Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 4h

This is about protecting affordable health care for millions of families across the country!

This is why we're fighting, and we're not backing down.

12 120 400

Reposted by Congressman Juan Vargas

Congressional Hispanic Caucus @hispaniccaucus.bsky.social · 9h

On Latina Equal Pay Day, we’re reminded that pay inequity fuels the wealth gap. The @hispaniccaucus.bsky.social is committed to advancing policies that ensure Latinas earn what they deserve and build the wealth they’ve long been denied.

1 8 15

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 1d

A new nonpartisan report shows the cost of Republican plan to raise health care prices:

– Premiums will more than double in 2026
– A 60 year old couple making $85k would have to pay $22,600 more a year

This is what's at stake, and why we're fighting.

Affordable Care Act premiums will rise 114% if enhanced subsidies expire, health policy researcher finds

The federal government may shut down if Congress can't reach a deal about enhanced premium tax credits, slated to expire at the end of 2025.

www.cnbc.com

4 10

Reposted by Congressman Juan Vargas

Oversight Dems @oversightdemocrats.house.gov · 2d

Speaker Johnson REFUSES to swear Adelita Grijalva in because he knows she’ll be the last signature we need to force a vote to release the Epstein files.

Swear her in. Release the files!

Adelita for Congress @adelitaforcongress.bsky.social · 2d

My constituents want me to get to work but House Republicans are more concerned about protecting the Epstein files.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...

Elected but Not Seated, Grijalva Waits to Sign Epstein Petition

www.nytimes.com

6 69 160

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 1d

It’s been two years since Hamas' brutal October 7th attacks on Israel.

Today, we remember and honor the innocent lives lost and the hostages who remain captive to this day.

I continue to pray for peace and security for everyone affected in the region.

3 4

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 5d

I am Latino. I speak Spanish. I go to Home Depot. Now that SCOTUS has greenlit indiscriminate immigration enforcement, what’s to stop ICE from picking me or anyone in our community who looks like me up?

That’s why I’ve demanded answers from DHS about their use of unconstitutional racial profiling.

Several detained when federal agents sweep Home Depot parking lots in North County

Operation came the second day of the federal government shutdown

sandiegouniontribune.com

9 28 92

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 5d

Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, and have chosen to shut the government down rather than lower health care costs and reverse Trump's cuts to Medicaid.

KFF @kff.org · 8d

Our new analysis shows that the average increase in out-of-pocket premium payments from the expiration of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits is *even higher* than previously estimated.

Learn why: https://on.kff.org/3WfWxjj

KFF bar chart titled “Premium payments in 2026 would more than double on average if ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire.” The chart shows the annual out-of-pocket premium payments for Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollees in 2025 and 2026. For 2025, the payment is $888, and for 2026, the projected payment is $1,904. This is an increase of 114%. Note: the 2026 average premium payment assumes gross premiums increase of 18% for those who lose tax credit eligibility.

5 16

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 8d

As we head towards a government shutdown, I want to make sure you have all of the resources you need.

Visit my website for more information on what the current shutdown status is and which services could be interrupted.

Navigating a Government Shutdown

As you know, a government shutdown is looming. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. However, Trump and Republicans have continued to march the country toward a government shutdown while worsening the health care crisis they created.If legislation is not enacted to continue to fund the government, at 12:01am ET on October 1, 2025, certain government programs will be impacted, resulting in a range of disruptions in essential services.

vargas.house.gov

2 7 15

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 8d

🔗: www.cnbc.com/2025/09/30/a...

Affordable Care Act premiums will rise 114% if enhanced subsidies expire, KFF says

The federal government may shut down if Congress can't reach a deal about enhanced premium tax credits, slated to expire at the end of 2025.

www.cnbc.com

1 4

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 8d

This is what's at stake.

Time for my Republican colleagues to choose. Are you on the side of the people? Are you on the side of families trying to afford their care?

Or will you continue to bow down to Trump, who's marching us closer to a shutdown?

I'm going to keep fighting to save health care.

2 4 12

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 8d

Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House.

It's their basic responsibility to keep the government funded, and negotiate with Democrats if they need our votes.

But they would rather shutdown the government than work with us to protect health care for millions.

Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 8d

New, and a big deal: Based on updated data and changes made by the Trump administration, we now estimate that ACA enrollees would see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114% if enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire.
www.kff.org/affordable-c...

ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire | KFF

KFF estimates that, if Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire at the end of this year, ACA Marketplace enrollees on average would see their premium payments more than double next y...

www.kff.org

4 8

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 8d

This is sickening. I absolutely condemn the horrific threats made against my colleague, Rep. @jayapal.house.gov.

