WASHINGTON

US House Democrats will introduce a bill to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for three years, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Wednesday.

"House Democrats are here on the Capitol steps to reiterate our strong opposition to the spending bill because it fails to address the Republican health care crisis, and it fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit," Jeffries said at a news conference.

His remarks came after he filed a discharge petition to extend the expiring ACA tax credits for three years, a move that would bypass House Republican leadership and require at least 218 members’ signatures to bring the measure to a floor vote.

"We cannot support the Republican effort to gut the health care of the American people.

"Today, House Democrats will introduce legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years to make sure that tens of millions of Americans don't experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays, and deductibles," Jeffries said.

He called on House Republicans to join Democrats in their effort to extend health insurance tax credits.

"We will be working hard today, tomorrow, and throughout the balance of this year to make sure that those Affordable Care Act tax credits are extended," Jeffries added.