• Health care plans fail: The Senate rejected a GOP-backed plan that focused on expanding health savings account eligibility without extending key tax credits, and also denied a Democratic proposal to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three more years. Some centrists are hopeful that real bipartisan work can begin now that these proposals have failed.
• Looming impacts: If the enhanced subsidies lapse this month, enrollees could see monthly payments soar in January, and roughly 2 million more people are expected to be uninsured next year, the Congressional Budget Office said.
• Global threats House hearing: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other top Trump security officials defended the administration’s immigration and national security policies as they faced lawmakers’ questions. A top Democrat called on Noem to resign, accusing her of putting her own interests above the agency she directs.
• Tanker seized: Meanwhile, the US has seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, upping President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign on the country amid bipartisan calls to release footage of strikes on alleged drug boats.
The Senate rejected a Democratic bill to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for another three years, just weeks before they are set to expire on January 1.
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