The violent and hateful rhetoric must end. Political violence has no place in this country, and we all need to stand united in rejecting it.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal @jayapal.house.gov · 12d

My statement in regard to comments made by State Representative John Gillette of Arizona:

7 41 140

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 9d

Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House.

But they would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to help millions of families afford their health care.

This is a reminder of what's at stake.

These people have found their health care at the center of a shutdown showdown

Small business owners, self-employed people and early retirees are among the 24 million Americans who could lose the tax credit

www.usatoday.com

1 7

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 12d

The Supreme Court greenlit racial profiling.

ICE should not be able to stop and interrogate you just because of the way you look or the language you speak.

It's an absolute outrage, and we're not going to stop sounding the alarm.

'People Are Terrified': Juan Vargas Presses Attorney On Supreme Court Ruling On 'Racial Profiling'

YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News

www.youtube.com

38 240 740

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 12d

We are fighting to protect health care for families across the country.

Republicans are trying to slash health care and they're willing to shutdown the government over it.

Millions would lose coverage. Millions more would pay higher prices. That's what's at stake here.

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 14d

Democrats think the American people deserve health care.

Republicans would rather shut down the government than lower health care costs.

Graphic text:
REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT

WHY? THEY'D RATHER SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT THAN SAVE YOUR HEALTH CARE.

BUT WE'RE IN A HEALTH CARE CRISIS:
15 MILLION PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE.
MILLIONS ARE ABOUT TO SEE THEIR PREMIUMS SKYROCKET.

DEMOCRATS THINK PEOPLE DESERVE HEALTH CARE.

5 7

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 12d

An incredibly dangerous attack on the rule of law. Trump is trying to turn the Justice Department into a weapon for his own personal revenge, plain and simple. This is anti-democratic and anti-American, and we can't stay silent.

With Comey prosecution, Trump fulfills promise of revenge

President Donald Trump’s predecessors sought to preserve the Justice Department’s independence in political prosecutions. Trump openly intervened in the Comey prosecution.

www.washingtonpost.com

2 8

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 13d

White House border czar Tom Homan reportedly accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents as a bribe in exchange for influencing government contracts.

The Trump Admin ended the investigation.

Corruption, plain and simple. We need answers!

NBC News @nbcnews.com · 13d

Exclusive: Democrats in Washington are ramping up efforts to investigate White House border czar Tom Homan over allegations that he accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents last year.

Senate Democrats urge DOJ to release files related to border czar Tom Homan bribery investigation

Homan was investigated for allegedly accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents last year after indicating he could help win government contracts, which the White House has denied.

nbcnews.to

1 6 19

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 15d

Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. Keeping the government open is their most basic responsibility.

If they want to go it alone, that's their choice. But if they need our votes, they need to work in a bipartisan way.

This is not complicated.

Hakeem Jeffries @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social · 15d

Trump Always Chickens Out.

Donald Trump just cancelled a high stakes meeting in the Oval Office with myself and Leader Schumer.

The extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating America.

Hold the line.

2 4 12

Reposted by Congressman Juan Vargas

Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · 15d

Go ahead and ask Americans if they can afford a 70% hike in their health insurance premiums right now. See how that goes.

It’s a crisis in the making that we’re TRYING to avoid, but Trump is refusing to meet with us.

32 120 430

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 16d

Sending warm wishes to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah here in CA-52 and across the country. May your new year be filled with health and happiness.

Shana Tova!

1 4

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 19d

Families deserve better. I voted no alongside my House Dem colleagues. I'm not going rubberstamp anything that worsens the health care crisis Trump and Republicans are creating.

2 2 8

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 19d

After making the largest cuts to Medicaid in history this summer, they're now letting ACA credits expire. Millions will lose their health care and see their premiums skyrocket without action.

1 2 6

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 19d

Today, House Republicans jammed through a partisan spending bill that escalates their attacks on affordable health care.

3 2 10

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 20d

What the FCC and Trump are doing here is straight out of an authoritarian playbook.

They're very clearly using government powers to silence protected speech. That's state censorship.

Everyone who cares about free speech should be sounding the alarm.

FactPost @factpostnews.bsky.social · 21d

ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air.

This comes after Trump's FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke ABC's broadcast licenses over Kimmel's monologue on Charlie Kirk.

3 1 5

Congressman Juan Vargas @vargas.house.gov · 20d

I'm leading 65+ House Democrats in calling on DHS for answers on the use of racial profiling in immigration enforcement.

We need accountability.

5 11