Golden votes to reopen government, continue bipartisan negotiations on renewing ACA tax credits
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today for the bipartisan Continuing Resolution to reopen the federal government. The legislation passed in the House 222-209.
Golden’s vote supported the reopening of the federal government, and once again gets critical food and heating assistance funds flowing to Mainers who rely on them. Now, with the shutdown ended, Golden called on Congress to take immediate action to extend expiring ACA premium tax credits that keep health insurance plans affordable for millions of Americans.
“Congress still has a window to pass bipartisan legislation to extend the ACA premium tax credits,” Golden said. “In September, I joined a bipartisan coalition in the House to put forth legislation to extend the credits for one year and now, with the shutdown now over, I urge members of both parties who care about affordable health care to come back to the table so we can get the job done.”
In addition to extending President Biden’s last budget through January 30, 2026, the legislation also passes three of the 12 Fiscal Year (FY26) appropriations bills for the full fiscal year: Agriculture, Legislative Branch; and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.
The spending package includes several of Golden’s priorities, including the funding of SNAP through the entirety of FY26, the reversal of the Trump administration’s mass firing of thousands of federal employees during the shutdown, and Golden’s Community Project Funding Requests for the towns of Holden and Surry.
“The Town of Holden extends its sincere gratitude to our congressional and senatorial leadership for their dedication and bipartisan effort in moving the ball forward to reopen the federal government and ensure the wheels of progress continue to turn for communities across our nation. Their commitment to supporting local governments and investing in infrastructure directly benefits small towns like Holden. We are especially thankful for the funding directed toward constructing a new garage for the Holden Police Department and making vital infrastructure upgrades that will strengthen our community for years to come,” said Benjamin R.K. Breadmore, Town Manager of Holden. “On behalf of our residents, staff, and Town Council, we thank you for recognizing the importance of investing in public safety and local infrastructure — key components that keep towns like Holden safe, resilient, and ready for the future.”
“Surry is a small town with a large land mass. Wildfires pose a significant risk in our area, especially in dry periods. This new truck is replacing a 40-year-old vehicle. We will soon be able to fight fires more effectively and efficiently,” said Mary Allen, Chair of the Surry Select Board. “Rep. Golden and his staff have been concerned with our outdated trucks and agreed to support our efforts to modernize our fire department. The Town of Surry is grateful to Rep. Golden and his staff for their work on our behalf.”
The House vote follows the Senate’s 60-40 passage of the measure on Monday. Once signed into law by President Trump, it will end the longest federal government shutdown in American history.
BACKGROUND:
Congressman Golden is an original cosponsor of the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act. The bill would extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits for one year, creating time for negotiation over a permanent solution to reduce the cost of premiums on the individual marketplace.
Given the makeup of the Senate, where Republicans need Democratic votes to pass legislation through regular order, bipartisanship is the only path forward to address the looming price spikes on the individual marketplace. Golden’s bill was introduced in September by a coalition that spans members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, the Republican Main Street Caucus, and the bipartisan Problem Solvers’ Caucus.
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