RELEASE:
Today, House Republicans set a tone for 2016 that reaffirms that the life of the unborn is precious and that Americans should no longer be punished by Obamacare.
The House will send to the President’s desk a bill that repeals and replaces Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood while providing additional funding for community health centers to ensure women have access to quality care. By the use of reconciliation (ironically the same budget tool that was utilized to help pass Obamacare in 2009), the House passed H.R. 3762 – the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act by an overwhelming margin.
In December, the Senate amended and passed H.R 3762, repealing new spending programs — including the premium subsidies and Medicaid expansion. The bill also eliminates the penalty for individuals and employers who decline to purchase Obamacare coverage and sets up a transition period for Congress and the next president to replace the health care law with a proposal that reduces costs for families and the federal government.
This legislation sends a clear message to the American people and the White House – that the Planned Parenthood Federation of America should not be supported by the American taxpayer. For far too long Planned Parenthood has been involved in morally objectionable and possibly illegal activities. Today’s vote is a continuation of the ongoing commitment House Republicans have made to protect the unborn and end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.
Using this budget reconciliation process to stop taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood is the preferred strategy of the March for Life and Susan B. Anthony List, as well as the National Right to Life Committee, the nation’s oldest and largest pro-life organization.
Additionally, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repealing Obamacare will reduce the budget deficit by $516 billion over the next decade.
With the House of Representatives starting a new session this week, we have a chance to make good on a number of long-standing commitments and set a new and better course for our country.
God Bless,
Gregg Harper
Member of Congress
1/6/16
Magnolia Tribune
