Reed Backs Effort to Reopen Government with 1-Year ACA Fix

WASHINGTON, DC - In yet another effort to urgently end the budget impasse, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is backing a plan that would immediately reopen the government and simultaneously extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits for one year, and create a bipartisan panel to work together on longer-term solutions to reduce health care costs.

"Senate Democrats have offered a simple compromise to quickly pass a government funding bill that includes health care affordability. This is not everything Democrats wanted, but it would immediately reopen the government, help working families, and address rising health care costs while Congress works on a bipartisan, long-term solution. It's time for Republicans to say 'yes' and for President Trump to actually engage and lead his party," said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

The shutdown began on October 1 and open enrollment for health care started on November 1. Under this proposal, insurers could update their rates after Congress passes a simple extension of the tax credits.

The parameters of this commonsense approach are consistent with what Republicans have requested, and it ensures the American people get the immediate health care help they absolutely need.

As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) noted on the floor today: "Since what we are proposing is only a simple extension of current law, the Senate could do this within a few hours. This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability, and begins a process for negotiating reforms to the ACA tax credits for the future. Now, the ball is in Republicans' court. We need Republicans to just say yes."

The clean, one-year extension of the enhanced ACA tax credits would prevent the doubling of health insurance premiums for more than 24 million Americans.

The U.S. Senate is heading toward a likely weekend session.

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