Brownley, Democratic Women’s Caucus Demand Speaker Johnson Negotiate to Address Health Care Crisis and End the Government Shutdown

Washington, DC - This week, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined her Democratic Women's Caucus colleagues in a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson demanding he bring Republicans to the negotiating table to end the government shutdown. If Congress doesn't reach a bipartisan agreement, women and families will continue to bear the costs of the Republican health care crisis.

Since day one of this Congress, President Trump and Republicans have wreaked havoc on women and families' health care. Republicans' cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, destruction of reproductive health care, and failure to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits make health care more expensive and less accessible for Americans, disproportionately impacting women. Despite controlling the House, Senate, and White House, Republicans have been completely absent during the shutdown. Meanwhile, Democrats have been in Washington and ready to get back to work.

In their letter, Members explained that women will experience disproportionate strain from the expiration of ACA premium tax credits:

"If Republicans refuse to negotiate, women will shoulder the burden of the devastating consequences of the expiring ACA enhanced premium tax credits and historic cuts to Medicaid. Women take on 80% of the family's medical decision-making responsibilities, and almost 50% of women view themselves as the chief financial officer of their household. Therefore, women will predominantly be responsible for navigating the skyrocketing cost of health care for their households and safeguarding their families' access to health care coverage."

The Members also emphasized these cuts to care would create tangible consequences, including preventable deaths:

"As families struggle to afford their increased health care coverage, they will refrain from seeking care. Specifically, women without insurance are less likely to access critical preventive care such as mammograms, pap smears, and routine blood pressure screenings. Women will be denied access to lifesaving care simply because of cost. Consequently, the expiration of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits paired with the cuts to Medicaid and other critical health care services in the Republican budget- or Big Ugly Law-will cause 15 million Americans to lose their health coverage and 20,000 additional preventable deaths each year. Lives are in danger. Women and families should not die because they cannot afford essential health care."

The Members concluded by demanding Republicans come to the negotiation table to reach a bipartisan agreement to preserve affordable health care and open the government:

"We, Democratic Women's Caucus, will make it loud and clear-women's and families' lives are not a topic to be discussed at a later date. The time is now. 78% of American adults want Congress to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, and 83% of Americans view Medicaid favorably. We call on Republicans to act on their constituents' wishes. That means Republicans must come to the negotiating table so we can reach a bipartisan agreement that preserves affordable health care for women and families and end the shutdown."

The full letter can be found here and below:

October 20, 2025

The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Johnson:

As Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus, we write with grave concern regarding the harm that will be inflicted upon women and children if you allow the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits to expire and the Medicaid cuts to go into effect. The average cost of health care will increase over $1,000 each year for the 10 million women currently receiving health care tax credits. All women and families deserve quality, affordable health care-that is not possible in the wake of Republicans' attacks on health care. At this critical moment, some insurers are delaying their notices explaining next year's premium rates because they are waiting for Congress' next move. It is clear that our country is waiting for you and other Republicans to negotiate with Democrats to protect their health care. We call on you, Speaker Johnson, to facilitate negotiations for a bipartisan spending agreement that addresses the health care crisis to prevent further detriment to the health of women and families, and end the shutdown.

If Republicans refuse to negotiate, women will shoulder the burden of the devastating consequences of the expiring ACA enhanced premium tax credits and historic cuts to Medicaid. Women take on 80% of the family's medical decision-making responsibilities, and almost 50% of women view themselves as the chief financial officer of their household. Therefore, women will predominantly be responsible for navigating the skyrocketing cost of health care for their households and safeguarding their families' access to health care coverage.

As families struggle to afford their increased health care coverage, they will refrain from seeking care. Specifically, women without insurance are less likely to access critical preventive care such as mammograms, pap smears, and routine blood pressure screenings. Women will be denied access to lifesaving care simply because of cost. Consequently, the expiration of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits paired with the cuts to Medicaid and other critical health care services in the Republican budget- or Big Ugly Law-will cause 15 million Americans to lose their health coverage and 20,000 additional preventable deaths each year. Lives are in danger. Women and families should not die because they cannot afford essential health care.

The impacts of Republicans' historic $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts and $536 billion in Medicare cuts will deeply harm women's access to health care. One in five women, and nearly half the country's children, are covered by Medicaid. Particularly, maternal health will be eroded by these Medicaid and Medicare cuts. Medicaid is the largest single-payer of maternity care in our country, covering around 40% of births. Without essential Medicaid reimbursements, maternity wards will continue to close, worsening our country's maternal health care crisis. As over 500 health care providers are closing or at risk of closing as a result of the Republican budget, 25 hospitals providing maternity services have already closed or terminated those services. We refuse to watch this happen without taking action.

We, Democratic Women's Caucus, will make it loud and clear-women's and families' lives are not a topic to be discussed at a later date. The time is now. 78% of American adults want Congress to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, and 83% of Americans view Medicaid favorably. We call on Republicans to act on their constituents' wishes. That means Republicans must come to the negotiating table so we can reach a bipartisan agreement that preserves affordable health care for women and families and end the shutdown.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare