A bipartisan group of 35 House members, including Congressman Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07), announced a new health care framework called CommonGround 2025 on December 4, 2025. The plan seeks to extend health insurance premium savings for American families for two years and includes a year of enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) with targeted changes. A vote in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives is scheduled by December 18, 2025.
The legislators backing this framework have co-signed a letter requesting meetings with House and Senate leadership to discuss the proposal and possible next steps in both chambers.
“Today, I joined both Democrats and Republicans to advance a new, bipartisan framework to make healthcare more affordable for New Jersey families,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “Our CommonGround 2025 plan responsibly extends Premium Tax Credits and pairs them with targeted modifications, including PBM reform, guardrails against fraud, greater transparency, and other critical improvements.”
“We need to reduce health insurance premiums for every family and we need to hold accountable drug-pricing middlemen and fraudsters who are abusing our health care system,” Kean continued. “Through bipartisan action, I am fighting for the people of New Jersey and driving forward a solution that Congress can deliver now.”
The framework was co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2). Other signatories include Adam Gray (CA-13), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Darren Soto (FL-9), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), Josh Riley (NY-19), Susie Lee (NV-3), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Jared Golden (ME-2), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Ryan MacKenzie (PA-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Robert Bresnahan (PA-8), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Don Bacon (NE-2), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Kevin Kiley (CA-3), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Nick LaLota (NY-1), Don Davis (NC-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), Hillary Scholten (MI-3) and Tom Suozzi (NY‑3).
Key elements of the plan include extending ePTCs for those earning less than 600% of the federal poverty level while phasing out these credits between 600% FPL and 1000% FPL. The proposal introduces measures intended to prevent fraud such as implementing stricter penalties for fraudulent agents or brokers, requiring regular eligibility checks using federal records like the Death Master File, notifying recipients about their tax credits from the government, and removing bad actors from ACA marketplaces.
The first year would also extend open enrollment until March 19, 2026. Pharmacy Benefit Manager reforms aim to ban spread pricing in Medicaid, adjust Medicare Part D so PBM compensation is not tied to medication costs, and improve transparency in prescription drug plans.
In its second year, additional reforms would be considered—such as changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule; requirements for hospitals to disclose negotiated rates; measures accelerating pediatric cancer treatments; potential elimination of zero-dollar premiums except in cases of hardship; or shifting funding toward Health Savings Accounts.
Congressman Thomas Kean Jr., who has represented New Jersey’s 7th district since replacing Tom Malinowski in 2023 https://kean.house.gov/about/ , previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2001–2003 before his tenure in the state senate from 2008–2022 https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/K000389 . Born in Livingston in 1968 https://www.nj.com/news/2022/11/thomas-kean-jr-wins-nj-house-race-in-rematch-with-tom-malinowski.html , he currently resides in Westfield. He holds a BA from Dartmouth College.
