SHAHEEN HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF SOON-EXPIRING ACA ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS ON SMALL BUSINESSES

The following information was released by New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen:

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation to permanently extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, met with New Hampshire small business owners that use the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for their health insurance coverage and are at risk of dramatically higher premiums if the ACA enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this year. Shaheen heard from the owners and employees of Diz's Restaurant, Image 4, Stay Work Play and the Granite State Candy Shoppe. Businesses are already operating on thin margins and the ACA with enhanced premium tax credits have helped them cut costs and provide high quality health care to their employees. Photos from Shaheen's meeting with small businesses can be found HERE.

Following the event, Shaheen spoke with NPR's Here and Now to discuss what she heard from Granite State businesses and underscore the need for Congress to act urgently to extend the soon-expiring credits that have been a lifeline for tens of millions of working Americans. The full audio can be found HERE.

Key quotes from Senator Shaheen:

On her meeting with small business leaders, Senator Shaheen said: "What they all said was that this is the way that they can provide affordable health care for themselves and for their employees. [...] The people who will be most affected [if the tax credits expire] are small business owners, people who live in rural areas, working families and older Americans."

On the risk of a government shutdown, Senator Shaheen said: "We ought to be able to keep the government open and address the concerns that people are going to lose their health insurance. I've talked to a number of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and they agree with me. So, what we need is leadership to sit down and negotiate. I was very disappointed to hear President Trump tell the Republicans in Congress that they shouldn't talk to Democrats. This is not difficult. There are enough people on both sides of the aisle who want to address the concerns of the American people, to keep the government open and to make sure that people can afford health insurance."

On the possibility of a deal coming together, Senator Shaheen said: "I think we all need to point out to the leadership in Congress and to the President that it's in everyone's interest to work together. The partisanship is what I hear most from my constituents that they're frustrated with. When they send us to Washington, they want us to work together to address the country's needs. This is one of those issues where if we don't do this extension, we've got about 4 million people across the country who are going to lose their health insurance, and we've got over 20 million people who are going to see the costs go up, in a way that's dramatic."

Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of enhanced premium tax credits. Shaheen's first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Actbicameral legislation with Senator Baldwin and U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that have lowered health care costs for millions of Americans.