WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- The U.S. House of Representatives late Nov. 12 voted to approve a Senate-passed funding deal that, once passed and signed by President Donald Trump, will bring about the end of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.
A Catholic medical group was among those who expressed concern that the deal leaves the matter of health insurance subsidies to a future vote with an uncertain outcome, just as premiums are increasing.
The House voted 222-209 to approve the package. Once signed by the president, it will end what was the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, which reached its 43rd day Nov. 12. Trump was expected to sign it the same evening.
The deal -- which the Trump administration previously indicated it supported by issuing an official statement of administration policy -- includes three full-year appropriations bills to fund certain departments through the end of the fiscal year, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA manages the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, a major part of the nation's social safety net that provides food support for 42 million Americans and has already been disrupted under the shutdown. A continuing resolution would then fund the rest of the government at status-quo spending levels through Jan. 30.
House Republican leadership -- Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also of Louisiana, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain of Michigan -- argued in a joint statement, "The Democrat Shutdown is finally over thanks to House and Senate Republicans."
"There is absolutely no question now that Democrats are responsible for millions of American families going hungry, millions of travelers left stranded in airports, and our troops left wondering if they would receive their next paycheck," they said, adding, "All of it was pointless and utterly foolish."
The Democratic Caucus for the House wrote in a post on X, "The Republican spending bill fails to address the Republican health care crisis and puts the American people last."
"While Republicans don't care about saving health care, House Democrats will continue fighting to protect access to quality, affordable health care," it said.
Republicans and Democrats previously reached a stalemate in October over the subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's health care law also known as "Obamacare." The subsidies, or tax credits, are used by lower-to-middle-income households to reduce their out-of-pocket costs for enrolling in the program. It is set to expire soon, and Democrats are seeking an extension.
Health policy researcher KFF published an analysis Sept. 30 showing ACA marketplace premiums are expected to spike an average of 114% in 2026 for those relying on health insurance subsidies unless they are extended. A family of four with a household income of $40,000 is expected to pay $840 more annually, while a family of four with a household income of $110,000 is expected to pay more than $3,200.
KFF found approximately 24.3 million Americans access health care through the ACA marketplace, and almost 22.4 million Americans receive subsidies in the form of advanced premium tax credits.
Mercy Sister Mary Haddad, president and CEO of Catholic Health Association of the United States, said in a statement, "With the government finally reopened, Congress should move immediately to extend the health tax credits before they expire at the end of the year."
"Open enrollment is underway, and many families are experiencing significant sticker shock as they search for coverage. For households already stretched thin by inflation and rising everyday expenses, the prospect of even higher health care costs is unsustainable," Sister Haddad said.
"Health care is a basic human right -- not something reserved for those who can afford it," she added. "Congress must act swiftly to ensure that every person has access to affordable, reliable coverage. Extending these tax credits isn't just a necessary step -- it's a vital safeguard for millions of families who depend on stable, affordable health care."
The deal was met with consternation from some Democrats, including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who wrote on X, "People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It's about people's lives."
"Working people want leaders whose word means something," she said.
During a government shutdown, some types of essential government services are exempt, including Social Security payments to older adults, but many other functions of government are suspended. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are subject to furloughs, meaning they must stop working and will not be paid until the federal government reopens. Other consequences of the lengthy shutdown included disruptions to air traffic.
Catholic leaders and ministries have expressed concern about other aspects of the government shutdown that affect the vulnerable, notably the lapse in SNAP federal food assistance, which 1 in 8 Americans rely on.
In anticipation of SNAP disruptions, Catholic Charities USA, the network organization dedicated to carrying out the domestic humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in the United States, recently announced a national fundraising effort to provide an emergency supply of food to Catholic Charities agencies around the country.
