As the Senate was voting to pass a deal to reopen the federal government without securing funding for health care subsidies, the only out LGBTQ+ U.S. senator, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), made one last-ditch effort to get Congress to fund health care for working-class Americans.On Monday night, Baldwin introduced an amendment that would have extended subsidies for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care plans for one year. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025 and became the central battle in the over 40-day shutdown, as Democrats demanded the subsidies be extended while Republicans sought to let them expire while passing a measure to fund the government. Related Sen. Tammy Baldwin & 44 others fight GOPs anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in must pass funding bills Without the subsidies, some peoples health care premiums are set to increase by thousands of dollars per person, according to a KFF analysis, with older Americans who are nearing retirement being disproportionately affected. This will likely result in people dropping insurance coverage, increasing health care costs for everyone as the pool of people paying into health care shrinks. Others will face severe hardship if they have a health issue without insurance to cover it.Baldwins amendment ultimately failed. Fifty-three senators all the Republicans voted against it, while the 47 Senate Democrats and independents voted for it. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today My Republican colleagues sent a clear, unmistakable message that they are okay with jacking up health care costs on 22 million Americans, Baldwin said in a statement after the vote. Im not, and I am going to keep fighting to stop these massive health care price increases that Wisconsin families are staring down.The Senate ultimately voted for a continuing resolution to reopen the federal government without extending the ACA subsidies. Almost all Republicans voted for it Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) did not and they were joined by seven Democrats who crossed party lines, as well as one independent. Part of the deal was a promise to hold a vote on the ACA subsidies at a later date, without any guarantee that the House of Representatives would do the same. And, if the vote on Baldwins amendment is any indication, Republicans will vote against it again.The Senate started taking steps to end the shutdown on Sunday night, with just enough Democrats ready to cave to pass the Republican continuing resolution. The announcement led to massive backlash from other Democrats, including Baldwin.A wink and a nod to deal with this health care crisis later with no actual guarantees is just not enough for me or the Wisconsin families I work for, Baldwin said in a statement released Sunday night. The clock is up, families are shopping for insurance now, and I refuse to sign off on a deal that doesnt lower working families health care costs. But on Monday, it became clear that the caving Democrats would go through with their plan and pass the Republican continuing resolution, so Baldwin tried to force a vote on the ACA subsidies with Amendment 3947 to the resolution.I am doing this because my Republican colleagues are refusing to act to stop health care premiums from doubling for over 20 million Americans, Baldwin said in a Senate floor speech. I just cant stand by without a fight.Baldwin shared stories from constituents about the health care premium increases theyll face, including one family whose premium will go from $400 to just over $5,000 a month. Baldwin noted that many people just wont sign up for health insurance next year and could risk losing everything if they have major health care expenses. She accused Republicans of being the problem in this situation, saying the Democrats have tried to extend the subsidies multiple times this year and that Republicans always blocked them. For 41 days, I have been clear, I will work with anyone to reopen the government and lower Americans health care costs, and Im not throwing in the towel until we have exhausted every option to make that happen, she said.Her amendment failed,and the Senate passed the Republican continuing resolutionto reopen the government through January 30, 2026, without extending the health care subsidies, in a 60-40 vote. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who did not vote for the GOPs continuing resolution, denounced the deal, saying that Americans have now awoken to the presidents health care crisis.Democrats demanded that we find a way to fix this crisis and quickly, but Republicans have refused to move an inch, Schumer said Monday. So, I cannot support the Republican bill thats on the floor because it fails to do anything of substance to fix Americas health care crisis.Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) was one of the Democrats who voted for the deal, and she said she believes Republicans will immediately begin negotiations to extend the ACA tax credits if the government is reopened. The bill now goes back to the House, which could vote to pass it as soon as Wednesday. The president has already indicated that hell sign it.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.