The SPEED Act passed the House on Thursday by a vote of 221-196 and is now pending in the Senate. Passage followed a contentious debate on Tuesday, during which an anti-wind amendment was added to the final bill.
As Congress prepares to adjourn for the holidays, end-of-year negotiations over Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies have stalled, making a lapse on January 1, 2026 increasingly likely. Despite a flurry of bipartisan activity in both chambers, lawmakers now concede that no legislative fix will be enacted before the credits expire, setting up a politically consequential start to the new year for millions of Americans who rely on the subsidies for affordable coverage. Below is Constitution Partner’s assessment of where things stand, and what to expect in 2026.
Thursday afternoon, the Senate rejected two competing measures aimed at addressing the impending expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, making a Jan 1 increase in premiums ever more likely. Four Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski, and Josh Hawley, joined Democrats in supporting a three-year extension to the program, but fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed. The Republican plan to partially replace the lapsed subsidies with federally funded tax-advantaged health savings account also failed on a 51 to 48 vote.
The White House is asking Ukraine to accept a new 28-point peace proposal by next week or risk losing U.S. support in its war with Russia. U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll delivered the plan in Kyiv on Thursday to President Zelensky.
The proposal, drafted by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in coordination with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, was leaked to the media Friday morning. The plan was drafted without Ukrainian or other European involvement, and outlines sweeping concessions in exchange for “reliable security guarantees” from the United States.
Last night, the historic 43-day government shutdown finally ended. The final tally was 222 to 209. The House passed legislation that reopens the federal government and funds several agencies but excludes an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. The bill also reinstates federal workers laid off during the shutdown, guarantees back pay for furloughed employees, and prevents further layoffs through the holiday season.
