House Advances Dem-Led Bill To Restore Expired Healthcare Subsidies
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced Democrat-led legislation that would reinstate expired healthcare subsidies, as both parties maneuver ahead of November’s congressional elections amid concerns over rising costs.
Nine Republicans broke with their party and joined 212 Democrats to move the bill toward a final vote expected Thursday, Newsmax reported.
The Senate has already rejected the measure, but supporters say a successful House vote could increase pressure for a bipartisan compromise.
The Democratic push comes as just 33% of voters approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, with healthcare and other living costs ranking among top voter concerns.
Democrats have made healthcare affordability a central issue in their effort to retake control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
Trump has publicly mocked the term “affordability,” prompting concerns among Republican strategists that the rhetoric could hurt the party politically.
On Tuesday, Trump urged Republicans to oppose the Democratic healthcare bill while also encouraging flexibility on abortion policy.
The legislation would restore healthcare subsidies for roughly 24 million Americans who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act, which expired at the end of 2025.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that without the subsidies, about 100,000 additional people would lose coverage each year and federal spending would drop by $36 billion over a decade.
Outside analysts warn that some individuals could see their healthcare costs double if the subsidies are not renewed.
Under the Democratic proposal, the CBO estimates that 3.8 million more people would gain coverage, while federal spending would increase by $350 billion over the next 10 years.
Although Democrats do not control either chamber, four Republicans from swing districts joined them last month to force a vote on the issue over objections from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
House Republicans passed an alternative proposal last month that would reduce overall subsidies, lower costs for some enrollees, raise costs for others, and delay implementation until 2027.
The House of Representatives also passed a bill this month that would make it easier to get federal permits to build infrastructure for AI projects. Big Tech companies like OpenAI, Micron, and Microsoft support the bill, which is called the SPEED Act.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 221 to 196, despite a conservative revolt that almost killed it in a procedural vote. The Senate will now look at the bill, and it will probably be part of a bigger discussion about changing the rules for permits.
Supporters of the SPEED Act say that it is important to help the U.S. get ahead of China and other global competitors in the race to become the leader in AI.
“The electricity we will need to power AI computing for civilian and military use is a national imperative,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., the bill’s sponsor and chair of the House Natural Resources Committee.
The 1969 National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal reviews for projects that would affect the environment, would be reformed by the SPEED Act.
It would shorten the statute of limitations for NEPA litigation from the current six years to 150 days and tighten the deadlines for NEPA reviews.
Recent permitting delays for Democratic-backed clean energy projects have garnered bipartisan support for permitting reform.
As AI has become a major industry and power-hungry data centers have put more strain on the electric grid, pressure has grown on Congress to take action.
The SPEED Act would enable the United States to be “nimble enough to build what we need, when we need it,” according to Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, the bill’s Democratic cosponsor.
However, the majority of Democrats opposed the SPEED Act and insisted that any permitting bill reverse President Donald Trump’s efforts to stifle offshore wind and other renewable energy sources.
