#NNPA BlackPress

ACA Deadline Nears as 20 million Brace for Higher Health Costs

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Affordable Care Act subsidies that help more than 20 million people pay for health insurance are set to expire at the end of the month.

Published

6 months ago

December 2, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The Affordable Care Act subsidies that help more than 20 million people pay for health insurance are set to expire at the end of the month. Congress is running out of time to prevent steep premium hikes across the country, and families who rely on marketplace coverage face growing uncertainty while political leaders argue over what to do next.

President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals on whether he will support a short-term extension. “Somebody said I want to extend it for two years. I do not want to extend it for two years. I would rather not extend them at all,” said Trump in an exchange with reporters on Air Force One. He added that “some kind of an extension may be necessary to get something else done because the unaffordable care act has been a disaster. It is a disaster,” he said during the weeklong scramble that followed the shutdown agreement.

Inside Congress, Republicans are split. Some want new income limits and other restrictions on the subsidies. Others are pushing broader overhauls built around individual health spending accounts and different benefit structures. Negotiations were jolted when word leaked that the White House had considered a temporary extension framework, only for the plan to be shelved after conservative backlash.

Moderate Republicans say any serious proposal must have the president’s backing. “The president has got to sign whatever we do, otherwise it is a legislative exercise,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who is working on a bipartisan plan that mirrors elements of the shelved White House framework.

Democrats argue that the public is on their side. They point to KFF polling that showed 78 percent of Americans support extending the ACA tax credits, including 59 percent of Republicans. They also note that an estimated 22 million marketplace enrollees currently receive subsidies to lower their monthly premiums.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said Senate Democrats will force a vote before the end of the year under a deal struck to reopen the government. “That vote will happen. And whether it will pass is in the hands of Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Klobuchar stated in a televised interview.

The House is a tougher road. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has declined to commit to any vote on extending the subsidies and has criticized the current credits. He called the ACA tax credit structure a “boondoggle,” said Johnson earlier this month.

Democrats warn that failure to act will put real money on the line for families and may reshape next year’s midterm campaigns. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said internal polling has already made the stakes clear for Republicans. “The pollsters have obviously told them that they are going to get their clocks cleaned if they do not fix the health care mess they created,” he remarked. “They may hate the ACA and Barack Obama so much they are willing to lose an election.”

D.C. ACA Subsidy Deadline Story

D.C. Region Faces ACA Shock as Subsidy Deadline Closes In

The looming expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies threatens to send insurance premiums sharply higher for residents across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Washington region sits at the center of a national political fight, but the consequences for local families could be immediate if Congress does not act before the end of the month.

Kaiser Family Foundation data show that more than 682,000 people in the four jurisdictions bought coverage on the ACA exchange this year. The share receiving advance premium tax credits includes 28 percent of enrollees in D.C., 78 percent in Maryland, 87 percent in Virginia, and 98 percent in West Virginia.

For older households in the region, the numbers are stark. A 60-year-old couple with an income of $85,000 would face an average monthly premium increase of $1,900 if subsidies disappear, according to Kaiser. In Virginia, the same couple would see increases between about $1,200 and $1,400 per month. In Maryland, the jump would still be roughly $1,100 a month. District families who rely on marketplace coverage are in similar danger if Congress lets the credits lapse.

The Senate is expected to vote in early December, honoring a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, who promised Democrats a floor vote to end the 43-day shutdown. That agreement gave the Democratic caucus the right to bring forward an ACA-related bill this month.

The House remains the major roadblock. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has refused to guarantee a vote on any extension and has criticized the ACA tax credits. Johnson referred to the subsidies as a “boondoggle,” said Johnson during the recent funding fight.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, is trying to force the issue. Jeffries filed a discharge petition to bring a three-year extension bill to the floor and has warned colleagues that time is short. “There are just 13 legislative days left before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire,” wrote Jeffries in a letter to House members. “We only need a handful of Republicans to join us in order to save the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans,” said Jeffries.

