Shaheen Statement on Vote Against House Republicans’ Continuing Resolution, Vote For Senate Democrats’ Bill to Fund Government and Protect Health Care

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on her votes today against House Republicans’ continuing resolution and in favor of Senate Democrats’ bill to fund the government and protect access to affordable health care:

“I have been clear that my two priorities as we approach the end of the fiscal year are to avoid a government shutdown and to extend the ACA premium tax credits that keep affordable health care within reach for tens of millions of Americans. I voted for the continuing resolution that would accomplish both of those goals. Neither bill passed and it’s now critical for both sides to come together to find a path forward on both fronts.

“It is vital that we extend the ACA premium tax credits that I have championed for years. A report released today indicates that the 24 million Americans who rely on these tax credits – many of whom are small business owners and employees, older Americans and people living in rural communities – would see their health care premiums more than double if the credits expire. Failure is unacceptable, especially at a time when so many Americans are struggling with high costs. Delay is not an option as more and more Americans receive notices of skyrocketing premiums for next year. I have been in intensive conversations with colleagues from both sides of the aisle on how to find a path forward and I’m eager to work with my Republican colleagues to find common ground. The American people are counting on us to get this done.

“We must work quickly across the aisle to fund the government and we need to return to Congress’s bipartisan process of delivering spending packages that provide long-term certainty to our communities and federal agencies.”

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