1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I urge you to vote NO on the emerging Senate deal to end the government shutdown unless it includes a guaranteed vote on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. The current proposal, which only promises a future vote on ACA subsidies after the government reopens, is insufficient and risks leaving millions of Americans without crucial healthcare support. The potential agreement, which includes a three-bill package of full-year funding for veterans programs, food aid, and certain agencies, along with a stopgap funding bill until January 30, falls short of addressing critical healthcare needs. While it allocates $153 billion for veterans programs and Pentagon infrastructure, and $153.3 billion in discretionary funding for the VA and defense programs, it fails to secure immediate action on ACA subsidies. The ACA subsidies are not a bargaining chip to be dangled for future consideration. They are essential for millions of Americans who rely on them to access affordable healthcare. A mere promise to vote on these subsidies after the shutdown ends is not a guarantee and leaves too much uncertainty for constituents who depend on this assistance. Furthermore, this deal appears to be a capitulation to pressure rather than a balanced compromise. As some progressive Democrats have rightly pointed out, accepting this framework without concrete assurances on ACA subsidies would be a mistake. I implore you to stand firm and demand a simultaneous vote on ACA subsidies as part of any agreement to end the shutdown. The health and financial security of countless Americans hang in the balance. Do not let the urgency to reopen the government overshadow the equally pressing need to protect affordable healthcare access. Your vote can make the difference between a deal that truly serves the American people and one that leaves critical issues unresolved. Please vote NO on this incomplete deal and insist on including a guaranteed vote on ACA subsidies as part of the shutdown resolution package.