Summary: Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Don Bacon (R-NE) told CBS’s Face the Nation they support a pragmatic, two-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits with an income phase-out between $200,000 and $400,000 to prevent a sharp rise in January premiums. They said the move would protect roughly 22 million people who rely on marketplace subsidies and could deliver significant monthly savings for many families while buying time for bipartisan, longer-term reform. The pair also addressed insurer market strain, the congressional push to release Jeffrey Epstein records, and a reported AI-enabled cyber espionage campaign tied to Chinese actors that targeted about 30 companies.
Suozzi & Bacon Push Two-Year Extension of ACA Premium Tax Credits to Avert January Insurance Shock
Summary: Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Don Bacon (R-NE) told CBS’s Face the Nation they support a pragmatic, two-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits with an income phase-out between $200,000 and $400,000 to prevent a sharp rise in January premiums. They said the move would protect roughly 22 million people who rely on marketplace subsidies and could deliver significant monthly savings for many families while buying time for bipartisan, longer-term reform. The pair also addressed insurer market strain, the congressional push to release Jeffrey Epstein records, and a reported AI-enabled cyber espionage campaign tied to Chinese actors that targeted about 30 companies.
01:54 AM, 11/17/2025Politics
Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Don Bacon (R-NE) on Face the Nation, Nov. 16, 2025
MARGARET BRENNAN: We begin today with two members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus: Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska. One out of every five dollars spent in the U.S. goes to health care. The temporary, expanded premium tax credits enacted during the COVID era are set to expire at the end of the month — a change that could affect roughly 22 of the 24 million people who rely on the program. What can be done in the next six weeks to prevent costs from rising sharply in January?
REP. DON BACON: We need a short-term extension of those tax credits so premiums don’t spike. Neither Republicans nor Democrats want sudden premium hikes. I’ve worked with Tom and other members across the aisle to find common ground: a temporary extension paired with reforms such as income caps and stronger guarantees that subsidies go directly toward lowering premiums. Today about a third of the money doesn't translate into lower monthly premiums. This extension would buy time to craft a longer-term, bipartisan solution to rising health-care costs.
Key proposal: A two-year extension of enhanced premium tax credits with a phase-out for households earning between $200,000 and $400,000.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Suozzi, that $200k–$400k phase-out affects fewer than 10% of recipients. What does this accomplish for affordability and fairness?
REP. TOM SUOZZI: The proposal preserves meaningful relief for people earning under $200,000, who represent the vast majority of beneficiaries. Affordability is voters’ top concern. For many families, the extension could mean substantial savings — in some cases up to roughly $1,000 a month — and the $200k–$400k band prevents a hard cutoff by phasing benefits rather than ending them abruptly. That keeps support targeted while protecting most current recipients.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How much Democratic support exists for this compromise?
REP. SUOZZI: I expect strong Democratic backing. Directing assistance toward low- and middle-income households is consistent with Democratic priorities, and the proposal would preserve affordability for the overwhelming majority of those currently receiving help.
REP. BACON: From the GOP perspective, it’s reasonable to question why very high earners would receive large subsidies. That value judgment is why income limits are part of the compromise framework.
Toward a longer-term fix
Both lawmakers said the extension is a stopgap and urged bipartisan talks on structural reforms. Bacon suggested targeted approaches — for example, subsidizing high-risk individuals in a separate pool — that could lower premiums for healthier enrollees. Suozzi said Democrats should be open to reforms that mend, not repeal, the Affordable Care Act, and emphasized the need for calm negotiation rather than partisan brinkmanship.
Insurer pullbacks and market strain
The lawmakers noted insurer exits and warnings of losses — including Aetna leaving some ACA markets and CVS reporting sizable potential losses — as evidence the market is under stress and needs policy attention to ensure competition and affordability.
Other issues raised
Jeffrey Epstein files: Brennan asked whether congressional focus on releasing Epstein-related records distracts from health-care priorities. Suozzi said he will likely vote to release the files but reiterated his legislative priorities: affordability, immigration, taxes, crime and health care. Bacon urged moving quickly to vote and praised Oversight Committee releases of thousands of pages of material, saying transparency is essential.
AI-enabled cyber espionage: Bacon, who chairs the House Cyber Subcommittee, discussed a recent Anthropic disclosure alleging that state-sponsored Chinese actors used AI tools to automate intrusions against about 30 companies. He warned that China has supplanted Russia as the primary cyber threat and expressed concern about U.S. readiness: key leadership vacancies at U.S. Cyber Command and NSA and reductions in resources for CISA, which he said weaken defenses while adversaries grow more capable.
Editor’s note: The enhanced premium tax credits referenced in this interview are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.