Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, there are many flaws in the hastily written Senate Republican Continuing Resolution, before us today. The most egregious is the Continuing Resolution's failure to ``continue'' tax credits for health insurance which have been on the books for 4 years, right at the same time 24 million Americans are enrolling for 2026 insurance coverage in the ACA health exchanges. For millions, the abandonment of premium assistance will result in increases of 100 percent, 200 percent, and even higher. A couple in Enfield, Connecticut, in their 60s, who visited with me last week with their premium notice, are looking at an increase from $300/month to $2,449/ month. The only way they can pay that is to draw funds from their retirement 401k, triggering tax penalties on top of the increased out- of-pocket costs. My office heard from many other constituents with similar shocking increases, whose stories are attached to my written statement.

I also want to alert Members of the House that this new continuing resolution (CR) released this past Saturday November 8, 2025, which funds the government to January 30, 2026, has a serious gap in funding for the Columbia-class submarine program. This program, which has been referred to as the ``number one acquisition priority'' of both the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense, is building new ballistic submarines on a very tight schedule to replace the aging fleet of Ohio-class submarines, who have been on patrol starting in the 1980's. The first two submarines--USS District of Columbia and USS Wisconsin--are under construction and fully funded with appropriations approved by prior Congresses. The third, USS Groton SSBN 828 is ready to start construction, subject to Congress approving the funds.

For this CR, The Navy requested an anomaly for full fiscal year 2026 Columbia program funding to Congressional leadership to keep this program on track. In past years, this has been a normal request in order to make sure production stays on schedule, regardless of late passage of the full Navy budget. Astonishingly, Mr. Speaker, the Senate continuing resolution refused the Navy's request and Columbia program has zero additional funding. This is not a minor bookkeeping concern. The absence of a set aside, or anomaly, to fund construction of SSBN 828, will create serious risk of a halt work order to the production schedule of the Nation's most critical defense program.

The legislative chaos of the last two months, with the House shut down at the Speaker's behest, has suffocated the normal communication and negotiation that would address glaring harm, such as the cut off of health insurance subsidies and steady funding of the Navy's shipbuilding budget. There is a better path, Mr. Speaker, which is to have our chamber exercise its independent constitutional role and protect both the health care and national security of our Nation. Reject this budget and fix these glaring flaws. I include in the Record the following written statements from my constituents: Kristin McShane--Norwich

My name is Kristin McShane and I live in Norwich CT. My husband and I own a martial arts school. We buy our health insurance through the state health exchange and on average pay $850 a month for insurance. We got a letter the other day that our rates will be increasing a lot due to ACA rates expiring. On top of high monthly premiums, we have high deductibles and many things are not covered. We also pay for all vision and dental expenses out of pocket as they are not covered and out of pocket coverage is even more than that. It's hard to have so much of our monthly income going to medical bills and insurance. We haven't been told exactly what our increase will be but we are going to have to make cuts to other parts of our lives to afford them. It's not right or fair to give very earthly people tax breaks while increasing necessary expenses for average hard working people who are barely getting by. I can't remember the last stress free day we have had because of the increasing costs of everything but most especially healthcare. Caleb--Norwich

As a small business owner in Connecticut, I am writing to share my deep concern about the potential loss of the health insurance exchange and the premium tax credits.

For business owners like me, the ACA marketplace (the exchange) is often the only way to get affordable health coverage. The tax credits are not just a small help--they are essential. Without them, many of us, our families, and even our employees would not be able to afford health insurance.

Losing this system would negatively impact our business. It would mean facing impossible choices between our health and our livelihood. It makes it harder to run a stable business, stay productive, and provide for our families.

We are counting on you to protect the health insurance exchange and the tax credits that make coverage possible. Please oppose any efforts that would take away this critical support for Connecticut's small business community. Lee--Mystic

She and her partner buy their insurance through the exchange and she's expecting their premium to go from $700 to approximately $2,500 per month. Her partner left a higher paying job last year to take a different role without insurance, and now they aren't sure if they can make it work. Anonymous--Clinton

I won't be able to afford insurance next year without the ACA. I work for a small business that can't afford to offer benefits. At 54 I will go without coverage and hope I stay healthy. Anonymous--East Haddam

I am a widow who resides with my 23-year-old son who just graduated from college in May '24. He is, and has been, seeking full time employment in the criminal justice field. I have a full-time and part-time job. My full-time employer does not provide medical insurance. Both my son and I are on a medical/dental insurance policy which I purchased through Access Health CT. Due to our household income, we qualify for tax credits. Even with these tax credits, I am currently paying close to $700/month for our insurance. I know that I cannot afford a monthly premium upwards of $1000!

It is a well-known fact that health insurance premiums in the United States are ridiculous! Our healthcare system is broken, now it will become unaffordable! it is a sad statement when other countries medical programs far surpass the United State of America! Jill--Niantic

Current plan is no longer available. New Bronze Anthem plan ($6k deductible) but without dental or vision. Premium is $1,384.15 which is a 14% increase. Premium tax credits are no longer available, leading to a monthly premium of $1,384.15 (258% increase) however, also need to add in a dental plan with premium of $23.56 so final monthly premium for 2026 will be $1,407.71.

Versus 2025 premium of $386.90 means the premium increase is $1,020.81 every month (264%) which is $12,249.72 for the year or 13% of our annual income. Additionally, under the new plan available, copays have been changed to co- insurance and I've lost vision insurance. Anonymous--Enfield

Currently paying $295.70 per month for 2 adults. Going up to $2,449 per month.

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