Healthcare Reinvestment Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7071

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-15: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

Last Updated

2026-05-16T08:07:33Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Healthcare Reinvestment Act (H.R. 7071) aims to repeal specific funding increases previously provided to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (Public Law 119-21) and redirect those funds to extend certain tax credits that help individuals afford health insurance premiums.

Key Provisions

• Repeal and Rescission: Repeals sections 100052 through 100055 of Public Law 119-21, which had increased funding for ICE. This repeal treats those sections as if they never existed, and rescinds (cancels) the appropriated funds.
• Reallocation of Funds: The rescinded funds are transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury without time limits, to extend two specific parts of the premium tax credit under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code:
• Subsection (b)(3)(A)(iii): Relates to income thresholds for eligibility.
• Subsection (c)(1)(E): Concerns reconciliation of advance payments.

These extensions help more people qualify for or retain subsidies to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

• Transparency and Oversight:
• The Treasury Secretary must publish an annual report on how the funds are used, including the number of people who keep their tax credit eligibility.
• The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration must perform annual audits of the fund usage to ensure accountability.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Reverses funding boosts to ICE from Public Law 119-21 by repealing the relevant sections and canceling the appropriations, effectively reducing resources for immigration enforcement activities classified under Titles 6 and 8 of the U.S. Code (which cover domestic security and immigration).
• Extends the duration and eligibility of healthcare premium tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code, potentially making these subsidies available beyond their original expiration dates without needing new appropriations.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: ICE and the Department of Homeland Security may face budget shortfalls, leading to reduced capacity for immigration enforcement, detention, or border operations. The Treasury Department gains new responsibilities for managing and reporting on the reallocated funds.
• On Citizens: Low- and moderate-income individuals could benefit from longer access to affordable health insurance subsidies, potentially lowering out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and increasing coverage rates. This might reduce uninsured rates but could strain federal budgets if not offset elsewhere.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though reduced ICE funding might indirectly affect U.S. immigration processing times or enforcement, potentially influencing perceptions of U.S. border policies by other countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Immigration Enforcement Agencies: ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, which lose targeted funding increases.
• Healthcare Beneficiaries: Individuals and families eligible for premium tax credits (often those with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level), including working-class Americans seeking Marketplace health plans.
• Taxpayers and Treasury: The public at large, as funds are shifted from one federal priority to another; the Treasury Department handles implementation and oversight.
• Congressional Committees: Ways and Means (tax policy), Judiciary (immigration), and Homeland Security (enforcement) are involved in review.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill uses standard congressional tools like repeal, rescission, and reallocation, which are constitutional under Congress's power of the purse (Article I, Section 9). However, it could face challenges if seen as retroactively altering prior appropriations without clear offsets, potentially invoking the Impoundment Control Act for scrutiny.
• Constitutional: No direct conflicts, but it highlights tensions in balancing federal spending priorities, as Congress can redirect unspent funds without violating separation of powers.
• Political: Represents a policy shift from immigration enforcement to healthcare affordability, likely appealing to supporters of expanded social programs while drawing opposition from those prioritizing border security. The multi-committee referral signals potential bipartisan or partisan debates on budget trade-offs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-15: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
• 2026-01-14: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-01-14: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-01-14: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-01-14: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-14: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Healthcare Reinvestment Act — issued 2026-01-14 — PDF (3 pages)