As Congress prepares to adjourn for the holiday break, the fate of crucial health care subsidies hangs in the balance, with significant implications for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Both the House and Senate cast their final votes of the year, leaving unresolved the expiration of ACA subsidies set for December 31. The House managed to pass a GOP-led health care package on Wednesday, but it faces a dead end in the Senate, which has no plans to consider it.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has committed to prioritizing health care when Congress reconvenes, spurred by moderate Republicans who have sided with Democrats in a discharge petition that seeks a clean three-year extension of the subsidies. "It’s inevitable that we'll revisit the health care issue after the break," Johnson remarked, signaling a hectic start to the new year.

The Democrats' discharge petition strategy involves a shell bill, potentially incorporating Senate-approved language, although it remains uncertain what could garner the required 60 Senate votes to pass. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a key player in these negotiations, emphasized his commitment to advancing a clean extension.

Behind the scenes, efforts continue to forge a bipartisan consensus that could clear both legislative chambers, but substantive progress is not expected until January. This delay sets a challenging timeline, with Congress having less than a month to address the next funding cliff upon their return.

Fitzpatrick, leading the charge for an ACA solution, expressed his frustration with the decision to let the subsidies lapse. "I’m going to exhaust every single option I have to get this done," Fitzpatrick told POLITICO. Despite his determination, the path forward remains fraught with difficulty, especially since an extension could not be secured before the subsidies' expiration.

Interest groups have already begun a fierce blame game over the failure to extend the subsidies—a critical issue that could heavily influence the health care debate leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.

Additional Congressional Developments:

Senate GOP leaders have made progress with a package of government funding measures, now awaiting Democratic review. Discussions are also ongoing regarding a ban on congressional stock trading, with Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett pushing for action.

Furthermore, a contentious debate over broadband funding is expected, with Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker proposing a bill to allocate significant resources to states, contrasting efforts by other senators who seek to retract the funding entirely.

As Congress heads into the holiday season, these unresolved issues promise a packed and potentially divisive agenda upon their return in January.