Fitzpatrick shifts gears to extend ACA tax credits after missing May vote
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) has added his name to a list of cosponsors for the ACA Premium Tax Credits Extension Act – four months after avoiding an opportunity to vote on a similar amendment.
Along with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, Fitzpatrick and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill that aims to prevent millions of Americans from losing health insurance coverage when temporary federal subsidies expire at the end of the year.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, allowing the current subsidies that were originally established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to lapse could result in more than four million Americans losing coverage.
“We don’t need permanent pandemic-era policy – but we do need a responsible off-ramp,” said Fitzpatrick. “Letting these subsidies expire without a plan would put health coverage out of reach for millions of families in my community and across the country. This bipartisan, targeted extension will prevent disruption, protect access, and give Congress the time needed to deliver real, lasting reform. I’ve fought to make health care more affordable and accountable for the people I serve – and this is a necessary step to keep coverage within reach for those who need it most.”
However, the Bucks County Republican had an opportunity to do the same in the spring, when Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford offered an amendment to President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill to make the tax credits permanent.
Fitzpatrick is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, the oldest tax-writing body in the U.S. House of Representatives. During a markup session on the One Big Beautiful Bill, the committee voted down the amendment with all “nay” votes coming from 25 of the 26 Republican members, including fellow Pennsylvania Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-11) and Mike Kelly (R-16).
For a reason still unknown, Fitzpatrick was not present for that particular vote after voting previously during the day. (1:33:40 of the video below).
When asked for a comment on his absence, Fitzpatrick did not respond.
“Brian Fitzpatrick had an opportunity to vote to extend ACA tax credits that lower health care costs, but instead he literally ran away,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesman Eli Cousin. “Fitzpatrick abandoned his own constituents and now their monthly health care premiums could rise by 300%. Bucks and Montgomery County families deserve better than a congressman who doesn’t even bother to show up.”
Fitzpatrick and Suozzi’s legislation would extend the subsidies for one year, punting the issue past the 2026 midterms. The current roster of Republican co-sponsors is composed of some of the most vulnerable incumbents of this election cycle: Along with lead sponsor Jen Kiggans of Virginia, they are Fitzpatrick and Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, Young Kim and David Valadao of California, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Tom Kean of New Jersey, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Mike Lawler of New York.
The CBO also projected that without a permanent extension to the tax credits, gross benchmark premiums for insurance will increase 4.3% in 2026, by 7.7% in 2027, and 7.9%, on average, over the 2026-34 period.
Steve Ulrich is managing editor of Politics PA.
