Advocacy and Engagement

On March 10th, Lobbyit met with Keilah Ilinykh, Legislative Assistant in the office of Cliff Bentz, to discuss Rep. Max Miller’s ACCESS Act. During the meeting, Keilah asked about the differences between the ACCESS Act and the Health Care Fairness for Consumers Act (HCFCA), signaling interest in how the proposals compare on expanding coverage options and affordability. She noted that Rep. Bentz has been engaged on related efforts, including cosponsoring Rep. Buddy Carter’s legislation, and that the office would take a closer look at the ACCESS Act given its alignment with their priorities.

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Advocacy and Engagement

On February 18th, Lobbyit met with Jessica Dauchness, Legislative Director in the office of Lloyd Smucker, to discuss Rep. Max Miller’s ACCESS Act. Rep. Smucker cosponsored H.R. 379 last year and has been a consistent supporter of market-based reforms and strengthening employer-sponsored coverage, particularly in his role on the House Committee on Ways and Means. During the meeting, Lobbyit referenced past efforts to reform STLDI that had stalled in committee and discussed the differences in the new legislative proposals aimed at expanding flexibility and affordability in coverage options. Jessica noted that Rep. Smucker would be especially interested in policies that enhance consumer choice, reinforce employer-employee based insurance, and provide alternatives that address shortcomings in the current ACA framework, and committed to taking a closer look at the ACCESS Act.

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Advocacy and Engagement

Lobbyit met on January 29th with Karen Williams, policy counsel for Rep. Max Miller, to discuss the ACCESS Act’s role in expanding access to Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI) for up to 36 months. Karen emphasized that the office strongly appreciated NEA’s engagement and noted their office’s coordination with Rep. Buddy Carter’s team given his work on a similar bill last year that stalled out in committee. Karen explained that Rep. Miller’s motivation for introducing the ACCESS Act is rooted in concerns raised by small business owners who want to offer health coverage to employees but face significant regulatory and cost barriers under current law. They identified STLDI as one of the most viable coverage pathways for employers, particularly given rising healthcare costs and the need for more flexible insurance options. The office views STLDI as a potential “flag-bearing” alternative as Congress continues to debate how to expand or reform the ACA, noting that Rep. Miller supported extending ACA tax credits recently with the understanding that Congress must continue working across the aisle on solutions that function in practice, like STLDI.

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Engagement this month

This month, Lobbyit and NEA leadership met with representatives from CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) CCIIO (Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight). CCIIO directly oversees rulemaking around short-term limited duration insurance, making this an incredibly valuable meeting with policymakers in the regulatory space. The meeting was attended by a large number of agency staff from CCIIO, including Deputy Administrator Peter Nelson, the Director of CCIIO.

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Advocacy and Engagement

This month, Lobbyit met with Andrew Smith, the Health Policy Adviser for Senator Jon Husted from Ohio, to discuss Congressional movement on Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI). Sen. Husted is a member of the Senate HELP Committee and has been active on healthcare related issues in the past.

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Work on the Hill

October was dominated by a deepening budget crisis, marked by the longest federal government shutdown since 2018. Beginning at midnight on the first of the month, the government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the new fiscal year. The standoff reflected sharp partisan disagreements over spending levels, health care policy, and program riders including reforms to SNAP food assistance and the Affordable Care Act.

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Work this Month

In September, Lobbyit conducted outreach with lead policymakers from the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) within the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CCIIO is responsible for the final rulemaking on short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI). As no final rule has been set yet, the team set a meeting between CCIIO and NEA leadership to discuss the impact of this policy on employers.
The meeting is with Peter Nelson, Deputy Administrator of CMS and Director of CCIIO.

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I. Work on the Hill

The traditional summer lull on Capitol Hill in August 2025 belied significant shifts under the surface of federal policymaking. One month after the landmark One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) was signed into law, Washington has been adapting to the new legislative reality, even as Congress was essentially in recess. With lawmakers back in their districts, much of the action migrated to federal agencies, courts, and behind-the-scenes preparations for the fall session. The broad scope of H.R. 1, encompassing tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks, and benefit reforms, continued to set the policy backdrop. But August’s narrative extended beyond that single law, touching transportation, labor, finance, education, and more, as the government’s gears turned in anticipation of a busy autumn.t.

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I. Work on the Hill

The passage of a landmark legislative package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1), on July 4th marked a turning point in the federal policy landscape. Congress and federal agencies have since entered a new phase of legislative and administrative activity, setting the tone for policy developments across Washington. The law spans a wide range of sectors and was primarily designed to reshape tax policy, reduce regulatory burdens, and restructure federal incentives. It encompasses approximately 870 pages, including provisions affecting healthcare, energy and environmental regulation, infrastructure, defense, and more, reflecting a clear shift in federal priorities under the current administration. Even for organizations not directly impacted by its provisions, the bill has significantly influenced current budget decisions, regulatory agendas, and the overall pace and direction of policymaking. This influence continues to shape the federal environment and the broader dynamics of government engagement. To provide context and understanding for the current federal landscape across agencies and on Capitol Hill, the report begins by outlining developments that have followed the law’s enactment.

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I. Work on the Hill

June 2025 was defined by congressional efforts to finalize the sweeping reconciliation package known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), a central pillar of President Trump’s legislative agenda. The bill includes permanent extensions of the 2017 tax cuts, new investments in border and defense infrastructure, and provisions related to procurement modernization, AI incentives, and trade and manufacturing policy. Senate Republicans released their 940-page substitute amendment to the bill in the early hours of June 28ᵗʰ, just ahead of a motion to proceed. The revised text aims to comply with reconciliation rules and gain support from conservative holdouts while preserving the bill’s core tax and budget provisions. Although the Senate initially planned to vote on final passage by the end of June, procedural delays pushed the floor process into July. The Senate formally entered debate over the package and will begin a vote-a-rama on Monday, July 1ˢᵗ at 9 a.m. The daytime schedule could stretch final votes into early Tuesday morning. As of June 30ᵗʰ, the Senate remains on a clear path toward passing the bill. Speaker Mike Johnson has directed House Republicans to return to Washington by July 3ʳᵈ, signaling that House leadership is preparing to move quickly once the Senate completes its work.

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