Some Republicans in swing districts have backed shorter extensions or bipartisan compromise bills with new eligibility limits. One of the key negotiators is Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who has been working with Democrats on a plan that mirrors elements of a leaked White House framework. “The president has got to sign whatever we do, otherwise it is a legislative exercise,” said Fitzpatrick.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said Senate Democrats will not let the issue slide. “That vote will happen. And whether it will pass is in the hands of Donald Trump and the Republicans,” said Klobuchar during an appearance on CNN.

President Donald Trump has also added uncertainty. “Somebody said I want to extend it for two years. I do not want to extend it for two years. I would rather not extend them at all,” said Trump while flying on Air Force One. He also said that “some kind of an extension may be necessary to get something else done because the unaffordable care act has been a disaster. It is a disaster,” said Trump as aides weighed how to handle the deadline.

Democrats warn that communities in and around the nation’s capital will feel the pain if the subsidies expire and premiums spike. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said Republicans are allowing their hostility toward the law and its namesake to override political self-interest. “The pollsters have obviously told them that they are going to get their clocks cleaned if they do not fix the health care mess they created. They may hate the ACA and Barack Obama so much they are willing to lose an election,” said Murphy.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

Up Next

FBI Report Warns of Fear, Paralysis, And Political Turmoil Under Director Kash Patel

Don't Miss

It’s Time to Dream Bigger About What School Could Be

Stacy M. Brown

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled

BLACKPRESS USA NEWSWIRE — “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 days ago

June 8, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow.

The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.

“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report. “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”

Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:

• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.

• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.

• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.

• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.

The report also includes state-by-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.

Click the link to learn more: Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025.

The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy

ROLLING OUT — Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport.
The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

The seven-time major champion read frustration, not a real goodbye, in the world No. 1’s words

By David Kesiena | Rolling Out

When the world’s top-ranked player said she wanted to walk away from the sport, Venus Williams chose empathy over alarm.

Aryna Sabalenka’s blunt remark after her French Open quarterfinal collapse rattled plenty of fans, but Williams heard something different in it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion treated the comment as the raw reaction of a hurting athlete rather than a serious signal about her future.

The collapse that triggered the comment

Sabalenka looked headed for a routine win over Diana Shnaider. She took the opening set 6-3 and built a commanding lead in the second, climbing to 4-1 and later serving for the match at 5-4 while sitting just two points from victory.

Then everything unraveled. Shnaider stormed back to steal the second set 7-5 and bageled the world No. 1 in the third, with Sabalenka dropping 12 of the final 13 games in gusty conditions that reached around 26 mph. The 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 result sent Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal and extended Sabalenka’s long wait for a maiden Roland Garros title.

In the aftermath, Sabalenka did not soften her feelings. She told reporters she had no thoughts and no emotions left and felt like quitting on the spot. She described being stuck in a deep, dark mental hole during the match, unable to find her way back.

What Venus Williams said about Sabalenka

Williams reacted with understanding. She admitted the moment made her sad and said she had been swept up in Sabalenka’s emotions, feeling a surge of empathy for her. She praised the Belarusian for laying everything bare on court, where every feeling shows.

Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport. Rather than scold her, Williams offered a gentle observation about the rhythm of professional tennis. She suggested players might benefit from a little more time to gather themselves before stepping in front of the cameras, a quiet acknowledgment that athletes are routinely asked to dissect painful defeats before the sting has faded.

Sabalenka walks it back

The story did not end on that bleak note. Within days, Sabalenka signaled she was not actually quitting, framing the press-conference outburst as heat-of-the-moment honesty rather than a plan. At the time of the loss she had also left the door open, saying she would see how she felt in a few days and hoped to get back on track mentally. The walk-back lined up with how Williams had read the situation from the start.

