Brown Votes for Democratic Bill to Restore ACA Tax Credits, Lower Health Care Costs

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel M. Brown (OH-11) voted today for Democratic-led legislation in the House of Representatives to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, which expired on December 31, for another three years. The legislation passed the House and now goes to the Senate. 

The Democratic-led legislation was brought to the floor after House Democrats successfully forced a vote using a discharge petition, a legislative tool that circumvented the stonewalling from the Republican Speaker of the House.  

“Today I proudly voted to lower health care costs for 500,000 Ohioans, including 38,000 people I represent. Let’s be clear about the urgency: These tax credits expired on December 31. It is now January 8, and families are already feeling the impact. For months, we have been fighting to cancel the cuts and lower the costs, and today we are one step closer to making that happen. The cruel cuts enacted by the Trump Administration will mean that millions of Americans lose their health care. We cannot let that happen,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “Even a few Republicans have joined us because they know that Trump has created a health care crisis. People across the country have spoken out and we must continue to fight for them.”

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, because of the legislation an additional eight million Americans will be able to keep their health care coverage due to significant premium savings. 

Approximately 513,517 Ohioans benefit from ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, including 56,800 people in Cuyahoga County and 38,000 people represented by Congresswoman Brown in OH-11. If ACA tax credits are not extended marketplace premiums will increase on average by $705 per year for individuals, with families seeing cost increases in the thousands.

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