US Democrats and Republicans draft plan to restore Congress operations

A centrist group of lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties has presented a joint proposal aimed at breaking the political stalemate that has paralyzed the House of Representatives for over a month. According to the publication, the initiative includes extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and introducing a series of anti-corruption reforms. The plan’s authors, Don Bacon, Tom Suozzi, Jeff Hurd, and Josh Gottheimer, said their goal is to prove that bipartisanship is still possible, even amid political gridlock. They proposed extending ACA premium tax credits for two more years and gradually phasing out income caps for individuals earning between $200,000 and $400,000 annually.

The draft also contains new accountability measures, such as requiring ACA exchanges to verify recipients’ eligibility to prevent fraud and improve transparency in spending.

"Congress is gridlocked, and too many Americans have lost faith that we can work together," the lawmakers said in a statement. "But here's the truth: Democrats and Republicans can sit down, listen to one another, and find common ground, especially when it comes to lowering health care costs."

A Democratic spokesperson said the proposal "deserves attention," while Republicans are reportedly considering additional income verification rules for ACA participants.

Government shutdown background

The US government shutdown has now lasted more than a month, triggered by the lack of an approved funding bill for the new fiscal year. Political divisions between the two parties have halted the operations of numerous federal agencies.

This shutdown has already surpassed the 21-day crisis of 1995–1996, becoming the second-longest in US history. The record remains the 35-day shutdown of 2018–2019, but analysts warn that the current one could exceed even that.

Economists estimate daily losses to the US economy at around $15 billion, with agencies such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) forced to furlough about 1,400 employees.