What’s Happening in Washington: Health Care Reform, Labor Policy, and Energy Regulations

Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from December 2025:

Health Care Reform
On Dec. 17, House Republicans passed the “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act” which would make market reforms such as allowing small businesses to buy coverage through association health plans, but it doesn’t extend Biden-era Affordable Care Act enhanced premium subsidies that expired Dec. 31.  Democrats shut down the government demanding the subsidies be renewed but ultimately provided the votes to reopen the government until Jan. 30.  The House bill won’t fly in the Senate so Congress left town and will pursue compromise legislation when it returns Jan. 6.  However, four moderate House Republicans want to force a compromise and signed a Democrat discharge petition to bypass the Speaker and extend the subsidies.  This won’t fly in the Senate either because of the cost and failure to address rampant ACA (Obamacare) fraud.  The Government Accounting Office (GAO) found one-in-three ACA subsidy recipients in 2023, totaling $21 billion in costs, used Social Security numbers that couldn’t be reconciled with IRS tax numbers.  Also, in 2025, GAO submitted 20 fake applications for ACA subsidies and 18 were accepted and received the subsidies.


Trump Nominations
On Dec. 18, the Senate confirmed a batch of 90 Trump nominees that includes high-ranking posts at the Labor Dept. and the President’s picks for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) – James Murphy and Scott Mayer for the board and Crystal Carey for General Counsel.  TRIA signed on to the attached Coalition for a Democratic Workplace letter urging quick action for Mayer whose process fell behind Murphy’s and Carey’s.


SCOTUS Hears Arguments Over Trump Firing Independent Agency Officials
On Dec. 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard arguments on the president’s authority to fire independent regulators.  The case involves whether President Trump can fire a Democrat on the Federal Trade Commission because she does not align with his agenda.  SCOTUS’s conservative justices appear likely to side with Trump in a ruling that could shift power from Congress to the president and usher in a major change in how the government is structured regarding independent agencies.


Zero Emissions Buildings
On Dec. 3, the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation rescinded its National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building.  DOE explained “this action lowers costs and promotes freedom of choice in the buildings sector by relieving developers, investors, and building owners of indirect pressure to account for federal guidelines that never had the force or effect of law.”   


For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.