Brown Votes Against Republican Spending Bill, Calls for Legislation to Cancel Health Care Cuts

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) voted against the government funding bill brought to the floor by Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Wednesday. The bill funds the government through January 30, 2026, with no legislative action to extend Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, before those credits expire at the end of the year. Last night, the Republican-led House Rules Committee rejected a Democratic amendment to extend ACA tax credits for three years. 

The legislation also includes a provision to provide direct cash payments of $500,000 or more to Republican Senators who were investigated for their actions related to the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

Because of cuts to the Affordable Care Act, over 50,000 people in Cuyahoga County will see significant price increases for their ACA health care coverage for 2026 plans. This summer, President Trump also signed the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, jeopardizing the health care coverage of over 40,000 people represented by Brown in OH-11. In Cuyahoga County approximately 35,000 Ohioans will be subject to new Medicaid work requirements beginning next year.  

Congresswoman Brown releases the following statement: 

“Ohio cannot afford Trump’s agenda. While people suffer, Trump and his MAGA allies are focused on bailouts, ballrooms, and tax cuts for the wealthy. This Republican spending bill is a bad deal for Northeast Ohio: it locks in Trump’s health care cuts that will create catastrophic price increases and cause people to lose coverage. 

“President Trump’s actions during this government shutdown have been shameful. He illegally withheld SNAP benefits, cancelled thousands of flights, and attempted to fire thousands of workers. 

“For the past seven weeks I have heard a resounding message from Northeast Ohio: protect our health care. With this vote, I stand shoulder to shoulder with the people I represent. The numbers are staggering: 38,000 people in my district alone will see huge price increases for their insurance coverage. America’s health care crisis is here – and Congress must act. 

“Trump’s greed and Republican cuts are breaking health care in America. There is still time for President Trump and Republicans in Congress to do the right thing, listen to the people, and keep health care affordable.” 

America’s Health Care Crisis: What’s at Stake in Northeast Ohio

• ACA Plan Price Increases:
  • If ACA Enhanced Premium tax credits expire, ACA marketplace premiums will increase on average by $705 per year for individuals, with families seeing cost increases in the thousands.
  • According to this calculator, a family of four in Cleveland with a household income of $56,000 a year (the median income in OH-11) would see their premiums increase by $2,400 in 2026, a 100% increase.  
    
     
• How Many People Will Pay More Due to ACA Cuts:
  • Approximately 513,517 Ohioans benefit from ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits
  • That includes 56,800 people in Cuyahoga County and 38,000 people represented by Congresswoman Brown in OH-11
    
     
• Medicaid Cuts Starting in 2026:
  • The Republican Budget Bill signed in July included over $1 trillion in health care cuts, including the largest cuts to Medicaid in history.
  • According to analysis from the Joint Economic Committee, over 25,000 people in OH-11 will lose Medicaid coverage and over 17,000 will lose ACA coverage due to Republican health care cuts.
  • In Cuyahoga County, approximately 35,000 people could lose Medicaid coverage. 

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