Governor Polis Applauds U.S. House For Supporting Extension of Federal Health Care Tax Credits; Senate Must Now Act to Protect Coloradans From Skyrocketing Costs

DENVER - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives took an important bipartisan step toward extending the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs), which expired at the end of 2025, advancing legislation that would prevent steep health insurance premium increases for families in Colorado and across the country. The bill must now be taken up by the U.S. Senate in order to become law. In a statement, Governor Polis applauded today's congressional action:

"Today's bipartisan vote in the House is a critical step forward for families who are already struggling with the cost of health care, and it shows there is real momentum to protect people from devastating premium increases. But the job is not done. The Senate must act quickly to pass an extension of these tax credits so families aren't forced to pay double or triple for their health coverage or, worse, forgo health insurance entirely. Coloradans can't afford delay and Congress needs to finish the job," said Governor Jared Polis.

Today's vote saw Colorado House Representatives Crow, DeGette, Hurd, Neguse, and Pettersen vote to extend these critical tax credits. Representatives Boebert, Crank, and Evans all voted against providing their constituents with more affordable health insurance.

Without swift Senate action to finalize an extension of these tax credits, nearly 250,000 Coloradans are facing premium increases ranging from 114% to as much as 300%, and as many as 75,000 Coloradans are at-risk of losing their health insurance altogether.

Since June, Governor Polis has been urging Congress to work to extend the EPTCs. In early September, Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera sent a letter to Colorado's congressional delegation urging them to extend the EPTC to protect the health and financial stability of Colorado families. That same day, Governor Polis convened local leaders in Grand Junction to discuss the tax credit and its impact on local businesses, their employees, and rural communities which will see some of the highest premium increases. On September 15, Governor Polis joined a group of governors from across the country in a letter to congressional leaders underscoring the national stakes. That letter, led by Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, was co-signed by the governors of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. Governor Polis convened a second roundtable on the tax credit with leaders in Colorado Springs. With Republicans in both chambers failing to support an EPTC extension - the extension vote failed the Senate in December and none was brought up in the House since, leading to today's discharge vote - tax credits officially expired on December 31st of last year.

###