STANSBURY VOTES TO EXTEND HEALTHCARE ACA CREDITS FOR THREE YEARS; VOTES TO PASS VITAL FUNDING BILL FOR NEW MEXICO; INTRODUCES HEALTHCARE BILL TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES
WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) voted today to pass a clean, three-year extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits out of the House of Representatives to ensure millions of Americans do not lose access to healthcare after they expired on Dec 31, 2025. HR1834, to extend the credits passed by 230 votes, with 196 Republicans voting no, and now goes to the Senate for potential negotiation. Rep Stansbury also voted today to pass HR6938, a bipartisan government funding bill to fund vital agencies through the remainder of the 2026 federal fiscal year, including funding for the Department of the Interior, Indian Health Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and public safety and science programs important to New Mexico’s economy, tribal communities, public lands, and environment.
The ACA legislation was brought to the House Floor by Democrats after Republican leadership of the House refused to allow a vote. Democrats filed the legislation under a discharge petition, a procedural tool to force a vote on legislation after Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring the lifesaving bill to the floor in December. As a result of these efforts, a bipartisan group in the Senate has revived negotiations to pass an ACA extension.
“For months, my Democratic colleagues and I have been fighting to restore these lifesaving tax credits and stop healthcare costs from skyrocketing for families in New Mexico and beyond,” said Rep. Stansbury. “Today’s vote reiterates what we have made clear all along: healthcare is a human right, and all Americans deserve affordable care. Now, it is up to Senate Republicans and President Trump to decide if they will stand with working families or continue to make life even more difficult for everyday families.”
In New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, thousands of families are expected to be impacted by Republicans’ failure to extend ACA subsidies. While Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico leadership thankfully approved millions to fill the financial gap for those covered on the New Mexico ACA exchange (BeWell) through June 30, federal action is required for a long-term fix across the country.
Rep. Stansbury also took action to tackle the healthcare workforce crisis today by reintroducing legislation with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), called the Public Health Nursing Act. This bill would help address the health crisis in New Mexico and nationwide by revitalizing by bolstering the public health nursing workforce, authorizing $5 billion a year over the next 10 years to recruit, hire, train, pay, and retain licensed registered nurses.
“Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system,” said Rep. Stansbury. “It’s way past time to overhaul our healthcare system and prioritize the needs of our communities and the healthcare workforce. The Public Health Nursing Act is a crucial step toward addressing the healthcare shortage in New Mexico and across the country, by rebuilding and sustaining a robust public health nursing workforce and investing in the people and caregivers that make it happen.“
This legislation is particularly needed in light of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s continued assault on public health infrastructure. This includes his announcement this week that the vaccine schedule for children would be revised, putting millions of children at risk for preventable disease. Secretary Kennedy has routinely ignored the science, spread misinformation, and weakened the healthcare workforce through his management of the federal government’s largest health agency.
“I am proud to stand with the science in condemning Secretary Kennedy’s reckless vaccine policy, which will lead to preventable deaths of American children,” said Rep. Stansbury. “I thank the New Mexico Department of Health and Governor Lujan Grisham for maintaining our immunization schedule in line with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to protect New Mexican children. To support New Mexico’s strongstance and ensure nurses are available to administer vaccinations, I am introducing the Public Health Nursing Act to further bolster our public health workforce. We cannot entrust children’s health to a vaccine skeptic who promotes conspiracy theories.”
Watch a recording of the press call here.
Other topics discussed in addition to the ACA extension include:
- House passage of the Government funding bill today,
- Senate passage of a Venezuelan War Powers bill,
- Subpoena of three additional witnesses in the Congressional Epstein investigation
- The shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE and the impeachment of Secretary Noem
- And a memoriam of the passing of Lt. Governor Roberto Mondragón, a lifelong public servant who dedicated his life to the people of New Mexico.
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