House passes bill to stop health care price spike for SMART members — General President Coleman responds

On January 8, the United States House of Representatives voted to pass a clean extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax subsidies, which would stop a huge price hike in health care costs for working Americans.

“For months, SMART members have been calling on Congress to stand up for working families and pass an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Yesterday, the House of Representatives heard our demand, passing a bill that would extend these subsidies for three years,” SMART General President Michael Coleman said. “The fact that representatives of both parties voted for this bill is proof that our issues aren’t Red or Blue — they’re just common sense. Both Republicans and Democrats recognized that these subsidies help the Americans who build and move our country get the care they need.

“The passage of this extension in the House is a huge win for SMART members; without these subsidies, SMART members would have seen their health care costs go up as insurance companies shifted the cost burden onto our strong benefit plans. Now, we need the Senate to pass and send this bill to the president’s desk. SMART applauds the worker allies who voted for this legislation, and we call on every senator who stands with working Americans to quickly pass this law.”