WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) took to the Senate floor to rail against Republicans’ repeated attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the Trump Administration’s effort to terminate health insurance for 1.8 million Americans and raise costs on millions more. Today, Senator Baldwin voted to reverse the Trump Administration’s rule that forces Americans to jump through more hoops to get insurance on Healthcare.gov, shortens the enrollment period, and will lead to even more Americans having their health care terminated. This rule comes after Republicans and Donald Trump failed to extend tax breaks that help 22 million Americans afford their care. January 15th marks the final day of Open Enrollment to purchase any coverage for 2026.
WATCH: Senator Baldwin speaks on the Senate Floor about Republicans’ attacks on the ACA
In August, the Trump Administration finalized a rule that will raise the annual cost of insurance on 23 million Americans, shorten the annual open enrollment periods, and introduce more red tape for eligible Americans to get coverage, including by requiring people to submit more documentation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that the rule will cause up to 1.8 million Americans to lose their ACA Marketplace coverage this year. This rule comes as the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits that helped 22 million Americans afford their coverage last year expire, which is estimated to terminate four million Americans’ insurance and jack up costs for millions more.
For months, Senator Baldwin has been pushing to extend these tax credits and leads legislation that would make them permanent. In November, Senator Baldwin forced a Senate vote to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits for one year. Senate Republicans voted to stop Baldwin’s effort to add her amendment that would have extended the tax credits to the government funding bill before the Senate.
Last year, Senator Baldwin traveled the state, making stops in Weston, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Mount Horeb to highlight how the expiration of these tax credits will hurt working families, small businesses, and farmers. She’s also hosted roundtables with constituents while in D.C., including with Wisconsinites from La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Milwaukee, in addition to meeting with Wisconsin farmers who use the Affordable Care Act.
A full recording of Senator Baldwin’s floor speech is available here.
