging in hostilities against Venezuela without congressional authorization."

The House will vote Thursday on a three-year renewal of enhanced health insurance subsidies that expired at the end of last year, with passage expected in the chamber but uncertain in the Senate. A bipartisan group of senators report progress toward a compromise on Affordable Care Act subsidies. The action coincides with questions about U.S. foreign policy following presidential actions in Venezuela and an expected Senate vote on a resolution to limit U.S. forces' engagement without congressional authorization. Lawmakers also face a Jan. 30 deadline to fund the government. A discharge petition, joined by four swing Republicans and Democrats, forced the House vote.

Read at www.npr.org