Bill would extend tax credits that help 225,000 Coloradans afford health care
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the Democratic proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to protect Americans’ health care costs from skyrocketing.
“Once again, Trump and Republicans turned their backs and denied working families affordable health care after THEY created a health care crisis and increased prices with their Big Bad Betrayal Act this summer.
“We won’t stop fighting until every American receives the health care they deserve.”
Senate Democrats proposed a simple extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for three years without any changes to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely.
Last month, Hickenlooper voted NO on the Republicans’ so-called “continuing resolution” to fund the government after Trump and MAGA Republicans shut down the federal government instead of addressing the health care crisis they created. Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress but still shut down the government for 43 days instead of working with Democrats to lower costs and protect Americans’ health care.
During the shutdown, the White House cut food assistance for needy families, blocked solutions for air travel disruptions, fired federal employees, and let the House of Representatives take a weeks-long paid vacation to avoid the release of the Epstein Files.
Hickenlooper has been outspoken since before the government shutdown that Republicans need to address the health care crisis they created. Premiums for nearly 225,000 Coloradans will at least double next year unless Republicans work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits.
In July, Congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations. An estimated 15 million Americans – and 241,000 Coloradans – will lose their health care because of Republicans’ funding cuts.
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