REP. SYKES HELPS DELIVER LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS

The following information was released by the office of Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes:

Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) helped the House of Representatives pass legislation to restore and extend the Affordable Care Act's premium tax credits for three years, providing long-overdue relief to millions of Americans and tens of thousands of families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District who saw their health insurance costs rise after the credits expired at the end of last year.

Rep. Sykes, who previously signed the discharge petition to force a vote on the stalled legislation, praised the House's action and emphasized the real-world consequences of congressional inaction.

"Families across Ohio and the country are already feeling the pain of higher premiums because Republicans failed to act before these tax credits expired," said Rep. Sykes. "Today's vote is a critical step toward fixing that mistake, lowering health care costs, and restoring access to affordable coverage for people who did everything right and still got hit with higher bills."

The enhanced premium tax credits, first expanded during the pandemic, helped millions of Americans afford health coverage through the ACA Marketplace. Nearly 29,000 people in the district rely on these subsidies, and four out of five previously paid $10 per month or less. Many families now face steep premium increases.

Rep. Sykes supported the discharge petition after House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans blocked the bill from moving forward through the normal committee process.

"Health care should not be a political bargaining chip," Rep. Sykes added. "This vote shows what's possible when we put people over politics. Now the Senate must act quickly so families can see relief as soon as possible."

By passing this legislation, the House has taken decisive action to reverse premium hikes, stabilize the ACA marketplaces, and give families certainty they can count on when budgeting for health care costs.

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.