It is not the first time a Paris quarterfinal has pushed Sabalenka to her limit. In 2024 she exited at the same stage and skipped her press conference entirely because of illness, with the tour later releasing her quotes on her behalf. The pattern underscores how heavily this particular tournament has weighed on her despite deep runs in recent years.

For now, attention shifts to the grass. Wimbledon offers Sabalenka a quick chance to reset, and a strong showing there would turn this French Open meltdown into a footnote rather than a turning point.

Originally published by Rolling Out — https://rollingout.com.

The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue

THE CAROLINIAN — Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.
The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

By Judaea Ingram | Special to The Carolinian

RALEIGH, N.C. – Music filled the air as families danced through the crowd, children gathered around activity stations, and community members explored wellness resources from local organizations. Black-owned businesses lined the streets while people stopped for chair massages, conversations, and moments of connection inside the wellness suite.

At the center of the event stood a simple but powerful reminder:

“You Matter.”

For Darkness RISING, those words represent far more than a slogan. They reflect the organization’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community while creating spaces centered on healing, honesty, and hope.

Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.

The organization hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including block parties, wellness workshops, mixers, kickoff events, community classes, and Darkness RISING: Live — a free annual arts and wellness festival now celebrating its ninth year.

The festival combines entertainment with healing-centered resources, featuring live music, dancing, singing, food trucks, Black vendors, children’s activities, mental health resources, wellness spaces, and opportunities for open conversations about mental health.

While the events may feel celebratory on the surface, organizers say the deeper purpose is creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable discussing mental health without fear of judgment.

Darkness RISING also provides free nationwide resources, including a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, a Black Mental Health Provider Database, and its “Find Me a Therapist” initiative, which helps connect individuals with culturally competent care.

The organization’s work is rooted in addressing longstanding inequities that continue impacting mental health access within Black communities.

Historically, segregation, redlining, racial discrimination, incarceration, poverty, and unequal healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of behavioral health challenges while simultaneously limiting access to proper treatment and support. Darkness RISING approaches those issues through what organizers describe as a transformative justice lens, focusing on healing rather than punishment and creating equitable wellness opportunities for marginalized communities.

Its REBUILD program specifically supports justice-involved and formerly incarcerated people of color through free therapy and wellness support, while the REBUILD Youth program focuses on young people impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs.

For Rudolph, therapy became life-changing after decades of incarceration and years of rejection after returning home.

“Came home in 2015, started my own computer company, investing in real estate, did the normal thing and got some jobs here and there and was met with rejection after rejection and people telling me I am not a good person,” Rudolph shared. “Even had a rejection in church.”

He said one of the hardest battles became overcoming the mental barriers created during incarceration.

“I got in touch with a couple of friends, and they explained to me how I had to get over the mental hurdles and get rid of the way my prison mindset was in order to survive and become successful,” he said.

Rudolph later moved to North Carolina hoping for a fresh start, but the struggle continued.

“Things were looking bad,” he said. “Could not get a job. The struggle was real.”

Eventually, therapy and support through organizations like Darkness RISING helped begin his healing process. He said working alongside other justice-involved men through therapy gave him the ability to rebuild mentally while finding community with people who understood his experiences.

Stories like Rudolph’s reflect the foundation behind Darkness RISING’s mission: ensuring people feel seen, supported, and worthy of healing regardless of their background or circumstances.

Community members who attend the organization’s events often describe them as emotionally transformative.

Some participants say Darkness RISING encouraged them to seek therapy for the first time, while others say the organization gave them a safe space to openly discuss struggles they previously kept hidden.

“I have been encouraged by the beautiful, generous, brave and open individuals who come together and use their talents to create art, share personal experiences and provide hope to those who may be struggling with mental health,” one participant shared.

By combining art, wellness, education, and community outreach, Darkness RISING continues changing how mental health conversations happen within the Black community.

Not through silence.

But through healing, honesty, connection, and joy.

Originally published by The Carolinian — https://caro.news.

The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.