Pappas Continues Fight to Prevent Health Care Costs from Skyrocketing for Granite Staters

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement after voting against the Senate-negotiated continuing resolution and government funding package, reiterating his commitment to lowering costs and fighting to make life more affordable for Granite Staters:

“This fight is and always has been about preventing a drastic increase in health care costs and making life more affordable for Granite Staters. As the House finally returns to session, that is where our focus must remain.

“More than 22 million Americans, including tens of thousands of Granite Staters and small businesses, are counting on us to take action to keep health care affordable, so that no family has to choose between putting food on their table or getting the care they need. Speaker Johnson and the Republican caucus must engage in bipartisan negotiations, as is being done in the Senate, and put a bill on the floor that extends the enhanced premium tax credits as soon as possible.

“The longer Republicans delay, the more pressure families, small businesses, and individuals are under to make decisions about their health care coverage. Open enrollment has begun, and individuals are seeing their premiums double or even triple. That’s why I am also calling on the Speaker to bring my legislation to extend the open enrollment period to the floor for a vote as well. With the continuing resolution running through January 30th, there is no guarantee that we will know whether new funding legislation extending the tax credits will be passed or signed into law before families lose the opportunity to change their coverage. We have to take action now to give people the time and flexibility they need to choose their coverage amidst the confusion caused by Republicans’ refusal to negotiate.”

Background: 

Pappas is fighting to pass legislation that would prevent extreme increases in health care premiums next year by extending the enhanced premium tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for Granite Staters and small businesses. 

Today he joined a discharge petition that would require Speaker Johnson to bring legislation to extend the tax credits to an immediate vote on the floor. 

Yesterday, he submitted an amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 that would have added the language of the Right to Enroll Act to extend open enrollment to May 1, and cosponsored an amendment that would have extended the enhanced premium tax credits for three years. Republicans rejected both of these amendments. 

Last week, Congressman Pappas introduced the Right to Enroll Act, which would extend the 2026 open enrollment period through May 1, 2026. Extending the enrollment period would give individuals and families more time to assess Marketplace prices and make an informed decision about health insurance coverage, as he continues to fight to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits.