ICYMI: On Fox & Friends, Shaheen Counters False Republican Talking Point on Government Shutdown, Again Calls for Bipartisan Cooperation to Prevent Millions of Americans from Losing Health Insurance

(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),lead author of bicameral legislationthat would permanently extend Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that help tens of millions of Americans afford health insurance, joined Fox News Channel’sFox & Friendsthis morning to discuss her efforts to negotiate with colleagues in both parties to end the government shutdown and keep millions of Americans from losing their health insurance—and millions more from facing doubled premiums—by extending the soon-expiring ACA enhanced premium tax credits.
During the interview, Shaheen pushed back on the false claim from the White House and some Republicans in Congress that the government is shutdown because Democrats want to give free health care to undocumented immigrants. And Senator Shaheen highlighted the substantive and political importance of extending these tax credits for her Republican colleagues – noting that over70% of their beneficiaries live in states carried by President Trump in 2024, and that Trump’s own pollsters have warned of avoter backlash in 2026if Republicans don’t act.ClickHEREto watch the full clip.
Key quotes from Shaheen:
Shaheenis leading effortsin 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 landmarkHealth Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 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.
Earlier this week, Shaheenhosted a spotlight forumon the need for Congress to extend the soon-expiring tax credits that have made health care more affordable for tens of millions of Americans. The spotlight forum, entitled “The Clock is Ticking: Why Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits” featured several Democratic Senators and four witnesses.
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