Skip to main content
HR 2579 115th Congress House

Broader Options for Americans Act

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the premium tax credit with respect to unsubsidized COBRA continuation coverage.

Introduced: May 19, 2017 See on congress.gov
Taxation Employee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessIncome tax creditsReligion
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 15, 2018
Considered by Senate. (CR S1131-1136, S1138-1148)
Feb 14, 2018
Measure laid before Senate by motion.
Feb 14, 2018
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Feb 14, 2018
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S930-965)
Feb 13, 2018
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S890-895, S895-903)
Feb 12, 2018
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 1. Record Vote Number: 32. (CR S867-868)
Feb 12, 2018
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S856-868)
Feb 9, 2018
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the consideration of the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S849-850)
Feb 9, 2018
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S849-850)
Feb 6, 2018
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302.
Feb 5, 2018
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Jun 15, 2017
Received in the Senate.
Jun 15, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 15, 2017
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 267 - 144 (Roll no. 308). (text: CR H4929)
Jun 15, 2017
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jun 15, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2579.
Jun 15, 2017
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2372 and H.R. 2579, with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except a motion to recommit with or without instructions on each bill. Both measures will be considered read and are closed to amendments.
Jun 15, 2017
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 379. (consideration: CR H4929-4931)
Jun 15, 2017
Rule H. Res. 379 passed House.
Jun 12, 2017
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 379 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2372 and H.R. 2579. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2372 and H.R. 2579, with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except a motion to recommit with or without instructions on each bill. Both measures will be considered read and are closed to amendments.
Jun 2, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 107.
Jun 2, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 115-160.
May 19, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
May 19, 2017
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Feb 12, 2018 Senate · vote #32 On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 2579 Agreed To 97–1 See who voted →
Jun 15, 2017 House · vote #308 On Passage Passed 267–144 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 84

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 1,959 Grassley, Chuck In the nature of a substitute. Pending Feb 15, 2018
SAMDT 1,958 Schumer, Charles E. Of a perfecting nature. Pending Feb 15, 2018
SAMDT 1,955 Coons, Christopher A. To provide relief from removal and adjustment of status of certain individuals who are long-term United State… Pending Feb 15, 2018
SAMDT 2,043 Thune, John – Pending –
SAMDT 2,041 Cassidy, Bill – Pending –
SAMDT 2,040 Reed, Jack – Pending –
SAMDT 2,039 – – Pending –
SAMDT 2,038 – – Pending –
SAMDT 2,037 – – Pending –
SAMDT 2,036 Warren, Elizabeth – Pending –
SAMDT 2,035 Warren, Elizabeth – Pending –
SAMDT 2,034 Warren, Elizabeth – Pending –
SAMDT 2,033 Warren, Elizabeth – Pending –
SAMDT 2,032 Hoeven, John – Pending –
SAMDT 2,031 – – Pending –
SAMDT 2,030 – – Pending –
SAMDT 2,029 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,028 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,027 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,026 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,025 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,024 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,023 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,022 Moran, Jerry – Pending –
SAMDT 2,021 Moran, Jerry – Pending –
SAMDT 2,020 Moran, Jerry – Pending –
SAMDT 2,019 Gillibrand, Kirsten E. – Pending –
SAMDT 2,018 Cornyn, John – Pending –
SAMDT 2,017 – – Pending –
SAMDT 2,016 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,015 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,014 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,013 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,012 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,011 Heinrich, Martin – Pending –
SAMDT 2,010 Rounds, Mike – Pending –
SAMDT 2,009 Cortez Masto, Catherine – Pending –
SAMDT 2,008 Murray, Patty – Pending –
SAMDT 2,007 Murray, Patty – Pending –
SAMDT 2,006 Shaheen, Jeanne – Pending –
SAMDT 2,005 Shaheen, Jeanne – Pending –
SAMDT 2,004 Shaheen, Jeanne – Pending –
SAMDT 2,003 Markey, Edward J. – Pending –
SAMDT 2,002 Markey, Edward J. – Pending –
SAMDT 2,001 Klobuchar, Amy – Pending –
SAMDT 2,000 Klobuchar, Amy – Pending –
SAMDT 1,999 Klobuchar, Amy – Pending –
SAMDT 1,994 Wyden, Ron – Pending –
SAMDT 1,993 Wyden, Ron – Pending –
SAMDT 1,992 Hirono, Mazie K. – Pending –

Showing the 50 most recent of 84 amendments.

 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action February 15, 2018

Considered by Senate. (CR S1131-1136, S1138-1148)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the premium assistance tax credit to be used for unsubsidized COBRA continuation health coverage.

(Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 [COBRA], an individual may continue to receive coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan after an event that would otherwise end coverage, such as a termination of employment. This bill applies to COBRA continuation coverage if the premiums are solely the obligation of the taxpayer.)

"COBRA continuation coverage" includes continuation coverage provided under:

  • the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, or the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program;
  • a state law or program that provides comparable coverage; or
  • a church plan that provides comparable coverage.

It does not include coverage under a health flexible spending arrangement.

For the coverage to qualify for the tax credit, the plan administrator of the group health plan must certify that the COBRA continuation coverage meets the requirements for qualified health plans.

The bill is contingent on the enactment of the American Health Care Act of 2017 and applies (if at all) after December 31, 2019.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HRES 379 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2372) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the rules rel…
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2579: Broader Options for Americans Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2579/
MLA
"H.R. 2579: Broader Options for Americans Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2579/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2579, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2579/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2579: Broader Options for Americans Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2579/)
Report a problem