Dear Health Advocates,
Thank you to those who joined us last week for our 2026 Health Action Conference! We were so happy to be in community with the more than 700 people who attended as we learned and strategized around the most important issues facing health advocates in 2026 and beyond. We hope you're feeling refreshed and ready to continue the work as we enter this new year.
Congressional leadership continues its work on a bipartisan spending package, which it must pass by January 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown. The deal boosts defense funding and funds the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Education, and Homeland Security — albeit with funding cuts to some. Senate Democrats have demanded that DHS funding be separated from this bill, which has thrown the package into uncertainty. Additionally, the ACA enhanced premium tax credits will not be included.
Newly Launched! Stop the Bleed: Cut Costs, Not Care
As we have heard from so many Americans across the country, health care costs are way too high. Premiums have skyrocketed because the enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, and corporate greed is at the root of skyrocketing health care costs.
As part of our continuing drumbeat around affordability, Families USA launched a new campaign: Stop the Bleed: Cut Costs, Not Care! The goal of the campaign is to get candidates running for office in 2026 to commit to bringing down the cost of health care. Stop the Bleed will activate Families USA partners and advocates across the country to join us in engaging candidates in this effort.
You can find resources and ways to take action on our brand new campaign page, Stop the Bleed: Cut Costs, Not Care, and check out our campaign launch here.
