Dads Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This morning, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Chair and Founder of the Congressional Dads Caucus, led fellow members to demand that House Republican leadership end the ongoing government shutdown and take immediate action to protect affordable health care for millions of American families. 

As the shutdown enters its second week, millions of households are receiving notices that their health insurance premiums are set to skyrocket, some by as much as 150%, because Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. Those credits have helped nearly 20 million Americans afford coverage since being expanded under the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. 

“Republicans chose to shut down the government instead of protecting affordable health care,” said Rep. Gomez. “Families are being forced to decide between rent, groceries, and keeping their coverage. Extending these tax credits is the simplest way to end the shutdown and make sure working parents can afford to take their kids to the doctor.” 

During the press conference, Gomez and members of the Dads Caucus announced that they have sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican leadership urging them to immediately reconvene Congress, reopen the government, and pass a continuing resolution that includes an extension of the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. 

The Dads Caucus emphasized that the expiration of the credits would have devastating consequences nationwide, especially in Republican-led states such as Texas, Florida, West Virginia, and Wyoming, where large populations rely on ACA subsidies to stay insured. According to recent estimates, premiums could rise by an average of 75 percent and roughly 4.2 million Americans could lose coverage altogether. 

A new national KFF poll found that nearly 80 percent of Americans, including most Republicans and a majority of MAGA supporters, support extending the credits. 

“Every parent, regardless of where they live or who they voted for, deserves affordable health care for their family,” Gomez continued. “The Dads Caucus will keep fighting until Republicans stop holding working families’ health care hostage and finally do their jobs.”