U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) has signed Discharge Petition No. 10, a measure introduced by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), to bring legislation extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits to a vote in the House of Representatives. These tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year.
Bresnahan was one of four Republicans to sign the petition, joining Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).
“Despite our months-long call for action, leadership on both sides of the aisle failed to work together to advance any bipartisan compromise, leaving this as the only way to protect the 28,000 people in my district from higher costs,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “Families in NEPA cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them. Doing nothing was not an option, and although this is not a bill I ever intended to support, it is the only option remaining. I urge my colleagues to set politics aside, put people first, and come together around a bipartisan deal.”
Last week, Bresnahan also signed two other discharge petitions aimed at forcing votes on similar legislation related to ACA premium tax credits: he was the fourth signer of Discharge Petition No. 12 by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and the eleventh signer of Discharge Petition No. 13 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05).
In addition to supporting these petitions, Bresnahan is cosponsoring several bills that would extend ACA premium tax credits: H.R. 5145 (the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act), H.R. 6501 (the Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Act), and H.R. 6575 (the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act).
A discharge petition is a rarely used procedure in the House that allows a majority—218 members—to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for consideration regardless of party affiliation.
