RELEASE: Gottheimer Calls for Bipartisan Action to Reopen Government, Extend ACA Tax Credits to Make Health Care Affordable
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, October 1, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement:
“For weeks, far-right extremists in Congress have refused to work in a bipartisan way to responsibly fund the government and protect families from surging health care costs. That’s why I’ve been sounding the alarm on the looming health care crisis — with Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. If Congress fails to act, 22 million Americans will see higher health insurance premiums, including more than 454,000 people in New Jersey. Nearly 200,000 people in Jersey will lose their health care because they just can’t afford it. A family of four in Bergen County with a household income of around $130,000 will see a premium increase of more than $20,000 a year. They are already struggling with higher child care, food, and energy bills. This is just an extra kick in the face.
This is on top of what President Trump’s Big F’ed up bill did with the largest cut to Medicaid in history — ripping care away from more than 12 million people, including seniors, and children. Two-thirds of seniors in nursing homes rely on Medicaid. Children will lose school breakfast and school lunch.
Instead of working across the aisle to lower health care costs and protect Jersey families, the far-right in Congress has now chosen to shut down the government. As a result, service members will work without pay, veterans will lose access to critical counseling and transition assistance, seniors will lose access to Meals on Wheels, travelers will face delays, and mothers and infants will lose access to food.
To be clear: children who rely on life-saving medications, seniors on fixed incomes, and families who are already struggling will be forced off their insurance because of these unaffordable costs. These aren’t red issues or blue issues — these are pocketbook issues.
I’m hopeful that Republicans will come to the table, work with us to reopen the government, and extend these critical ACA premium tax credits. Jersey families deserve certainty and affordable health care — not higher premiums and chaos. As a Problem Solver, I’ll keep fighting to bring everyone together and get this done for our families.”
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