The Shadow
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – The U.S. House of Representatives featured rules debate on several pieces of legislation. Congressman Griffith led the Republican side in rules debate on the following bills:
H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, funds cost-sharing reduction payments to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs like deductibles and copays. The bill also expands access to Association Health Plans to provide more insurance options. Additionally, the bill requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to disclose more information to group health plans. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), average Obamacare premiums would decrease by 11% for an average benchmark plan should this bill become law.
H.R. 498, the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, prohibits the use federal Medicaid dollars to fund gender transition procedures for people under the age of 18.
H.R. 3492, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, prohibits genital, bodily mutilation and chemical castration for a minor which is generally anyone under the age of 18 years. The bill preserves this care if there is legitimate need for certain procedures.
Congressman Griffith’s opening remarks on Republican plans to make health care more affordable:
“…This bill lowers premiums for Americans, creates more insurance options, brings greater transparency and cuts red tape.
“Unlike our Democrat friends’ plan, our Republican plan actually lowers premiums by double-digits, roughly 11%, according to the data.
“All the Democrats want to do is throw billions more dollars towards insurance companies.
“Instead of attempting to lower the premiums of the individuals who are on the insurance plan the Democrats created, which should be called the Unaffordable Care Act, the Democrats have cried wolf that Republicans are responsible for premiums being unaffordable.
“But let’s get the facts straight.
“Every single Democrat voted in support of the so-called Affordable Care Act. They claimed people’s premiums would be lowered, patients would have more choice, and if you like your doctor, you can keep him or her.
“However, just the opposite has happened.
“Their so-called Affordable Care Act has caused premiums to skyrocket.
“Because of this, Democrats are too afraid to own up to the fact that their health plan has failed to actually lower premiums…”
To conclude a nearly 12-minute speech, Congressman Griffith emphasized:
“…Today you will hear, Mr. Speaker, you will hear my friends and colleagues on the other side, the Democrats, tell you this plan is not meaningful, and that the only way to help individuals is to throw more money at big insurance.
“Throwing more money at the insurance companies, Mr. Speaker, is not the answer.”
Congressman Griffith’s full opening remarks on the rule providing for these three bills can be found here.
During one exchange, Congressman Griffith highlighted the cost-sharing reduction plans in the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.
Votes on these three bills are expected later this week.
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